My dog is licking a raw spot, not eating, sleeping more. What's wrong?

This presentation could be due to a trauma or localized spot of skin infection (likely to be caused by bacteria). A check up, appropriate disinfection and possibly antibiotics (oral, topical or in a shampoo formulation) are needed to solve the problem. Disinfection may be started at home with very diluted hibiscrub or betadine or salted water baths. Buster collar may be useful as well to avoid any licking/scratching. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. I am sorry to hear that Honey is not feeling well. It sounds as though Honey is quite nauseous with her licking her lips. There are many possible causes of what you are describing and because of that, I would recommend having her examined by a veterinarian so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. I would recommend starting with an examination and then having her blood tested to see if there are any concerning changes on her blood test. This may not be her time to go yet as she may have something treatable such as an infection. I hope this helps and that Honey gets better soon! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Hello. It is difficult to tell exactly where & what is going on, but the first thing I would recommend is to place an Elizabethan collar on Gemma to prevent her from reaching the area. I think bathing her in some lukewarm water is an excellent idea, you might want to add a handful of Epsom salts to the water, too. After rinsing, gently clean the area with a skin antiseptic such as Hibiclens ( available at all pharmacies ) & dab dry ( do not rinse off ). But the important thing is to prevent her from continuing to annoy the skin, so get that collar on her soo. You can buy these at any pet retailer or Tractor Supply. If the area is not healing within a few days, please see your veterinarian about this. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I'm sorry to hear that Spunky is lethargic and has a decreased appetite. Her lip licking may indicate that she is nauseous, and this could be contributing to her decreased appetite. Since she is an older girl, I recommend having her seen by your veterinarian at their next available appointment. He/she can do an exam and may recommend bloodwork to determine if there is any underlying liver or kidney disease that could be contributing to her clinical signs. In the meantime, you can try to offer her a bland diet of boiled chicken or hamburger and rice, in a ratio of 2 parts rice to 1 part meat. I hope this is helpful - best of luck with Spunky!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is possibly due to allergies. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing his allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. A secondary infection is likely and also needs to be addressed. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for environmental allergies which require blood and/or skin tests. Allergies can be very frustrating to deal with at first but so rewarding at the end when we are able to treat them effectively!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Lip licking is a clear sign of nausea. I would be concerned about mostly a gastrointestinal obstruction or dietary indiscretion. You can watch closely for signs consistent with these conditions such as abdominal pain or discomfort, vomiting and/or inappetence and have him evaluated right away if noticed. There is a chance that what you are observing at home currently will be transient. Good luck and have a great day!

Sometimes these lesions can occur from rubbing the muzzle on cages doors, carpets...etc. Sometimes they can also be from infection and less commonly from an autoimmune disease. I would recommend to have him examined by his veterinarian who will likely prescribe medication orally. Treating this area topically can be difficult as most dogs will lick off any medication you apply to the area so oral medications are generally best. You should also protect the area from further rubbing with an elizabethan collar which should be worn at all times. You can try gently washing the ears with an antibacterial hand soap (rinse well) once daily if he tolerate it. I hope he starts feeling better quickly and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.