Question: What is your recommended treatment for canine Lick Granuloma? I have been told that they do not heal up and my dog has had a small one for about two months now with no significant improvement. It originated from either a bite or scrap because she does not habitually lick her legs or feet out of boredom. It has not gotten any larger but just not gotten cleared up. She has taken antibiotics and I just started applying a topical cream.

Any help you could offer would be greatly appreciated.

Answer: Lick Granulomas can be very difficult to treat—they often have a medical and a behavioral component to them. Often the granuloma is caused by an injury and then the dog continues to lick it (due to pain, irritation, etc) and they get a “high” so to speak from the licking process. So even if the underlying problem is gone, they continue to lick—essentially because it feels good. The most important thing is to make sure there is not a deep infection or an underlying problem causing the lick granuloma—a deep culture and even xrays are sometimes necessary to assess for draining tracts and bony changes. Most dogs require 4 to 6 weeks of oral antibiotics, the diligent use of an Elizabethan collar (head cone!) and possibly even topical creams. Even if your dog appears to not be licking the area—they must wear a cone—most dogs secretly lick the area (at night, when you aren’t home, etc).

Often there is no medical problem causing a lick granuloma—it can be just a behavior issue. Many of these dogs are very anxious and often there are environmental triggers that can be identified—such as separation anxiety, new children or people in the home, social conflicts with other animals in the home, lack of appropriate outlets for normal “doggy” stuff. It helps to identify and address any possible stressors. A gentle leader head-collar with a drag line should also be used to allow you to redirect your dog when he licks without punishing him and then rewarding him for the right behavior.

Hope these things help…keep us posted.
Dr. Donna Spector

Answers provided to pet owners by Dr. Donna Spector should be considered information and not specific advice. Answers are to be used for general information purposes only and not as a substitute for in-person evaluation or specific professional advice from your veterinarian. Communications on this site are very limited and should never be used in possible cases of emergency. Halo, Purely for Pets will not be liable for any loss or damage caused by your reliance on any information or content contained in a blog or article post.