Poppy is a one year old Mini Schnauzer.  She is still a prolific chewer, but fortunately she has pretty much worked out the right and wrong this to chew!  My problem is that she  chews the white fur on the front of her lower legs (resulting in her having two short patches of hair at the front).  I cant work it out really as she always has toys available, often has hide chews and is generally quite a contented and happy dog.

One thing I have thought of doing is spraying her legs with Bitter Apple.  Any suggestions or ideas as to why she might be doing this?

Many thanks
Karen.

Sometimes it can be a sign of an allergy - maybe something in her food.  Or it could be that she's bored - it doesn't matter if she's got loads of toys lying about, she might not want to play with them on her own.  Apparently there is a bitter spray you can buy from the vets, which is okay to spray on the actual dog.  Not sure whether Bitter Apple is, thought it was more to put on furniture, etc.  Thing is, if she has got itchy patches, you don't want to aggravate it with anything.  I would check out the diet as well though - what are you feeding her?
  Hilda

Hi Sunbeams

She has Nutro Choice Adult Lamb and very little other snacks (occasionally egg or tuna as a treat). 

She shouldnt be bored as she is usually left for no more than 3 hours per day, as I work part-time from home.  Admittedly, I cannot always play with her but then she will curl up on my feet for a sleep.  Apart from between 9am and 3pm she has a great deal of attention from my 6 year old daughter.  She does seem to be a real chewer and frequently destroys her blankets/quilts - often we have to put these away during the day otherwise she can start to nibble them and choke.

I hadnt thought of an allergy, i think I might take her along to the vets to check and then we can consider some of the appropriate spray.

Many thanks for the ideas
Karen.

This sounds crazy but I have read that licking/chewing front legs/feet can, very occasionally, be a sign that the anal glands need emptying. Does anyone know if this is true?

Hi Karen,
     My own dog (at 19 months), started chewing and licking at his front legs, as well as on his flanks areas both sides, ending up with balding patches.  The vet said it's an allergy, but we don't know what to at the moment.  It could be food, could be something inhaled or absorbed through the skin, including boosters.  Anyway, I figured it wouldn't hurt to change him onto a hypo-allergenic diet, as a lot of dog foods have cereals like maize which can cause allergy.  Now use Wafcol potato & salmon, and, touch wood, so far we've had no more problems, though Cody was on steroids for about a month, finished at Christmas.  So if his problem flares up again, I'll know it's not the food then, but something else!  Vet said he can do a skin biopsy.
  Hilda

Hi,

I posted a message about this few weeks back on fur chewing on my 10 month male goldie.
He did during the night and we used a buster collar for a couple of weeks at night broke the habit.
It was not his food or shampoo we used to bath for shows or the toys he held with his paws for chewing.Th fur almost grown back now no more problems.

Good luck and I hope you solve yours,

Briony:-)

Thank you everyone - some good advice.  The result of Poppy's chewing is that the hair at the bottom of her furnishings (term for the long hair on the schnauzer) is nibbled short, but by no means bald or patchy.  It could be that she too is doing some of this during the night.    She is very shortly due for her annual check/boosters, so I am going to have a word with the vet then. 

It wouldnt suprise me if it's just a bit of a habit, considering that chewing is he main hobby, in which case we could opt for a recommended deterrant, or maybe something like a buster collar.  Thinking about it last night, it also ocurred to me that when she has her weekly groom she is desperate to grab and chew the brushes but also if she I wasnt quick enough she would try to grap/eat and lose hairs in the comb.

Although Nutro is not hypoallergenic it is a good complete food and Poppy has been on it since about 15 weeks old with no problems (the puppy variety at this point) and she has never had any problems at all with her digestive system etc., and absolutely loves her food.  So, I would prefer to consider other options before changing her diet.  But again I'll mention this to the vet.

Thanks again

One of mine licked a sore patch on her left hock which would dry up to a degree with Exmarid etc.  so then I started twice weekly baths in Hibiscrub.   She has no bald lick patch now and all the hair has grown in!    Hibiscrub will kill any bacteria there might be on the skin.   It was a vet who recommended this to me!  :)

Thank you - can I buy Hibiscrub in usual pet shopes/stores?

Best Wishes
Karen.

Hi, I think you can only buy Hibiscrub in chemists. I got mine from Boots.
:)

Yep as Jeangenie says chemists sell it :D Gillian

Thank you - I'll get hold of some today.