Acral Lick Granuloma Dog Treatment

The use of laser surgical instrumentation is fast becoming a useful tool to assist in treatment of lick granulomas in dogs.

Acral lick granuloma dog treatment.

Acral lick dermatitis or lick granuloma is a skin condition occasionally seen in dogs. Hypothyroidism has played a role in some cases of acral lick granuloma especially in black labs. Anti anxiety medications are sometimes used if the cause of the lick granuloma is suspected to be nervousness or stress. When a dog persistently licks its skin it results in inflammation.

Oral medications except for oral antibiotics and trental these medications are all treatments for the possible root causes of the obsessive licking behavior that causes lick granuloma. However there is a definite strong psychological component e g fear anxiety or obsessive compulsive disorder. What is a lick granuloma. Lick granulomas are caused by your dog excessively licking a wound over the course of weeks or months.

Lick granuloma which is also known as canine acral lick dermatitis acl is a skin injury resulting from excessive licking. This condition is thought to be both physical and psychological in nature. The name for this condition stems from its location acral meaning on the extremities and from its cause licking. With time the skin thickens and due to the continuous licking the area cannot heal.

They are continually removed and unable to heal leading to substantial inflammation. Affected dogs usually lick at one chosen spot on one leg. Clomipramine or clomicalm is a medication used for separation anxiety in dogs. What is acral lick dermatitis.

The laser instrument ablates removes the tissue by vaporizing the surface layers.