Advice Please

[pollyanna]

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For several weeks now, Lily, our 14 year old, has been continually licking the base of her tail - underneath where it is a bit short on hair (ie nearly bald!!). It isn't red (except after a licking session) and isn't getting any balder, but she worrys at it many times a day.

We bathe it with warm saline or water to get the lick out (it goes very hard) and sometimes rub in a little tiger balm or eurax cream. The former stops her licking for a while because of the smell!! When we see her at it, we distract her as telling her off is no good -she is deaf and her sight is very poor.

We used to use food to distract her but that was like rewarding her for licking, so now she just gets picked up and taken outside for a few minutes, or I clean her teeth or cut her claws or anything that isn't nice enough to be regarded as a reward, but not nasty enough to be a punishment!!

Any suggestions please?? I believe there is gland somewhere near where she is licking - do these get blocked so a vet visit might be needed? Help!! (w00t)

 

[Janimal]

When my daughter worked at the vets there were quite a few dogs in with anal gland problems. These need to be squeezed out.

Is there any smell Janet? just wondering.... as this could be the cause.

It may be worth letting the vet have a look at her to make sure. :thumbsup: as it may be something completely different.

 

[Jessr123]

We had a dog who had bad problems with his anal glands. He used to do that when they needed emptying. It drove us mad. It worked out he needed them emptying about once a week at 6 months old so we put him in for an op to have them removed. He never did it again.

Have you wormed her? Maybe she has worms and they are irritating her.

 

[graciepup]

Grace licks at her tail when her anal glands need emptying :x She has to have them done regularly as hers are very deep and do not empty easily.The vet said in her case no matter what I feed her it wont help,its a physical problem.It may be that your doggy needs them doing.I do Graces myself but the vet did them to start with.Also the vet needs to see if they are impacted or infected as a precaution.It may not be the glands but worth having them checked as it can be very painfull for them.

Good luck :thumbsup:

 

[Flowerpot]

Hi there..Yes it sounds like anal glands to me. Some dogs need them emptied regularly , others never !!

The vet will do it for you and if you ask him , he`ll show you how to do it yourself.

She has been wormed, hasn`t she ?

 

[pollyanna]

Thanks everyone. yes, she was wormed about 6 weeks ago. Not sure if he did her anal glands at last check-up (early November). Will tell Bea later, as we are taking Twiggy to a new vet for a second opinion tomorrow (she is really far from well, and I've been up half the night with her the last 2 nights - she is in pain and also confused and quite senile), so he may take Lily too.

Will report back after the vet visit!! Many thanks :thumbsup: janet

 

[Flowerpot]

Oh Good luck !! Hope all goes well ! :huggles:

 

[kirsty]

Good luck at the vets :luck: :luck:

 

[Janimal]

:luck: :luck: From us here too Janet,, for Twiggy too,.... :huggles: :huggles: