BC Crazy Posted July 2, 2012 Share Posted July 2, 2012 (edited) My 18 month old Border Collie girl has last night started to lick both her front leg, at the top, front, where the leg joins her body. I noticed her fur was wet & the skin is quite pink underneath. It is a patch as big as a 10 cent piece or there abouts.It isn't a hot spot but I want to catch it before it becomes one. She isn't scratching & doesn't have fleas. Am a little concerned as to what is wrong. She seems well & her happy usual self. She is a very highly strung girl. Could this be stress related? Is there something I should be putting of it, cream or something. Any advice on this would be greatly appreciated. Thank's in advance :) Edited July 3, 2012 by BC Crazy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 It can definitely be a 'comfort' thing ..it can also be an indicator of pain in a joint ..... kep her well supplied with chewing opportunities for now... and maybe dab/spray on some bitter bite or similar ..don't use vicks or citronella - the odour will be annoying . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BC Crazy Posted July 3, 2012 Author Share Posted July 3, 2012 (edited) Hi persephone, She has been out with me all morning running around & stuff. I paid special attention to her & didn't notice a limp or anything out of the ordinary. Stella is a quirky girl. She carries & sucks on a her toy pelican 'Pete' pretty much the whole time she is at home in the backyard & Pete also doubles as a pillow when she is tired It's like a dummy for her. She has always done this since I brought her home at 12 week's old. So I didn't take much notice when her leg was saliva soaked at first cause she always has slobber on her. Then I noticed her constantly licking this one spot last night. It does look irritated slightly & a bit red. This very well may be a comfort thing with her, she is a very needy girl. Will try your suggestion, got to find something bitter. Hopefully it will help her to stop licking it. Thanks pp :) Edited July 3, 2012 by BC Crazy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 I had a bed sucker ... he was with me at home, at work , on holidays ... but I got him at between 1 -2 yrs old . he sucked his bed a lot... all his favourite bedding had these round holes in . It looked cute ..but was a problem. he also licked his forelegs. the only thing which gave him and me some respite was a visit to the chiropractor (mine!) He was then just very gently treated ..and for days after was such a mellow fellow - folks used to notice the difference!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BC Crazy Posted July 3, 2012 Author Share Posted July 3, 2012 (edited) Well that is a coincidence pp, isn't it. With the forelegs being licked as well It is really strange behaviour. I have never had a dog suck on things like Stella does or carry anything for any extended period of time. I did try to break her of this habit when she was young but to no avail. She just flipped out & ran around frantic till she found Pete then she was right. She lies like a turtle & turns Pete upside down, her front feet goes on his head & she sucks on his tail part. It is the same ritual every time. Then when she gets up or gets a fright, which she does a lot, she just carries him in her mouth, everywhere. It does look cute but I do feel it is a real anxiety issue with her, just like a dummy for a child She sucks on it for hours at a time. She has lots of toys but Pete is the only one she does this to. When she is inside with us, she gets a few of her other toys & puts them under her front legs, then plonks poor Pete on top of them & off she goes again. We get a lot of attention when we go camping, people stop & look as she is running around with this big honking bird in her mouth. Even funnier when she is out on the boat with us & Pete is with us as well I do think this leg licking is going to be a problem, hope I can break her of it. Was your bed sucker a nervy type of dog PP? What was his nature like? PM me if you want to PP Edited July 3, 2012 by BC Crazy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stari Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 My dobermann was recently put on Endep for the same problem. He has an old injury on his leg, and he licks and licks it until it is raw, his leg swells up and he starts limping and hopping. The vet said it is a habit and is stress related, the Endep is supposed to relax him. So far, I haven't seen too much improvement, he is calmer but he still licks his leg. Next thing I want to try is the bittering liquid, but I have a feeling he will just lick it off anyway. Stupid animal If you find a solution, please let us know, I'd love to hear of other things to try. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BC Crazy Posted July 3, 2012 Author Share Posted July 3, 2012 (edited) Sure, will do. Such strange behaviour, isn't it? I am going to try some bitter spray. See if it will help any. Edited July 3, 2012 by BC Crazy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stari Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 It is strange, I suppose it is like an OCD in humans, you know you shouldn't be doing it but you can't help it It is funny that you mention the sucking thing - when Drake was a pup he used to suck on our other dog's hindlegs/ back for ages, as long as Ty would let him do it. He grew out of that, but I wonder if it is related. