Any ideas on how to stop leg-licking?

[Tirnanogg]

Our girl was spayed last week, and on the first night when she was presumably feeling stressed, she licked her leg bald. I've made her leg warmers to cover the spot, and the vet got us some bandages, but nothing's staying in place against the licking and the patch is now sore.

Short of resorting to a cone of shame, has anyone managed to stop their dog licking? (She's not stressed any more, is back on exercise and generally a cheerful pup, she's just got a bit fixated on this spot!)

Any advice would be appreciated!

Bitter apple spray, on Amazon.

I would want to make sure it's not just a coincidence.

But if she's sore, she may need ointment or painkillers plus the cone of shame until it heals, unfortunately.

Please don't put bitter apple spray on raw skin!

This may be referred pain.
As in, she is licking her legs for comfort, but the pain is elsewhere, possibly her wound.
Does she have pain killers? is she hot anywhere - ears, tummy ?

Bitter Apple is great to stop her chewing things - skirting board, shoes etc, but is not to be used on the dog herself. I do find lavender crème soothes and is not ‘tasty’
My dog was licking his front legs the other day. Physio worked on his spine, and licking stopped.

I’ve seen this happen at IV catheter sites particularly if there’s been trouble placing a vein. If it’s a forelimb I would consider whether the leg is actually still a bit tender and that’s why?

Watch out for infection and don't let them lick.. keep on at him/ her, cover with a cushion, distract etc.. we naively let our dog lick a sore spot without realising the damage she was doing. Took months to heal in the end and cost hundreds in vets bills

Just put the cone on!

Thanks for all the advice! I will definitely keep on with the bandages and cream (the vet prescribed some). I think it is on the IV site; it's on her right foreleg.

I'll work on distracting her - she's very good at stopping when I tell her to leave it! Luckily I'm with her most of the time so I can keep an eye on things. No heat or tenderness elsewhere, and the vet was really pleased with her actual wound.

Bitter apple never stopped her chewing as a puppy, she just looked outraged that things weren't as tasty!

Thanks again.

A friend of mine used a child's long sleeved t-shirt on her dog, knotting it at the waist. It did the job and allowed zero access to the sore leg.

When my (very inventive - so came up with a strategy to defeat most every effort) dog had the same issue with licking a wound area, I got him an inflatable collar - it stopped him licking because he couldn't reach it, but was softer and kinder than the cone of shame. Cost about a tenner on Amazon, it's very robust and has a removable cover so it can be washed.

@UltimateIrritant that's a good idea - I'll give that a try, then go for an inflatable collar if that doesn't work (poor dog is thoroughly unimpressed by me adding clothes to her at the moment!)