Puppy Chewing His Own Legs

[snocozy]

Hi everyone, just wanting to find out if any ones knows what i should do if anything.

My 4 month old samoyed chews his front legs (knees) and chews the hair off, im guessing it is because he is growing.

But im not really sure iv never had a puppy do this before.

Please help

[Genabee]

Is he itchy there?

We have an elbow knee chewer here too, but I am pretty sure it is more out of itchiness... I have changed the shampoo we use and have added sardines to her diet and have noticed she doesn't do it anywhere near as often. I also try to distract her when I see her doing it, as it can become a learned behaviour, so I suggest you nip it in the bud sooner rather than later.

Some dogs also do this out of anxiety. Maybe if you rule out other possibilities (ie. allergic reaction to food or grass etc) maybe it is worth seeking behavioural help...

Good luck!

[snocozy]

I have never actually seen him doing it, but one morning i noticed his knees where missing a fair bit of hair.

I know it can get into a habbit really quickly so hopfully i can get him to stop it soon.

So i might change his shampoo and change his diet.

Thanks for those tips

[W Sibs]

maybe it's allergies.. maybe take him to the vet for a quick look over

[Bjelkier]

Take him to the vet and get him checked out, this isn't normal.

It could be an allergy, stress or bordem or maybe some kind of pain (I say pain becuase I knew two Samoyeds who would chew their front legs if something hurt)

Edited July 29, 2010 by Wolfsong

[persephone]

A yongster chewing at his elbows to that extent.....it may well be pain in the joints - or it could be other things. Please have it checked out - in particular the elbow joints.

[aussielover]

My old arthritic dog used to do this because of the pain initially, but then it sort of becomes a habit and makes them feel good so they keep doing it.

Also some dogs do it out of boredom.

It is called an acral lick granuloma and you should get it checked out by a vet, it is not normal in any dog but especially a puppy.

[persephone]

I have never actually seen him doing it, but one morning i noticed his knees where missing a fair bit of hair.

Ok? so perhaps he is NOT chewing at all? perhaps there is a mite/fungus causing it ?

The acral lick granulomas I have seen .. in kennelled dogs- have been on the 'forearm' towards the wrist- and they are a defined sore..raised, thickened , often weeping skin which the dog is constantly licking. They are not easy to cure.

before washing him or anything- get him checked by a vet- perhaps get skin scrapings done to check for parasites ...then work on the results

[snocozy]

I have had my boy the vet for his vaccination and a checkup, they gave me some liquid that tastes bad to put on his legs - So ill see if that works and hopefully the chewing has nothing to do with him being in pain fingers crossed

[persephone]

Oh- so they stop him doing it, without finding/addressing WHY? ..did they do a skin scraping after you told them that you haven't seen him chewing?

Hopefully it improves for him/you - puppies can be frustrating sometimes