Licky Dog

[Zen]

OK, sombody explain why Roxina has this obsessive compulsive licking disorder?

Poor Ginger.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

One of my cats licks her chops and and grooms herself obsessively when she has gum inflammation due to whenever her kidneys start functioning poorly. The licking apparently soothes her swollen inflamed (and possibly itchy?) gums. Then we need to make sure she gets more fluids in order to flush the toxins from her kidneys better. After a couple of weeks with more fluid in her diet, her gums improve and she doesn't lick so much. Just one possibility of many.

[bmccasland]

Zen - I'm at home, thus can't see videos (dang dial-up). Did this possibly start with some sort of bug bite? I had the same problem with Nala, my Aussie shepherd, and battled it for years I'm afraid to say. She constantly licked her left foreleg, and had three lick granulomas at the worst of it. Part of her anxiousness was that I was an unhappy camper.

What worked: I changed jobs. Started walking Nala every day for 20-30 minutes. Treated the wounds with antibiotic ointment that had some pain killer in it (OTC), covered with a sterile dressing, wrapped with kling gauze, then wrapped in kerlex (put those EMT skills to good use!). Fortunately Nala would leave the dressing alone. Change the dressing daily until the wound started healing. Yell "NO LICK" any time I heard the slurp slurp slurp.

You've got to redirect the pup's mind when they're doing the Obsessive-Compulsive thing, every time. Does pup get regular long walks? Not stroll around sniff every bush, but out there with a purpose, cover territory, brisk walk for 20-30 minutes every day? Maybe even twice daily?

Ever watch Ceasar Milan, the Dog Whisperer? I learned a lot watching his show.

[Zen]

Watch this when you get home.
She licks everything. Herself, Ginger, upholstery, chair arms...it's maddening!

[bmccasland]

Watch this when you get home.
She licks everything. Herself, Ginger, upholstery, chair arms...it's maddening!

I'm at home, thus the cheap internet option of dial-up. When I'm at work, I have high speed. I just have to be careful what sites I visit.

Sounds like the dog needs a job in life, and enough exercise to tire it out. Hook doogie to a leash and go for a run / bike ride?

[Biciclista]

Now that i've seen the video, are you sure that there isn't steak juice on that other dog's backside? In cats social grooming is a big plus. the groomer would lick the other cat (notice the dog laying down was not complaining) until the recipient gets tired of it, but it's a way to get into the good graces of another.
I've had cats that licked themselves raw, that's a very different thing, a nervous disorder, or like bmccasland, they need a job to do, they have all this energy and nowhere to go with it.

[Dogmama]

One of my cats licks her chops and and grooms herself obsessively when she has gum inflammation due to whenever her kidneys start functioning poorly. The licking apparently soothes her swollen inflamed (and possibly itchy?) gums. Then we need to make sure she gets more fluids in order to flush the toxins from her kidneys better. After a couple of weeks with more fluid in her diet, her gums improve and she doesn't lick so much. Just one possibility of many.

My cat was licking the fur off of his side. Turns out that he has a little arthritis in his hip. We added a glucosamine kitty treat and he's stopped licking.

I thought he was a nut case. Really - my vet said some animals as they age get a little OCD going on. In my house, it's probably contagious. He got it from me.

[katluvr]

Yes, we have a cat named Lucky (maybe it is cuz the name is more like a dog name) and she "licks me like a dawg!" (That is what we say all the time in my house!)
She doesn't lick herself or other excessivly...but I joking call her a dog...she likes my (or her other mommy's) face tries to do it all night long when she is in bed w/ me. I have to cover my face. And lately she has taken to trying to lay on my head to sleep!
Wonder why I am tired in the AM?!