Compulsive Licking - JUST STARTED

[a1r1ka]

Papi has never been like this before, but ever since we brought him back from a short stint in a kennel (it's also a fun doggie day care place he goes to about once week) while we were vacationing out of town, he's been licking nonstop. Front and back paws and his boy parts. . .constantly. They're not raw or bleeding or anything, because we stop him, but it's leaving huge wet marks on everything and it sounds gross.

Is this a sign of something he caught from the kennel, or something that went wrong?
(We had them feed him his normal food, but he came back pretty skinny, losing hair, with fleas, and a kennel couch. . .damnit.)

 

[Lola's mum]

For the past couple of days Lola has licked one of her paws and there is some hair loss between 2 of her toes now. There seems to be nothing in there as she's in no discomfort etc.

Maybe if you gave your baby a bath as he seems to be licking a few places and see if that helps him?

 

[dharmadoodle]

(We had them feed him his normal food, but he came back pretty skinny, losing hair, with fleas, and a kennel couch. . .damnit.)

Well I was wondering if they didn't actually do what you asked.

Not a place I would use again.

Take a trip to your vet to get him checked over.

He'll need those fleas treated. He probably does need a bath too, use something mild.

 

[a1r1ka]

More Info

He had a bath the day he came home, and then I treated him for fleas a few days later as well (flea shampoo and Frontline), so I think those are gone. . .I thought maybe this was an allergy or, hell, I don't know, maybe it was some sort of weird reaction to stress, but it's been over two weeks now and the licking is not letting up. He's back in his routine and looking healthy and acting happy, but the lick lick lick is driving us nuts.

 

[Net45582]

If its been going on this long,I would rule out any medical reasons by letting the vet have a look see. Does your guy lay in grass? There may be an allergy.

 

[Adelle]

I would have your vet look at him, I had a similar problem with my female licking her female bits excessively till she made herself raw. Turned out she had a very mild infection that she made much worse with the licking. But some ointment got it under control and she eventually stopped licking the area.

 

[a1r1ka]

I took him to the vet and they were pretty dismissive about it - since he wasn't bleeding or anything, they chalked it up to normal "dog" behavior. Argh, it's almost like he learned this from another dog. . .bad influences!