How can I stop my dog from self harming?

[greyvix]

Dramatic title, and a bit exaggerated! My bitch licks patches in her skin, which become infected. She has just been spayed and has been licking the bare patches on her legs where the anaesthetic went in. We sorted out that by putting a hood on her. As soon as the skin healed and the hood was removed, she started licking her private parts, which are now red raw.
As of this evening, she's back wearing a hood. Is there an alternative? She looks silly, and keeps knocking against stuff and people!

[Scuttlebutter]

Please take her to the vet. This needs to be sorted out, and she is probably really itchy and potentially in pain.

[Lonelylou]

agree with Scuttlebutter. She may have an infection of somekind and must be in great pain. If it was you with sore bits what would you want to happen?

[AdoraBell]

I agree, something is aggravating her skin, take her to the vet and see what they say.

[greyvix]

I will take her to the vets. She doesn't appear to be sore though. She is prone to hot spots- she got two on her tail last summer- the first needed antibiotics and the second healed normally once she had stopped licking it.

[Lonelylou]

greyvix, hope all was OK at the vets. What was the verdict?

[greyvix]

We are going tomorrow. I will keep you posted!

[bumpybecky]

our looney cat used to self harm, he started with the licking and eventually went on to repeatedly attack his own tail until it was amputated :(

the washing in his case was a reaction to stress, it was much worse when things were hectic at home (new baby / builders in, that kind of thing)

he used to love having the cone collar thing on, he's purr when it went back on! I think it worked a bit like blinkers on a scared horse - all the scary stuff went away when the collar was on!

if the vet rules out a medical reason for the washing it might be worth trying one of the pheromone diffuser things (assuming they do them for dogs as well as cats....)

[Lizcat]

Dogs that are prone to hot spots often have underlying allergies that cause them to like and itch so yes a trip to the vet is needed.

[greyvix]

So the vet cleaned it up (there was a lot of discharge, almost as if she'd been in season). She has antibiotics and antibiotic cream. The cone collar is back on; she is so used to it now that it is fine. It is just expensive to visit the vets' whenever she gets itchy, which is quite often.

[Lonelylou]

Poor lass. That's for both of you! One for the dog and the other for your vet's bill! LOL

I think my lab has problems down below too that's why I was interested. She came off her first season more than three weeks ago and has taken some time getting her shape back. I have had her glands cleared and deflead as she jumps to lick the base of her tail. The boys are still interested...and she doesn't have much trouble flirting!!! I can't wait to get her speyed.

[greyvix]

Glands may be the problem here- she's still discharging nasty stuff, that is difficult to clean up.

[Lonelylou]

Take her back if it doesn't show any signs of clearing in the next day or two. I'm guessing if you take chances here it may get worse

A dog groomer may be able to clear the glands cheaper than a vet but any groomer worth their salt wont touch infected ones. Perhaps once she's clear you can book her in regularly to keep on top of them and make sure she has plenty of roughage to squeeze the glands when she toilets.

[Signet2012]

My dog licks his leg on the front. He has been checked there is nothing there, no other sign of allergy or anything.

the vet told us that sometimes they might have an itch or a sore bit and its their instinct to lick to make it better, however, in doing so they can make it worse, so they lick it more to make it better, making it worse and it becomes a vicious cycle.

I tend to watch for him doing it and then distract him with a toy or a scratch which seems to work but he can occasionally get it quite red and sore before he leaves it alone.

He has been checked numerous times and the vet really is at a loss with him as to why he does it.

It does normally mean an allergy or infection though.