Does a Dog's Licking Cause Sores?

Your pooch's licking might seem harmless, but constant licking probably isn't. f he's not obsessively licking -- a behavioral problem -- he's probably licking at something that hurts, such as a sore. Conditions that your pup has no control over result in nasty sores, and licking will always worsen them. Getting your pal's overly eager tongue and his wounds under control means a trip to the vet.

  1. Obsessive vs. Relief Licking

    • If your pup's licking himself only occasionally, you're usually not going to see nasty sores mar his skin. It takes frequent, nearly nonstop licking sessions for that rough tongue to rub his skin raw and lead to sores. Compulsive licking as a behavioral problem exists in some canines, but another reason for perpetual licking is less compulsive and more as a means of relieving irritated skin, including allergies, fleas and dry skin. Those problems cause other symptoms as well. Allergies, for example, often cause a canine's face, ears and paws to itch.

    Medical Conditions

    • Many medical conditions can lead to sores without the help of your dog's wet tongue. Examples include lupus, mange, bacterial and fungal infections, medicinal side effects and skin cancer. These and other conditions that irritate your pal's skin and cause him to lick too much have their own hosts of symptoms aside from sores, although many are the same. Mange, for instance, typically results in large patches of missing hair, sores that can ooze and appear crusty, reddened skin and sudden, feverish scratching. Discoid lupus presents reddened skin and sores that appear crusty and painful. However, lupus centers around a dog's facial area, while mange affects a canine's entire front side, including legs, face, chest and elbows and can spread across his entire body. Mange is also incredibly itchier than lupus.

    Dangers of Licking

    • Whether your pup's sores have his licking to blame or they're present despite his licking, his tongue can make things worse. Licking sores naturally causes them to worsen. They can't heal if your pooch is poking, prodding and wetting them with his tongue. He's setting himself up for infection. Sores by themselves are invitations for bacteria and fungi to come and hang out in an exposed wound. The only thing better is a moist exposed wound. Infections cause myriad other problems, including fever, additional itching, lethargy, lack of appetite and some nasty gastrointestinal side effects.

    Treatment

    • Whether you think your furball's licking has caused his sores or his sores have caused his licking -- or you suspect something else altogether -- see your vet, who can run a few tests to determine whether a medical condition is to blame and prescribe the necessary treatment, such as medicine, Epsom salt soaks and a few nights with an Elizabethan collar. If the condition is purely behavioral, a change in your pup's routine or lifestyle may be in order. Sometimes compulsive licking is a reaction to something, such as a thunderstorm, which would call for counter-conditioning. In severe cases, your vet may prescribe behavior-modifying drugs.