Tricyclic Antidepressants

Chronic licking – till raw and bloody

Question:

The suggestion I can think of is a specialist, maybe a veterinary behaviorist?? Or dermatologist? Try one of the large university vet schools. I’ve heard they are using medications for behavioral problems (Prozac and the like), but don’t know much about it. One other consideration, could it be some sort of allergy? Have you had him tested? I would say it was an unusual manifestation of allergies, but you asked for suggestions and these are things that come to my mind(probably because I worked for an allergy specialist).  After ten years of this though, I’m not sure there is much anyone can do.  Maybe alternative treatments would be an option in this case. I’m so sorry for you and your poor dog, this must be very hard on all of you. >We have a golden retriever (12.5 years old) who has licked his legs raw and >bloody for 10 years.

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Response:

> We have a golden retriever (12.5 years old) who has licked his legs raw and > bloody for 10 years.  Apparently it started as a seperation anxiety when we put > him in a kennel for 2 weeks because when we brought him home he had a raw spot. >  Over the years it has gotten worse and worse.  Now he has huge raw spots on > all 4 legs where there is no skin at all and at times he leaves droplets of > blood all over because of the bleeding.  We have tried everything (except > acupuncture) – cortizone, shots, wrapping and binding, sprays, Elizabethean > collar, you name it.  The vet says it is the worst case he has ever seen and at > this point is probably developed into a neurological habit.  At times it smells > so bad it reeks.  This is a beautiful dog, wonderful temperment, and part of > our family.  Any suggestions at all that we can try?  My husband is threatening > having him put to sleep – but there is too much good life left in him.  He > deserves better than what he is doing to himself. Please help!

   I’m not sure if this is a behavioral or medical problem.  The duration, intensity, and failure to respond to treatments seem to indicatea behavioral problem.  However, the fact that all four limbs seems to indicate a medical problem.  I suggest you have a vet (perhaps a dermatologist?) take a look at him and aggressively attempt to persue a diagnosis.    If it IS behavioral in nature, I’d highly recommend you find a good veterinary behaviorist ASAP.  They have some very good drugs to break the cycle of acral lick dermatitis (chronic self-mutilation of the limbs). One particularly good one is clomipramine.  I think your dog can absolutely live a good life with swift and aggressive behavior therapy. Erik "Rouleaux" Hofmeister WSU Class ‘00 PLEASE NOTE: In the absence of a traditional veterinarian-client-patient relationship, this information should be taken as a friendly opinion, not as an official clinical recommendation.  Also realize that I am a veterinary student, and anything stated should be taken with that in mind.

Response:

: We have a golden retriever (12.5 years old) who has licked his legs raw and : bloody for 10 years.  Apparently it started as a seperation anxiety when we put : him in a kennel for 2 weeks because when we brought him home he had a raw spot. :  Over the years it has gotten worse and worse.  Now he has huge raw spots on : all 4 legs where there is no skin at all and at times he leaves droplets of : blood all over because of the bleeding.  We have tried everything (except : acupuncture) – cortizone, shots, wrapping and binding, sprays, Elizabethean : collar, you name it.  The vet says it is the worst case he has ever seen and at : this point is probably developed into a neurological habit.  At times it smells : so bad it reeks.  This is a beautiful dog, wonderful temperment, and part of : our family.  sorry to seem unkind, but he sounds like a monster to me… I get visions of frankenstien X with trasporter accident. You’re a loyal and caring person to have invested so much in his care. At this point he seems to be distressing your entire family, in this pitiable condition. The old fellow seems to have reached the end of his rope. Please consider his and your family’s quality of life conserning this issue.  Any suggestions at all that we can try?  My husband is threatening : having him put to sleep – but there is too much good life left in him.  He : deserves better than what he is doing to himself. Please help!

Response:

We have a golden retriever (12.5 years old) who has licked his legs raw and bloody for 10 years.  Apparently it started as a seperation anxiety when we put him in a kennel for 2 weeks because when we brought him home he had a raw spot.  Over the years it has gotten worse and worse.  Now he has huge raw spots on all 4 legs where there is no skin at all and at times he leaves droplets of blood all over because of the bleeding.  We have tried everything (except acupuncture) – cortizone, shots, wrapping and binding, sprays, Elizabethean collar, you name it.  The vet says it is the worst case he has ever seen and at this point is probably developed into a neurological habit.  At times it smells so bad it reeks.  This is a beautiful dog, wonderful temperment, and part of our family.  Any suggestions at all that we can try?  My husband is threatening having him put to sleep – but there is too much good life left in him.  He deserves better than what he is doing to himself. Please help!

Response:

I wish I knew something that could help, but all I can go is wish you lots of luck! Labrynth > We have a golden retriever (12.5 years old) who has licked his legs raw and > bloody for 10 years.  Apparently it started as a seperation anxiety when we put > him in a kennel for 2 weeks because when we brought him home he had a raw spot. >  Over the years it has gotten worse and worse.  Now he has huge raw spots on > all 4 legs where there is no skin at all and at times he leaves droplets of > blood all over because of the bleeding.  We have tried everything (except > acupuncture) – cortizone, shots, wrapping and binding, sprays, Elizabethean > collar, you name it.  The vet says it is the worst case he has ever seen and at > this point is probably developed into a neurological habit.  At times it smells > so bad it reeks.  This is a beautiful dog, wonderful temperment, and part of > our family.  Any suggestions at all that we can try?  My husband is threatening > having him put to sleep – but there is too much good life left in him.  He > deserves better than what he is doing to himself. Please help!

– http://www.abraxis.com/niceguy/labrynth

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >: We have a golden retriever (12.5 years old) who has licked his legs raw and >: bloody for 10 years.  Apparently it started as a seperation anxiety when we >put >: him in a kennel for 2 weeks because when we brought him home he had a raw >spot. >:  Over the years it has gotten worse and worse.  Now he has huge raw spots >on >: all 4 legs where there is no skin at all and at times he leaves droplets of >: blood all over because of the bleeding.  We have tried everything (except >: acupuncture) – cortizone, shots, wrapping and binding, sprays, Elizabethean >: collar, you name it.  The vet says it is the worst case he has ever seen >and at >: this point is probably developed into a neurological habit.  At times it >smells >: so bad it reeks.  This is a beautiful dog, wonderful temperment, and part >of >: our family. > sorry to seem unkind, but he sounds like a monster to me… I get >visions of frankenstien X with trasporter accident. You’re a loyal and >caring person to have invested so much in his care. At this point he >seems to be distressing your entire family, in this pitiable condition. >The old fellow seems to have reached the end of his rope. Please consider >his and your family’s quality of life conserning this issue.

Elaine, I hope you aren’t serious. You think a dog should be put to sleep for a case of seperation anxiety. Wlnson, Have you tried remedies for stress. A homeopathic remedy may work or perhaps some valerian or kava when you leave him alone. I had a dog that was stressed a lot and licked a sore spot on her hind leg. To get it to heal I put a sock on her and taped it at the top so it would stay on. Do you have a holistic vet you can bring your dog to?? You need to get those sores to heal and get really active in trying to get to the bottom of your dogs anxiety so you can relieve it. Good Luck, Elizabeth

Response:

Filed under: Clomipramine (Anafran)