A few months ago I noticed Violet had licked the inside of her front paw raw - right down to the skin. So she wore a collar for a few weeks and then everything seemed ok. Then last week, as I watched her licking her inside rear leg I saw pink. She'd licked down the skin again. Then watched her and she just was licking everything, obsessively.
So back with the collar and on to vet. She's taking Atopica once a day. Vet says it's not approved for dogs in the USA but it's used in Canada and she has over a dozen pets on it and it works great. This is the 3rd day and she's still licking. Hopefully it will take effect in the next few days. The vet said that the licking is a behavior problem now. Once it works, we can lessen how often it's given. I sure hope so. This stuff costs $51 for 2 weeks. That's over a $100 a month. If it doesn't work, then we might try steriods which isn't a good thing. Either way, she can't live in a collar forever.
And Violet being Violet, this hasn't put a crimp on her activities. She still flies over the bed when I throw her little ball.
The story is sad but the picture is cute - I like. my cat Zippy licks and actually pulls out her hair with her teeth on her front paws...:(
Posted by: Nina | November 09, 2010 at 07:33 PM
Before we were married, DH's dog used to lick and tug on the hair around her toes - until she was down to bare skin and limping.
They went through what you have been going through with your vet - his vet said it was a hyperactive dog (with anxiety issues); or was allergic to something in the grasses where she was walked on a daily basis; or was missing out on an important vitamin - etc. etc.
At some point, someone gave her bottled water instead of tap water. Her chewing at herself completely stopped!
She had been allergic to something in the tap water. Hope your - and Violet's - solution is as simple.
Posted by: Janey W | November 13, 2010 at 12:45 AM