Hi  I have posted about this before but can't find the thread. I was going to see if I missed anything. My Dobe is licking her ankles. She has done this on and off forever (ever since she first got an insect bite in that region as a pup). I have yet to find a cause. She has now got open wounds on both ankles. At the moment they aren't too bad but I'm at my wits end trying to solve it. So far I have tried:-
- changing to Lamb and Rice JWB (senior)
- giving antihistamines
- cutting the toes out of baby socks, cleaning the area, then putting the sock on and hoilding it there with vetwrap cohesive.   This is the best method so far but the bandages tend to slide down and she licks where she can get at it.

She seems to just do it at night - I think cos she curls up and her nose rests where she licks (left side of both ankles)
The vet just gave antibiotics and cortavance spray and a huge bill!!!

Has anyone else had this problem - and cured it???   I don't want to do the dreaded collar as it stresses her and the other Dobe.

original thread

Thanks :) Didn't think to search myself :)

I had this in a Golden. It becomes habit. What broke the habit for him (even after years) was increased exercise and obedience training, so he was kept busy and got more tired.

Tried that :(  My daughter went on a course to learn how to be a trainer; she's going on a four day course soon so she's been practising on the Dobes. I think you're right, it is habit but dammed hard to break - she's soooo persistent!!

I had the same problem in an elderly dog and cured it by doing the same as you with the vetwrap. However to stop the licking at night I wrapped on top of it many layers of torn strips of old sheet and sprayed lightly with bitter apple before the last layer went on. To stop the bandage sliding down stick around the top with elastoplast or similar.

I can't really offer any advice, but if it helps, this is a very common problem in Dobes and you are by no means alone. Might be worth searching on a Dobe specific forum, I'm sure the problem will be mentioned on those.

Just a thought- could you put bitter apple or bitter orange on the bandage or the area around the cut so that the taste repels the dog from licking at the bandage and moving it away?

Thats one thing I've never tried. I tried Cotivet and she didn't like it at all but it still didn't stop her. I'll order some today. Cheers.

From what I remember from our pup (going back a while) bitter orange worked better to stop him chewing so I'd try that before bitter apple.

When the bitter apple was sprayed on top of the bandage I felt it was a bit mean because the dog had no choice but to get some onto its lips from just brushing against the bandage. However by having to chew through the top layer of covering first it had a choice.

I worry about using bitter apple because when used in a stable it tells you to let it dry before allowing the horse back in so I do worry that it may be poisonous or at least harmful if licked, am I being daft.

Dobes are reknowned for licking and sucking. :-)

Have you tried displacement? Someone i know with a flank sucker gave her bitch a face flannel and she moved her 'addiction' to that.

Now she carries it around and sucks that instead....annoying but causes her far less damage.