My dog won't stop licking his tail infection. E-collar makes him sad.

Hello, that looks like a local skin infection. This could be secondary to fleas or or some prior local irritation which causes itchiness and a subsequent infection, This could respond to antibiotics if the infection is bacterial. Other kind of infections include parasites and fungal infections which are less likely. I would recommend having the area looked at by your veterinarian as it may need either topical or oral antibiotics to treat. Additionally, ensure your dog is on adequate monthly flea prevention and in the interim, you can put an e-collar on your dog to keep the area protected from the licking which could make it worse. Hope this helps and best of luck.

It could be Barkley has an infected anal sac. Put an Ecollar on him to stop him from licking it, and take him into a vet. You can make an Ecollar at home, or buy one at a pet store. Best of luck. http://dogsaholic.com/care/homemade-dog-cone.html

I am sorry to hear about Jodi. E-collars do come in different sizes so a longer one may be available. Sometimes we will also tape another e-collar to the edge of an existing one to make it longer. You can purchase the collars from the vet, online or at many pet stores.

Yes, place an e-collar (cone) on her to prevent chewing or licking. The cone should extend at least 2" from the tip of her nose to be effective. You can remove it at mealtimes, just watch her closely and replace as soon as she is done eating. Keep the area clean and dry as well. You can use a diluted Betadine or chlorhexidine (Hibiclens) solution for daily cleaning. Keep it well padded to prevent trauma if she bangs it against objects when wagging.

Allergies can be frustrating to diagnose since there are many potential allergens. They can include flea bites, environmental/inhaled allergens or food allergies or sensitivities. It can also be caused by behavioral issues, such as boredom or anxiety. Place an e-collar (cone) on Lou to prevent licking. Discuss allergy testing, food elimination trials and hydrolyzed diets with your veterinarian. A short course of steroids followed by antihistamines may help stop any itch and prevent it from returning. This may be a seasonal issue or it could be year round. You can also discuss anxiety medications and behavioral modification with your veterinarian. When you see Lou licking, distract him and offer a task, exercise or treat to redirect his attention. If he complies, praise and reward him. Be patient and be consistent. Limit his exposure to chemicals and cleaners to see if it makes a difference. Remove any candles or air fresheners from the home as well.

I would recommend getting a larger ecollar and let your veterinarian know that this has occurred. He probably is trying to get to the sutures and this is the only area he can reach. This will get worse if he keeps licking. Your vet may just extend his antibiotics or just tell you to keep it clean. His incision looks great! Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hello, and thank you for your question. Floki is such a cutie! My best suggestion would be to put an e-collar (cone) over his head that is long enough to prevent him from reaching the tail tip. Hopefully you will only need to use this for a few weeks as the ringworm treatment starts to work and he is less itchy. Also make sure the vet checks for any secondary bacterial infections that could be making the itching worse and preventing it from healing. I hope this helps, and that Floki feels better soon!