Disease Ontology ID: DDTO:0000943

Disease Description: A skin disease caused by an animal's licking a localized area excessively, especially on the legs and paws.

Inherit Mode: No mode of inheritance has been established.

Disease Symptom: Owners are generally amazed by the amount of damage a dog can do to his/her limb simply by continuous licking. Frequently the affected area becomes secondarily infected (pyoderma). Boredom and frustration are thought to play a role in this condition, which is often seen in highly intelligent dogs who spend much of their day alone.

Disease Cause: -

Disease Diagnose: It is important to rule out any underlying cause of the condition. Your veterinarian will likely do a skin biopsy for this purpose. This is a simple procedure, done with local anesthetic, in which your veterinarian removes a small sample of your dog's skin for examination by a veterinary pathologist.

Treat Method: Lick granulomas can be difficult for veterinarians to treat, and frustrating for the owner. Because boredom and frustration are thought to play a role in this condition, your veterinarian will likely discuss with you environmental enrichment and behaviour modification for your dog. S/he may prescribe certain drugs with anti-depressant or anti-anxiety properties for short periods, relying on your help in assessing the effects. Topical;corticosteroids may help as well. As the area is frequently secondarily affected, anti-bacterial therapy may be necessary.

Breeder Advice: Because inheritance appears to play a role in this complex condition, it is preferable not to breed dogs in whom acral lick dermatitis is a problem.

Disease Description Source: Link