• What does a lick granuloma look like?
• What causes a lick granuloma?
• How does a lick granuloma develop?
• Are certain breeds and ages more likely to develop a lick granuloma?
• How are lick granulomas treated?
  • Find and treat cause of any triggering irritation
  • Treatment of the lick granuloma
    • Bad-tasting solutions
    • Anti-inflammatory/anti-irritation treatments
    • Antibiotics
    • Removal and destruction of the granuloma
    • No access to granuloma
    • Environment modification
    • Behavior modifying drugs
    • DAP collar
  • Long-term outcome of treating lick granulomas

What does a lick granuloma look like?

A lick granuloma is an area, usually oval, that has lost the hair and become raised, thick and hard. They are usually found on the lower leg often at the wrist or elbow.

The area of the lick granuloma will usually be reddish and not look dry, but fresh looking, due to the constant licking.

Some dogs will lick the area enough to break through the skin and keep the area raw.

A lick granuloma is different from a pressure sore, caused by pressure on a joint, from lying on a hard surface. Besides the fact that a dog does not constantly lick the area, a pressure sore is a callus and has a drier, more gray look to it.

What causes a lick granuloma?

Lick granulomas were thought to start due to psychological causes, and were usually said to be a result of obsessive compulsive disorder. It was suggested that most started due to boredom and inactivity, and/or separation anxiety.

Though obsessive compulsive disorder is certainly the reason for starting to lick an area in some dogs, it is now thought that in many dogs that there is a specific trigger for starting to lick an area.

The most common of the specific triggers for lick granulomas are thought to be allergy, bacterial or fungal infections, demodectic mange (a mite), injury or a joint problem.

Allergy is now considered to be the major cause of lick granuloma. In dogs, even for allergens like pollen, the allergic response is usually itchy skin. (Check out the What Are The Potential Symptoms Of Canine Allergies). The itchy skin starts the lick cycle.

Once a dog has started to lick an area, often many will continue to lick the area.

The licking may its self cause irritation (think scratching a mosquito bite), infection caused by licking may make the skin itchy, or the dog may find the repeated licking comforting, or the dog is compulsive.

There is some evidence that repeated licking causes the release of endorphins, and so a dog may well be deriving pleasure from repetitive licking.

How does a lick granuloma develop?

Initially, something focuses the dog’s attention on the area, probably irritation due to an itch, an infection or a wound. The dog licks the area. Whether the irritation caused by the licking perpetuates the behavior and/or the behavior becomes compulsive, a lick granuloma will start to develop.

The repeated licking results in loss of hair in the area and the thickening of the skin due to the constant rubbing of the tongue.

Often there are infections, particularly if the skin breaks and granuloma becomes raw.

Eventually, after a period of time there can be a serious wound.

Are certain breeds and ages more likely to develop a lick granuloma?

Large, particularly shorthaired dogs are the most likely to develop a lick granuloma, though it can occur in any breed. Breeds that seem to be more predisposed include Boxer, Doberman Pinscher, Great Dane, German Shepherd, Irish Setter, Labrador Retriever and Golden Retriever (obviously not shorthaired).

Lick granulomas are uncommon in young dogs. Most lick granulomas start in middle age.

 
Next Page – Lick Granulomas – Treatments
 
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