Lick Granuloma in Dogs | VCA Animal Hospitals (2024)

FAQs

Lick Granuloma in Dogs | VCA Animal Hospitals? ›

A lick granuloma, also known as acral lick dermatitis, occurs when a dog obsessively licks at an area, often on a lower limb, most commonly the wrist or carpal joint of the front limb. These dogs find a spot to lick and start a cycle of self-trauma, inflammation, and infection.

While acral lick granuloma is rarely a life-threatening condition, it is irritating for both the dog and owner. Client compliance is very important to resolving acral lick granulomas, so be sure to inform pet owners that treatment is a slow process that will likely take several months.

Surgery: A veterinarian may recommend surgical removal of the acral lick granuloma, but this is often a last resort when other treatment options have failed. If no underlying cause is found and treated, it is possible that after surgery the cat may start licking the area again and form another acral lick granuloma.

Although the term “granuloma” may make the condition sound as serious as some types of cancer, it is important to note that this problem is not actually a cancer itself. However, it is an abnormal growth, which is why the name sounds very similar. Lick granulomas look like large, open sores on a dog's body.

Most dogs require treatment aimed at the inflammation, infection, and psychological components for resolution. Topical and oral anti-inflammatory medications, such as corticosteroids, are helpful in reducing inflammation. Antibiotics are often required to treat secondary skin infections.

If the skin isn't clearing up with a medicated cream or ointment, your health care provider may suggest a corticosteroid injection. Repeat injections may be needed every 6 to 8 weeks until the condition clears up. Freezing. Applying liquid nitrogen to the affected area may help remove the bumps.

Apple cider vinegar has a wide range of applications, including treating a dog's lick granuloma. This is a natural product made from apples that contain important elements including phosphorus, potassium, calcium, iron, and magnesium.

Treatment of Acral Lick Granulomas in Dogs

Bandages should be placed only with the guidance of your veterinarian, because covering an infected wound traps in moisture, often prevents healing, and can make the condition worse.

It is also important to consider that pain or an allergy could be to blame. In terms of the licked site itself, we need to relieve pain and/or itch, and this is often accomplished with medications. All dogs have secondary bacterial infections within the lick granuloma, and we need to treat that as well.

Does hair grow back from a lick granuloma? ›

Eventually, a raised hard plaque forms. Frequent formations of lick granulomas in the same area due to the constant licking will cause hardening, callous formation, hair loss (the hair may stop growing back), and hyperpigmentation to that area.

Although granulomas may appear cancerous, they are not — they are benign. Occasionally, however, granulomas are found in people who also have particular cancers, such as skin lymphomas. So it's important to see a doctor if you notice persistent lumps on your skin or have other symptoms of illness.

In most cases, skin granulomas will go away on their own without treatment. Sometimes, though, they might come back. Underlying health conditions can also cause granulomas. When this is the case, doctors will focus on treating the underlying cause of the lumps.

The treatment of lick granuloma will depend on your dog's condition and the cause of the acral lick dermatitis. Deep infections often require six to eight weeks of oral antibiotics. Topical and oral steroids can help break the inflammatory cycle, and anti-anxiety medications can be tried.

A lick granuloma is a chronic, raised skin lesion caused by constant licking, typically on a limb, while a hotspot is an acute, raw, and moist area of skin inflammation that can appear anywhere on the body, often resulting from allergies, skin infections, or insect bites.

Clearing may take a few months or a few years. Most people see their skin clear within two years. Many people who have granuloma annulare don't need treatment. If you have a type of granuloma annulare that covers a large area of your body or causes a deep growth in your skin, your dermatologist may recommend treatment.

Signs include hair discoloration, hair loss, skin sores, hyperplasia (an abnormal increase in the number of normal cells), fibrosis (formation of fibrous skin and tissue similar to gristle), lameness caused by the mass, and growth of the underlying bone.