What Every Dog Owner Needs to Know About Lick Granuloma

Dogs lick things. It’s just what they do.

But there are situations when a dog’s intense licking can lead to a condition called lick granuloma, or acral lick dermatitis, which is basically a self-inflicted wound that gets worse the more a dog licks it. Lick granulomas may show signs of hair loss, redness, inflammation, and open wounds on the lower legs.

There is no single cause of lick granuloma. It may result from a physical condition like allergies or a bug bite, and/or a psychological reason like anxiety or boredom. Physical and psychological causes may combine, and then as the licking continues, bacteria and or even a fungus can start making the skin worse. As the infection worsens, it becomes a vicious cycle that can be challenging to stop.

Diagnosing Lick Granuloma

Since there’s no one single cause of lick granuloma, getting to the bottom of how your dog’s lick cycle started can help guide the best treatment.

If you suspect that your dog has allergies, it can help to determine the type with your Veterinarian. Reducing exposure to environmental allergens and/or food allergy triggers can help reduce the itch that is leading to licking. Skin irritations like bug bites are simple enough to treat, but once they become part of the licking habit, there could be a bacterial or fungal infection involved. Other potential causes can be a splinter or debris lodged under the skin, cancer, recent skin injury or causes can go even deeper than skin level — including joint conditions like arthritis. Pain in a wrist, ankle, or paw joint, for example, may lead your dog to want to lick, and so the cycle begins. Depending on the location of the lick granuloma and other factors, like appearance, you can work with your vet to determine the best diagnostic tests to perform. Tests may include allergy tests, skin cultures, blood tests, biopsies, and X-rays if joint issues are suspected.

Typically, lick granulomas occur in areas your dog can reach easily — including the lower parts of their legs and the base of their tail.

Stopping the Lick Cycle

Once you know what’s causing your dog to lick, you can work with your Veterinarian to treat the underlying condition. — and any resulting infection — to help eliminate the need for your dog to lick. But by this time, your dog likely has a bit of a licking habit, and you may need to keep him away from the wound while it heals. Depending on the location of the wound, a sleeve, wrap, or sock may be useful. The Standard Length Adjustable DogLeggs offers coverage and protection for the elbow joints. For lick granulomas lower on the legs, DogLeggs' Front Leg Wrap protects wounds between the top of the paw and mid-forelimb. For issues on the back legs, a Hock Sock may help by offering coverage from the top of the paw to the ankle joint. For wounds along the torso, the Surgi-Sox Leggings protect the torso and forelimbs.

A condition on your dog’s skin, a behavioral issue, or an undiagnosed underlying condition can turn into a lick granuloma if licking becomes excessive. If you notice incessant licking in your dog, check it out with your Veterinarian before the problem gets worse.