Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Diagnosis and Treatment of Canine Acral Lick Dermatitis.
- Journal:
- The Veterinary clinics of North America. Small animal practice
- Year:
- 2019
- Authors:
- Shumaker, Amy K
- Affiliation:
- VCA South Shore Animal Hospital · United States
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Acral lick dermatitis is a common skin problem in dogs where they lick a specific area so much that it becomes raised, thick, and ulcerated, usually on their legs. This condition can be caused by various issues, including allergies, infections, or even behavioral problems like compulsive licking. To effectively treat this condition, it's important to identify and address the underlying cause, whether that's an allergy or an infection, and to consider behavioral changes if necessary. Managing this condition often requires a combination of medical treatment and behavioral strategies.
Abstract
Acral lick dermatitis is a common, frustrating disease. It is characterized by incessant licking behavior resulting in raised, thickened, ulcerative plaques, most commonly affecting the lower extremities of dogs. Underlying primary diseases, such as allergic disorders (atopic dermatitis, food allergy, flea allergy), orthopedic or neurologic disorders, parasitic diseases (eg, demodicosis), infections (fungal, bacterial), neoplasia or psychogenic disorders (compulsive/obsessive-compulsive disorder), and perpetuating factors (especially secondary infections) drive the itch-lick cycle. Appropriately addressing the primary underlying disorder and secondary infections and addressing any possible behavioral component via behavioral modification and psychopharmacotherapeutics are vital for successful management of this disease.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30268424/