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~Rumour~ Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 (edited) This is my boy with his comfort toy Trevor (the fourth). Much like your dog BC Crazy, Diesel will always have 'trevor' wrapped in his paws and suck on him. He will occasionally also lick the toy all over. We have made it our house that he only get the toy at night time other he would suck on it all day. Diesel is also a compulsive licker. He will lick his legs, paws, stomach as much as possible. We've had him checked out but it seems he just likes to do it. He is a very soft natured boy. Edited July 3, 2012 by ~Rumour~ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noisymina Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 Suggest you look into T-Touch for dogs. It did wonders to calm my Dobe. And it only took one book - not all the fancy training sessions etc that are advertised these days. Just zero in on the chapter most suited to your immediate needs. I've used it a bit on my new dog and she has a thunder-shirt as well which I'm sure has also helped her settle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BC Crazy Posted July 3, 2012 Author Share Posted July 3, 2012 (edited) Oh WOW Rumour, Diesel does exactly the same as what Stella does. That's uncanny. I never thought I'd see anyone else's dog doing this as it is quite quirky, isn't it? Especially when they do it for hours on end. I might try & see if I can limit her having Pete to only in the night time when she comes inside or something, that's a good idea. Because she does have Pete all the time when she is at home during the daytime. Stella is a very soft natured girl too. Although if she is mad, look out. She is very feisty if her feathers are ruffled She is very on edge most of the time though. Stella has just started this licking thing & it concerns me as she has made her leg quite red now already. So am going to try some bitter spray & see if it helps. Diesel looks like a lovely boy Rumour. Has Diesel always had Trevor ? Had to just add Stella is the most affectionate dog. She just loves a cuddle. Edited July 3, 2012 by BC Crazy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BC Crazy Posted July 3, 2012 Author Share Posted July 3, 2012 Suggest you look into T-Touch for dogs. It did wonders to calm my Dobe. And it only took one book - not all the fancy training sessions etc that are advertised these days. Just zero in on the chapter most suited to your immediate needs. I've used it a bit on my new dog and she has a thunder-shirt as well which I'm sure has also helped her settle. Have a Thunder Shirt, it works sometimes. What is T-Touch about noisymina? I am curious. Sounds like it may help & I'll try anything to help Stella have a more relaxed life than she had at the minute. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aussielover Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 My atopic dog sometimes licks in that area. Usually only one limb is affected at a time. It is quite a common spot for itchy dogs to focus on. Some dogs can over react to a little bit of itchiness or be very sensitive these are usually naturally anxious dogs though. Drugs like fluoxetine (Prozac) can sometimes help these dogs. However usually there is an underlying reason why they would start itching- commonly allergy or joint pain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~Rumour~ Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 He's had Trevor from just before he was six months old (he turns three in October). Diesel's never licked so much that he's gone red but his latest obsession is to try and lick our rug in the living room as much as possible Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BC Crazy Posted July 3, 2012 Author Share Posted July 3, 2012 It is strange, I suppose it is like an OCD in humans, you know you shouldn't be doing it but you can't help it It is funny that you mention the sucking thing - when Drake was a pup he used to suck on our other dog's hindlegs/ back for ages, as long as Ty would let him do it. He grew out of that, but I wonder if it is related. Yes I don't even think she knows she is sucking on Pete & when she is she is a million miles away. Totally relaxed. I think it is like OCD. Funny Drake sucking the other dogs hind legs. I thought Stella would grow out of this but she didn't. I think the sucking thing/licking anxiety all of those things are connected somehow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BC Crazy Posted July 3, 2012 Author Share Posted July 3, 2012 He's had Trevor from just before he was six months old (he turns three in October). Diesel's never licked so much that he's gone red but his latest obsession is to try and lick our rug in the living room as much as possible Stella doesn't suck anything like that. Just poor Pete. She has 7 Pete's. I have to wash them cause they are drenched with slobber by the end of each day, so she gets a clean one to come inside with at the end of each day :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~Rumour~ Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 (edited) Yes Trevor must be sucked on at all times including when he's sleeping He was nice enough to share Trevor with our new pup on her first night but just that once :laugh: Edited July 3, 2012 by ~Rumour~ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noisymina Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 Damn - I can't find my T-Touch book - must have a search! But this link is the latest version, it seems. http://www.ttouch.com/shop/index.php?productID=171 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BC Crazy Posted July 4, 2012 Author Share Posted July 4, 2012 Damn - I can't find my T-Touch book - must have a search! But this link is the latest version, it seems. http://www.ttouch.com/shop/index.php?productID=171 I am going to myself a copy of this. It may just help her. I had never heard of it before. Many thanks for providing the link noisymina, appreciate it :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BC Crazy Posted July 4, 2012 Author Share Posted July 4, 2012 (edited) Rumour, how nice of Deisel to share Trevor for one night. There is NO sharing Pete around here, even though Pete the first was originally Sonny's to begin with. He only has to look like he is going near him these days & little miss NO SHARE runs over & grabs him in her mouth, gives poor Sonny a filthy look & off she goes :laugh: She is a little miss. Lovely photo's by the way of your boy. I will post some pic's of my girl when I figure out how to do it I am thinking Stella may have a sore shoulder or fore arm as she wasn't her happy self last night. Very quiet. So I gave her some anti inflamitory & she was a lot brighter this morning, so I might continue it for a short time & see how we go. She is still licking her leg but not to the extent that she was. Edited July 4, 2012 by BC Crazy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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