Help: Dog licking its elbow to soreness

[OrlandaFuriosa]

Over the last three weeks our DDog has been licking his right foreleg round the elbow constantly. We took him to the vet who could see nothing and recommended I continue with the tea tree ointment I’d been using.

I have been but to no avail. It seems to be getting sorer. Any advice, please?

[BiteyShark]

Could it be a vicious circle where dog licks it because it's sore then licking keeps it sore? Are you using a cone etc to stop the licking?

[OrlandaFuriosa]

I’m coming to the conclusion a cone may be the answer. The only prob being that he gets rid of them, plastic or fabric. Remarkably clever.

[BiteyShark]

Yes mine knows how to turn the cone round so he can chew the plastic connectors off. Other options is to find a make shift sleeve or use a muzzle whilst you cannot supervise him.

[fessmess]

Mine's licked her spay wound raw, two weeks post-op 🙄. Had to put the shirt back on. Would it work to cover your dog's leg somehow?

[Myddognearlyatethedeliveryman]

Did the vet check his teeth? Dogs often get into a licking cycle to transfer the pain of toothache.

[Someaddedsugar]

Our dog does this with his feet. Unfortunately we can’t use a cone as he is a bulldog and the cone prevented him from being able to eat his food poor thing! We bought a spray on Amazon - I think it’s Grannick’s Bitter Apples - and it has stopped him from licking his feet and they’re now finally starting to heal - could that be an option?

[BellBookandCandle]

Go back to the vet, could possibly be developing into a hotspot and may need a steroid cream (and the cone of shame) to break the cycle of itching/licking.

My boy has something similar- left elbow and I'd been using the Aveena dog tea tree skin cream and a sterile/antibacterial spray but had to bite the bullet and see the vet. 4 days later he'd stopped licking and everything is healing up nicely now.

[OrlandaFuriosa]

All brill suggestions. I’ll get the spray and if no success will head to vet again. I didn’t know that about teeth.

[OrlandaFuriosa]

And yes, I’ve been using tea tree skin cream.

[OrlandaFuriosa]

Reporting back, took DDog to vet this pm. Lots more licking, lots of soreness. Conclusion: again nothing visible but leg sore, ditto between pads on paw. So injected with ABs, ab tablets 2x per day, a wash 2x per day, back in a week. D dog not exactly off feed but has lost 0.15k in ten days. DDog normally wants to bite vet and was muzzled but apart from one snap was remarkably good. Refused treats from her but ate them later.

Was extraordinarily soothed by a piece of classical music thereafter. Going to do separate post about it.

Thanks for all you support and paw holding.

[Wolfiefan]

We had a similar issue with my girl.
Non stinky stuff
Calendula
Apple cider vinegar
Colloidal silver
Diluted hibiscrub
Any of those worth a try. Tea tree is very strong to use directly on the skin.
Allergy? Worth changing diet?
We used Surolan from the vet. Yeast overgrowth caused the itch.
And we muzzle her overnight and watch her during the day.

[OrlandaFuriosa]

Thank you. We will try the wash she’s given us, which you need to use with warm water, salt, sugar and oil. But I shall print out all suggestions for next time, as doubtless there will be a nice time time.

The tea tree is a dog specific skin cream which last time’s vet thought would be good. But it hasn’t done the biz and having read this thread, and looking at DDog, I thought straight to vet. And yes, vet thought like you, something has triggered an allergy and now an infection has set in,

[Topseyt]

I seem to remember having this problem with my labrador when he was young.

He had had abdominal surgery because of a blocked gut (eating stupid stuff as only a bloody labrador can). He could reach the end of his wound around his bucket collar and wanted to lick it like mad.

I dabbed vicks around it and that seemed to deter him just enough.

[Wolfiefan]

Poor pupper. Mine started as a lesion on a paw. The vet bandaged it and that caused the yeast problem. Possible chicken allergy?! Trying to exclude it.

[JeezeLouise]

How is DDog doing? One of our dogs used to lick his knees a lot and it turned out he had arthritis in his knees and spine so he'd been licking at the pain. Tea tree anything is actually toxic to dogs, although in the ointment you're using it is probably very small concentration and so tolerated, but if he is licking it then the potential for unintended ingestion is there.

[OrlandaFuriosa]

Thanks fir asking . Diluted hibi scrub, antibiotic injection and follow up ABs ( last one today) seem to be helping, yesterday I managed to bathe paw and leg without him flinching, for the first time. Continuing to bathe, back to vet next week. He’s not putting much weight on the leg but is leaping up and down as much as ever.

Still licking leg but I managed to get some chews which are keeping him busy some of the time. I need more for the weekend.

[nellieellie]

Sometimes obsessive licking can be due to joint pain. It’s worth getting your vet to check if it doesn’t stop. See this article, under signs and symptoms - excessive licking.www.alliesmiles.com/health_wellbeing/arthritis.asp

[OrlandaFuriosa]

Thanks indeed. I’ve been providing distraction in the shape of various chews which help a bit. He’s been given anti mite pills too, just in case. Still sore, still licking. Vet doesn’t know..

[OrlandaFuriosa]

Still bathing with hib scrub . Have bought bitter anti lick potion, on same basis as anti nail biting, but the latter never did me any good so don’t know if this will work.

If it continues will go to another vet and suggest joints...thank you..

[OrlandaFuriosa]

Or maybe the same vet. He’s just licking hib scrub off.