licking wound?

Question
My friend's dog had been licking his leg and I guess lost hair in that area.then started limping. He took dog to vet and they said it was anxiety. I know he had the dog groomed a few weeks ago and was wondering if maybe he gotten a cut from it. Thank You  

Answer
I want to start this answer with the statement that I am not a Veterinarian and legally can not dispense Veterinary advice.

A lot of times dogs develop problems shortly around the time they are groomed. Often these are coincidence.  Sometimes the grooming process aggravates a previously unnoticed problem and sometimes the problem is a direct result of the grooming.  Sometimes clipping in the area uncovers a previously undetected issue.

I want to congratulate your friend's Vet for not immediately blaming the grooming process and looking at other possible sources for the licking and limping that the pet is doing.  This shows me that the Vet has a desire to look at all possible sources for the wound and is not looking for an easy answer.

Skin issues of any sort are very tricky for the Vet to treat.  Long term licking issues have a very specific look to them and I suspect this is what the Vet is seeing.  If this were caused by a simple cut or scrape, then a treatment with a topical antibiotic or anesthetic should of taken care of the problem almost immediately.  So I am inclined to rule out that a break in the skin by the Groomer is the cause.  Again, I am not a Vet and so I am just guessing based on past experiences.

Have your friend look to see exactly where the dog is licking.  If it's near a joint it is possible that an arthritic issue may be beginning and the dog licks due to underlying pain. If this is the case, then pain medication may be needed.  

Often dogs develop a condition known as a "hotspot" or moist dermatitis.  This is usually because the dog has an irritation in the layers of the skin (usually because of allergies) and begins to chew at itself.  As it starts to irritate and mutilate it's own skin, the dog becomes even more irritated under the skin.  It continues to chew and lick relentlessly.  I have seen hotspots the size of salad plates when the dog is allowed to chew and lick at it for a lengthy period of time.  This condition requires immediate Veterinary treatment.  If the dog is prone to causing "hotspots" then the Vet may send home medicine for long term management by the owner. This allows the owner to begin treatment at an early stage of the inflammation.  This may prevent frequent Vet visits for this condition.

What I suspect the Vet feels is going on in your friends dog is a chronic licking.  A dog begins licking at a spot and eventually it becomes a chronic habit.  This is an extremely hard habit to break because there is not logical explanation for it.  A dog may start problem licking due to allergies, anxiety or boredom.  No amount of telling the pet "no" will make it go away. The pet becomes much more sneaky about chewing when the owner is not present.  If simple treatment that the Vet prescribes does not alleviate this problem, then your friend will need to discuss with his Vet more long term solutions.  There are many different kinds of solutions:  A deterrent may be put on the area.  These are often sprayed on and very bitter tasting.  They must be applied several times a day because the base evaporates.  Some deterrents can be found in cream form and last a little longer on the skin. It  will still need to be applied 2 to 3 times a day.  Some dogs actually are able to ignore the bitter taste and some dogs actually like the taste of it! The urge to lick is very strong in them.  Another solution is to bandage the area in some manner.  The Vet can advise in the best bandaging materials and instruct your friend in how to apply the bandage.  Your friend should always be cautious about applying too tight of a bandage.  This can impair circulation and cause further damage.   The Veterinarian may ask your friend to keep his dog in an Elizabethan Collar.  This is a plastic collar that the dog wears on it's neck and face.  This prevents the dog from being able to reach the spot and lick it.  It looks like the pet is wearing a "satellite dish".  Often the collar is worn short term to allow a total healing of the area.  Most owner feel very sorry for their pet when they have to wear and E-Collar.  They look pretty pathetic.  But in time a dog becomes used to the collar and will resume it's daily activities.  It may not even notice the collar is there.  I have had a couple of customers whose dogs ended up wearing an E-Collar all the time.  This became the most practical and effective solution to alleviating chewing and licking.

If the behavior continues and is damaging to the dog, then the Vet may prescribe a trial of anti-anxiety medication.  In many instances  these medications need to build up in the pet's system over a period of time so good results may not be seen for 6 to 8 weeks.  This process should be supervised by the Veterinarian and should not be stopped without checking with the Vet first.  Most of us  hate the idea of using "doggy Prozac" on our animals, but I have seen some miraculous improvement in anxious behavior in some of my clients with the administration of medication.  

I hope this helps with your question.  I commend you for caring enough about your friend and his dog that your are willing to research possibilities for explaining and solving the dog's problem!