Help Heal Your Dog’s Lick Granuloma

Sometimes dogs lick themselves to the point of injury. When this occurs, the resulting wound is referred to as a lick granuloma. Common on the wrist and carpal joint of the front limb, these injuries get worse without treatment. It’s important to determine the underlying cause and ensure your dog isn’t able to cause themselves further injury. This generally involves covering the area with bandages or other coverings.

DogLeggs™ products provide a comfortable and effective alternative to traditional bandages. Our revolutionary products support your pet as they heal and provide adequate coverage of the wound. This prevents further injury and provides an effective deterrent following treatment.

Cause of Lick Granuloma

The exact cause of lick granuloma is unknown, although the condition seems to be related to several physical and psychological factors. For example, this condition is more common in dogs that exhibit fear, anxiety, and obsessive compulsive behaviors. Sometimes the licking begins as a result of a minor skin irritation such as an insect bite.

It’s important to determine whether the cause is physical or psychological. This puts you in the best possible position to treat the underlying condition and prevent further injury.

Although lick granuloma is more common in larger breeds including Golden Retrievers, Labradors, Great Danes, and Doberman Pinchers, it can occur in any breed.

Diagnosing Lick Granuloma

It’s important to take your dog to the vet at the first sign of a problem. When ignored, lick granuloma can become much worse, with dogs causing themselves major harm. Infection is common.

Your veterinarian will base their diagnosis on the location and appearance of the wound. Sometime skin grafts or radiographs are necessary to rule out arthritis, injury, or skin conditions as a potential cause.

Lick Granuloma Treatment

Treatment will revolve around the underlying cause whether psychological or physical in nature. Treatment often involves antibiotic use or anti-inflammatory treatments used to reduce swelling and irritation around the sore. Psychopharmacologic medications can help with anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders.

It’s important to note that boredom is one of the most common causes of lick granuloma. Regular exercise and playtime is an important part of treatment.

Coverage and Prevention

As mentioned above, it’s important to ensure your dog does not continue licking the area during and after treatment. Although traditional bandages provide temporary coverage, they can be difficult to remove and apply.

Our Standard Adjustable DogLeggs™ provide padding and support for dogs affected by lick granuloma. Constructed from high quality materials, we build our adjustable braces to last. We custom-size each product to ensure it fits well and doesn’t slide out of place. The brace includes Velcro closures to simplify application and removal. The product allows your dog to move around freely. It does not stick to wounds like gauze or traditional bandages.

Please contact us for more information about our DogLeggs™ products.