Constant Licking - What Could It Be?

[Stitch]

My older girl (desexed) who has IBS is constantly licking her girl part and around the bum area.

She has ongoing issues with her anal glands which I express every 1-2 weeks.

It is the constant licking that concerns me though as she has always been regularly inspected by the vet and apart from the anal gland issue he can never find any other reason for the licking other than the glands. The glands would cause the bum licking but licking the other area to me seems like another issue altogether.

I wondered if it could be the pH of the urine which is irritating her - thats the only thing I could think of, but someone may be able to throw some more light on this problem.

I need a Dr.House to solve this mystery.

[~Anne~]

Does she also drag her bottom or attempt to scratch it?

I have a little Pug who did this although she wasn't dragging her bottom exactly, but the area just in front which I didn't really notice immediately. I just assumed she was bottom dragging. I assumed, as most would, that it anal sac related but it wasn't. I ruled out worms as they are regularly wormed with Sentinel Spectrum. It was worse during heat and humidity too.

I was stumped until one day looking at the area around her vulva and anus and I noticed the fur had that purple/red tinge that is associated with irritated skin. It turned out that she had a very deep pocket/crease on either side of her vulva and this had some kind of tinea type fungus infection. I began bathing it every day with Malaseb and the problem resolved itself. It comes back every time we have high humidity though. As soon as I notice her begining to try and scratch I treat her with the Malaseb.

[Stitch]

Bathing with Malaseb wouldn't hurt but I do use a T Tree oil shampoo normally anyway.

I suppose it could be a yeast infection though.

She doesn't drag her bum along the ground, I use Interceptor so I isn't worms.

I apply Advantix so it isn't fleas.

She doesn't urinate frequently but she isn't a dog that drinks a lot of water either.

Hmmmm, that is starting to narrow down the possibilities.

[t-time]

What about trying to neutralise the acidity in the urine as well? Can't hurt!

Add some Apple Cider Vinegar to her drinking water or food and in addition up the ante by putting natural yoghurt in her food.

I know you've prolly "heard it all before" but it might be worth a try?

ETA because I can't spell neutralise!

Edited May 25, 2010 by t-time

[Stitch]

Yes you can, T-time!!!

I have to be careful what I feed this dog - her digestive system from mouth to bum has always been a problem!! (sigh)

I guess I will never know until I try it, but as I said she doesn't drink alot however...... I will get some from the health food shop tomorrow.

I believe it has to be the organic kind.

[sas]

Allergies could be a cause.

My girl does the same thing when she has certain proteins.

[t-time]

LOL Stitch

Yep ACV with the cloudy "mother" in it - shake it before you use it and most times it's easier if you put it in food - I've found it takes longer for the dog to adjust if the ACV is in water

Is she also allergic to yoghurt/dairy? I do find Yakult to be excellent or even that "Inner Health Plus" might be good? Expensive but probably worth it to improve the good gut bacteria?

[~Anne~]

Yes you can, T-time!!!

I have to be careful what I feed this dog - her digestive system from mouth to bum has always been a problem!! (sigh)

I guess I will never know until I try it, but as I said she doesn't drink alot however...... I will get some from the health food shop tomorrow.

I believe it has to be the organic kind.

I have a little Pug that is prone to UTIs and crystals. I encourgae her to drink by making a warm broth each morning from a touch of her food. I give it to all of them. Usually, when a rescue first arrives they don't drink i t but I offer it each day and within a few days they begin to lap at it and within a week they are eagerly awaiting for it.

[Stitch]

Several weeks ago she had a upset gut. I think there was a bug going around but of course if she gets anything like that it always effects her much worse than my other dogs.

Anyway, she couldn't tolerate the Hills ID which she had been successfully eating for quite a while.

So I started feeding her boiled chicken, rice and veges which you can imagine she loved after having to eat ID.

Promblem was that she absolutely needed to wee several times in the next few hours, and this is a dog that can hold on for ages normally.

If she wasn't able to get outside in this period she would have an accident in the house which for her is totally out of character.

I put it down to the extra water content of the new diet.

I noticed also that when she was so full of urine it would leak out involuntarily.

I stopped feeding her the chicken,rice, veges. when her gut settled and consequently the need to urinate excessively also stopped.

At that point I decided to try her on Scottys Nutraroll and low an behold I found she could tolerate it without vomiting or diahorrea - GREAT!

However now, after about 7 days on Scottys it seems that the frequent urination after mealtime is returning.

So all the above is the recent history - I am now thinking that it just might be pertinent to the present condition of excessive licking of the privates.

It is sounding like a UTI but it is different as urination is normal at all other times except for 1-3 hours after eating - she does not need to urinate overnight and her first wee of the day is not excessive or strained etc.

[Stitch]

Things have progressed, she is now drinking more than usual especially after her dinner.

She didn't drink this much after the Hills ID.

[Dagmar]

Could it be that she got incontinent? Just a little bit dripping out at times and she tries to lick it away? My dog did that as she got incontinent and it took me a while to figure out what that licking was about.

Several weeks ago she had a upset gut. I think there was a bug going around but of course if she gets anything like that it always effects her much worse than my other dogs.

Anyway, she couldn't tolerate the Hills ID which she had been successfully eating for quite a while.

So I started feeding her boiled chicken, rice and veges which you can imagine she loved after having to eat ID.

Promblem was that she absolutely needed to wee several times in the next few hours, and this is a dog that can hold on for ages normally.

If she wasn't able to get outside in this period she would have an accident in the house which for her is totally out of character.

I put it down to the extra water content of the new diet.

I noticed also that when she was so full of urine it would leak out involuntarily.

I stopped feeding her the chicken,rice, veges. when her gut settled and consequently the need to urinate excessively also stopped.

At that point I decided to try her on Scottys Nutraroll and low an behold I found she could tolerate it without vomiting or diahorrea - GREAT!

However now, after about 7 days on Scottys it seems that the frequent urination after mealtime is returning.

So all the above is the recent history - I am now thinking that it just might be pertinent to the present condition of excessive licking of the privates.

It is sounding like a UTI but it is different as urination is normal at all other times except for 1-3 hours after eating - she does not need to urinate overnight and her first wee of the day is not excessive or strained etc.

[Stitch]

The mystery continues.

She is now on a course of 'just in case' antibiotics and I have switched her back to Hills ID.

I have also started to add the Apple Cider Vinegar.

She seemed happier this morning but I have been sucked in before with this girl.

We will see what eventuates.