My dog keeps licking his irritated leg. What home treatment can I use?

Anything you apply will likely be licked off before it has a chance to help. Your best option is to place an e-collar (cone) on her to prevent licking. Contact your veterinarian and ask about OTC or prescription antihistamines that may help if an allergic reaction is involved. A fish oil supplement may also help promote healthy skin. If symptoms persist, consider an exam to rule out infection or injury. You can also discuss allergy testing, food allergies and environmental allergies in depth with your veterinarian.

Gently clean it with warm water and antiseptic soap. Put an Ecollar on Dj to keep her from licking at it. You can buy one at a pet store or make one at home. Keep an eye on it, and if it gets swollen, warm to the touch, red, or you see pus, then it's infected and he has to see a vet. Best of luck. http://dogsaholic.com/care/homemade-dog-cone.html

Hi, thanks for using PetCoach! The black hairless area is a normal elbow callus. The pink area could be a growth or irritation or a skin infection. I would prevent the licking by using an E-collar. Then I would apply a triple antibiotic cream. Force him to lay on soft bedding to prevent further trauma and you can try an antihistamine. If there is no improvement the area should be looked at by a Vet as he may need oral antibiotics and a steroid or apoquel. Those are prescription drugs that can only be prescribed by a Vet that exams your dog. Good luck! https://www.petcoach.co/canigive/dog/zyrtec/

Place an e-collar (cone) on Bella to prevent further licking or chewing. Examine her closely for fleas or evidence of fleas. If you find fleas, use a topical preventative such as Frontline Plus or similar topical. Do this for at least three consecutive months, preferably year round. Vacuum everywhere she has been and wash all bedding. Using an area treatment such as Knockout ES in conjunction with consistent topical prevention should solve your flea problem. If you don't see fleas, treat the spot as best as you can. Keep the area clean and dry. Keeping the e-collar in place for a week or so may be enough to allow healing. The spot should begin to dry up and heal in a few days. Do not apply anything topically without the advice of your veterinarian. If the area does not heal or if it spreads, you will need to see the vet for an exam and diagnostics to diagnose the cause. Discuss payment plans or alternative financing options such as CareCredit (www.carecredit.com) with your veterinarian.

Thanks for sharing pictures of Oreo. The area looks like a region of inflammation that he is making worse by licking. This can potentially be caused by allergies, bug bites, infections, etc. Place a cone on him to prevent him from licking it. You can try applying a small amount of triple antibiotic and keep the cone on until it heals. If it does not improve, he should be seen by a veterinarian. He may require antibiotics or corticosteroids for treatment.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Bogart. The only thing at home you can try is having him wear an E-collar. This will prevent any licking causing further damage from self trauma. It may allow the skin to heal. If this is unsuccessful though, he will need to see a veterinarian. The area could be a mass on his leg (benign or cancerous) or he could have what is known as a lick granuloma. I hope this information helps!

Place an e-collar (cone) on him to prevent further licking or chewing. This may be enough to allow for healing. Keep the area clean and dry. If it doesn't heal or if it grows or spreads, have Barnaby physically examined by your veterinarian. He may need antibiotics or further diagnostics, such as a fine needle aspirate or biopsy, if it is a lump or mass.