SOURCES AND TREATMENT OF STRESS FOR YOUR DOG
1. Obsessive Compulsive Disorders, (OCD) includes a group of abnormal behaviors that occur as a reaction to stress. Dogs react to stress in different ways which varies depending on their personality just like people do.
2. Some dogs focus on a certain area of their body continuously and lick it causing a lesion called a Lick Granuloma. A lick granuloma is also referred to as an Acral Lick Granuloma. It is a self-inflicted circular skin lesion usually located on the lower third of the front or hind leg, just above the paw. The area involved is always one that the dog can reach by licking.
3. The exact cause is not known but stress seems to trigger the behavior.
4. Sources of stress for dogs include:
a. Boredom and loneliness
b. Changes in their home, as with:
o The addition or loss of a family member or pet, or
o a new house guest.
c. Changes in daily routine affect dogs. For example, the holidays cause anxiety for a lot of dogs and owners.
d. Moving to a new house can also be traumatic.
DIAGNOSIS
Your vet must rule out all medical conditions because these signs can be caused by an underlying problem.
WHAT YOU AND YOUR VET CAN DO
Therapy involves:
1. Identify and treat the underlying cause in which case the lesion usually resolves.
2. Remove or reduce the source of stress.
Eliminate underlying causes which may include:
1. Lick granulomas can occur secondary to pain from an arthritic knee or ankle. Discomfort from an old fracture that healed poorly can also act as a stimulus for licking.
2. A foreign body such as a thistle spine or splinter could provoke a reaction that draws the dog’s attention to that particular spot and elicits a licking response.
3. Thyroid Disease resulting in low levels of thyroid hormone can be an underlying cause. Blood tests confirm low thyroid hormone levels and oral supplementation with thyroid hormone effectively resolves most lesions in these cases. Certain breeds are predisposed to Thyroid Disease.
4. Lick granulomas can also occur secondary to allergies. For example, allergic inhalant dermatitis results in inflamed, uncomfortable itchy skin, which may trigger the dog to begin licking. In this case, appropriate treatment for the allergy usually resolves the problem. Allergy testing is a valid consideration in these cases.
TREATMENT
* A wide variety of topical preparations are used that usually do not resolve the problem.
* Antibiotics are often used for 3 weeks or longer.
* The best long-term resolution of this problem is usually a combination of medication and behavioral modification, which involves consulting a behavioral specialist and often also involves the use of anti-anxiety medication. Antianxiety medications used include:
* Amitriptyline – helpful in only 30% of dogs.
* Prozac – helpful for 50% of dogs that lick. Dogs are treated for 30-days.
* Naltrexone – helps 50% of dogs. If no response, the dose is doubled for 30 more days then stopped if the dog responds.
* Acupuncture – may also help some dogs.
Lick granulomas can also occur secondary to allergies. For example, allergic inhalant dermatitis results in inflamed, uncomfortable itchy skin, which may trigger the dog to begin licking. In this case, appropriate treatment for the allergy usually resolves the problem. Allergy testing is a valid consideration in these cases.
ANTIANXIETY MEDICATIONS
* Amitriptyline – helps about one-third of dogs. It takes 4 weeks on medication to see if there will be an effect. If the medication helps, you can use as needed. Approximate cost for one month of treatment for a 75 pound dog = $15.00.
* Prozac – helpful for 50% of dogs that lick. It is given for 4 weeks. If no response is seen, the dose is doubled for another 4 weeks and then stopped if the lesions heal. Approximate cost for a 75 pound dog = $135.00.
* Naltrexone – helpful in 50-60% of cases. The pet takes the medication for only one month. If licking stops, it usually is stopped for weeks to months. Should licking resume, another course of medication may be instituted. Approximate cost for one month of treatment for a 50 pound dog = $210.00.
* Acupuncture – helps some dogs. Consult with a behavioral specialist.
