I have two shih-tzus. The older one who's four and a half is constantly licking her back end. Around the top of her legs. I have checked for fleas and have found nothing. There is no rash or broken skin. Sometimes she feels hot. When she has had enough of licking herself , she will start of the other ones back end. Sometimes this will make her sore. I bath the older one in tea tree shampoo. Does anyone else have this problem. She seems to do it mostly at night when you are trying to get to sleep. It is disturbing for her as well as us. I have taken her to the vet in the past and they do not know what the cause is. Any help would be appreciated.

Mags

Hi Mags
I bred a dog who constantly licked her front legs, we never found out why. I think it was a stress thing which became a habit. There was never any sign of inflammation, but she turned her coat orange. All I can suggest is spraying the area with Bitter Apple!

Yes I have a peppermint spray which she doesn't like much and she will leave it alone for a while. Today she seems to be having a good day on her own body but she has licked my younger one while we were out and made a red patch on her back. I think I will have to take her back to the vet and see what he says. Last time I took her he said she could have tests done (about £80) but we might still not know why she does it. Thanks anyway.

Mags

Hi Mags,
I too have 2 shih-tzus one is 5mths the other 3mths and the little un started licking and scratching first. He started licking his rear end then his paws and then scratching around his neck and ears. Shortly afterwards the other one started the same. So off to the vets we went and had them both treated with frontline, rewormed and generally given the once over. Still it went on so we changed the bedding to vetbed and went back to the vet for a skin scrape - nothing. They are currently being washed with Malaseb but so far this too has had little effect -2 weeks now. I have just booked them both into the vets again for tomorrow so hopefully I may get an answer.
Re the bitter apple suggestion there is no point in me trying that - they both love it!
A previous dog we had reacted more positively when we changed his bedding, we had bought him a new quilt to sleep on and never thought to wash it first. Silly me.
Will post back with any news of my two
Billy

If your vet has ruled out infestation etc it may be a food allergy which often shows up by itchy ears, back end and paws.

Yes I thought about the food but Lulu the one who does the licking seems to always be sick or has loose toilet after eating chicken. I have tried fish and rice but she eats it for a few days and then she won't eat any more. She has bakers complete in the morning and in the evening she has the food in the foil trays with some biscuits. I change the bedding often and spray that against flees but recently they have taken to sleeping on our bed (Naughty I know) I've just thought as I am writing this, maybe the fabric conditioner doesn't help.

Mags.

Mag,

I would leave out the fabric conditioner - it's a common cause of allergic reaction to people too!

Have you tried Naturediet? They make a tripe, lamb and a fish meal.

I tried JWB and it made my Cairn itch.

Stacey

Thanks for that tohme, initially our vet had thought that a food allergy was unlikely but in view of the circumstances it does require further consideration. Their main treats are Crackerjacks by James Wellbeloved the only food change I can think of.
Thanks

Billy

P.S. little un is actually 4mths - boy does time fly when you have pups around.

Hi Mags, am retired Australian small-dog groomer (35 years). Shitzhus and malteses and crosses my main customers. Saw many dificult skins. Food, fleas, environment and hereditary were my theories. Check for allergic plants in garden, change food (slowly) to simple, non-processed....chicken, rice,vegs. Frontline is excellent. Put Aloe Vera Gel to soothe hotspot. Try an Elizabethan collar (from vet) on licker, especially when you're not there. Try to break the habit, as it seems it may be emotional (could have been originally physical) if your dog is licking another. Break the cycle. Dogs get into bad licking habits so easily. Good luck. Robyn

Anal glands??

Thanks everyone. No it is definately not anal glands. She has these looked at everytime she goes for a hair cut as she did have problems in that area when she was a pup. I am cutting out all her tit bits which are not dog type of food and gradually changing her diet to see it that helps. She was the last of the litter to go as she has one eye which has a lot of white surrounding the coloured part (this makes her look as thought she has odd eyes. For this reason you could not breed from her. This is why we chose her encase no one would have her. Maybe she has other heredetary problems ,I don't know. When we got the second shi-tzu she came from a different area and it wasn't until we saw her pedigree that we realised they had the same dad. Maybe Lulus problems are on her mums side. We love her to bits with all her faults.

Mags

I think this is probably just a habbit. read lot of the posts on licking and seems to be no reason why they do it..
My one licks everyone , she will go from one person to the next to the next and especially does it when shes eaten somthing you cant get her to stop.
Mine sucks my duvet so when i go to sleep i get a really soaking wet bed . people suggest bitter apple im going to give that a go see what happens