Prevent Your Pet Becoming Ill From Lick Granulomas

In the UK a wide variety of companies provide pet insurance, helping people to manage the costs of keeping their pet healthy. The pet insurance plans available vary in quality and scope so when making a comparison between different policies, you should always check that your pet insurance can accommodate your pet's needs.

Some dogs suffer from lick granulomas which are lesions of thickened, firm plaque that develop if a dog repeatedly licks the bottom half of their leg. Sometimes a secondary infection can develop on the lesion which complicates the condition and can lead to further discomfort.

Causes tend to be psychological and canine lick granulomas often results from a form of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) in dogs. However, excessive licking can also be triggered by physiological factors such as allergies, nerve damage, bacterial or fungal infections and joint disease.

A visit to your vet should determine whether the cause is mental or physical. If a dog is bored or stressed, they are often more prone to psychological disorders; for this reason lick granulomas seems to be most common in large, active breeds of dog which are left alone for extended periods of time.

One of the central problems with lick granulomas is that, whatever the cause, once the habit is formed it can be extremely difficult for the dog in question to break it. The excessive licking leads to irritation, pain and itching which in turn triggers the dog to lick the lesion even more.

As soon as you notice a problem it is worth consulting your vet. If your pet suffers from allergies, then the vet might recommend a hypo allergic diet, fatty acids or antihistamines to help relieve the lick granulomas. If the root cause is deemed to be psychological, then extended walks or more general interaction in the home could make all the difference.

Whatever the cause, your pet insurance should be able to cover the costs of vet's fees. Most reputable pet insurance plans can protect you financially from the cost of treating conditions that have psychological as well as physiological causes.

A large number of us are pet owners - in fact there are currently 24 million pets in the UK.[1] With such a large number of us sharing our homes with animals, understanding their needs is of the utmost importance.

[1] - pfma.org.uk/faqs/