Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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For the last few weeks Dante has been licking, licking, licking his remaining foreleg. It's not all the time, but when he gets going - he won't stop. He licks from his armpit all the way to his paw, but usually doesn't lick his paw - it's soaking wet by the time he does quit, which is usually 5+ minutes later.
When I try to stop him or distract him, it usually doesn't work, or it will work for a few minutes and then he's back at it again.
I've touched it and checked it out - no sign of swelling, no heat coming from it, and he doesn't seem sore to the touch or when I move it. I can't find any wounds or sore spots.
Maybe he's itchy - but he hasn't been itching or licking any where else any more than what would be considered normal.
Could this be pain related?
Hmmmm... No swelling, sores, etc? Always a good idea to have a vet check it to rule out anything serious that you may have missed... Are you up to date on flea meds? Any fireants in the backyard? Allergies? Have you tried applying any bitter apple to make his leg taste yucky?
Hope it gets better soon... would really suck if he ate his remaining leg! 🙂
Angel Jake's Mom
Jake, 10yr old golden retriever (fractured his front right leg on 9/1, bone biopsy revealed osteosarcoma on 9/10, amputation on 9/17) and his family Marguerite, Jacques and Wolfie, 5yr old german shepherd and the newest addition to the family, Nala, a 7mth old Bengal mix kittie. Jake lost his battle on 11/9/2009, almost 8 weeks after his surgery. We will never forget our sweet golden angel… http://jakesjou.....ipawds.com ….. CANCER SUCKS!
Can it be stressed and just sore? Comet will lick her gimpy leg and it has no feeling. Dunno on this one.
Comet - 1999 to 2011
She departed us unexpectedly January 23, 2011 at the age of 12 1/2.
She was born with a deformed front leg and a tripawd all of her life.
Hi Munko & Dante, hope you don't mind me moving your post to this Ask a Vet Forum, but we thought that Dr. Pam would have a better answer than we might. My only thought is that constant licking often indicates pain. However, not always. I loved to lick the floor! So try not to worry but definitely have it checked out by your vet. As you know, dogs will do their best to hide symptoms.
Meanwhile maybe you can try using an e-collar or a thick towel wrapped around his neck as a temporary fix? Just a thought. Keep us posted.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I posted this as he was licking and I had unsuccessfully attempted to stop him. I checked him out again after, and just thought to open his mouth - his left canine was loose and bleeding. Not long after he ran into his crate, gnawed on the blanket, and then ran around spitting and foaming and shaking his head. Checked his mouth, sure enough his tooth had come out.
I wonder if his licking is in relation to when he's about to lose a tooth? They're loosing their larger teeth now, their canines and molars - and have been for a couple of weeks. Maybe he is licking from pain, but it's not his leg that hurts?
He also likes to lick carpet and fabric, sometimes.
I'll definitely keep an eye on his leg and get the vet to look at it when we go in on Wednesday. I'll keep an eye on his mouth too, and see if I find more loose, bleeding teeth when I catch him licking.
It could be due to itching, discomfort, stress, boredom.....Many causes! I would have your vet check him out if it doesn't stop. Most dogs won't lick excessively when teething but anything is possible.
Pam
I didn't think so either Tazzie, I've never had a dog lick while teething - but he did it again this morning, he was licking the foot stool, and then the chair and then he laid down and licked, licked, licked his leg and I noticed blood on my white chair. Checked his mouth and sure enough another loose, bleeding tooth. Hmm.
We have an appointment for something unrelated today, so I'll still have the vet check his leg out - but Dante has by far been anything but a typical dog up to this point, so it wouldn't shock me if he is licking from teething - his quirks out number those of all my past dogs put together!
THere is a disease or condition that refers to that constant licking...you would think I would remember since Magic does it. He has ALWAYS done it...he will lick til he licks hair off and makes a sore spot (not a hot spot, not a flea allergy)...if I stop him from licking himself, he licks the carpet or the floor or the rug or me or my jeans....I am surprised he still has a tongue left. He licked the carpet so much after the surgery that he hacked up a furball that I would have thought OJ had hacked up but it was the SIZE of the cat. I have tried bitter apple and Yuk and nothing seems to stop him...so I just keep saying NO LICK...I can now hear him in my sleep.
We took Dante to the vet soon after I posted this. The vet couldn't find anything wrong and agreed that it could be due to teething since Dante can't rub his face with his paws - he might have been trying to lick the teeth out.
Sure enough, most of his molars are out and so are his canines - and he's stopped the licking! It's been about a week since we've seen a tooth, and since we've seen him lick.
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