Expert: Dr. Louis N. Gotthelf - 6/11/2005

Question
My dog keeps getting a disease called "Licking ?" can't remember the name. The vet explained it as she will get a minor cut and lick, lick, lick till the hair comes off and bleeds and makes sores. I have to wrap it till it heals. She gets this all the time I can't control it. It is all on one leg only. We have 30 acres that she loves to run on, and it is hard to keep it wrapped. Any kind of suggestions on soaps, medication, etc.?

Answer
This is called a lick granuloma.  I remove these with my laser and they heal up nicely.  The problem is that this is an obsessive-compulsive disorder and actually originates somewhere in the brain.  So even if the lesion heals, the dog will probably start another one on another foot.