Excessive ‘cleaning’

[FlossyRaptor]

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We had a house-move late last year and it was a stressful time. During which Flossy started to groom herself a bit too much, to the point where she’s lost fur, especially around the back-end and base of tail. We thought it was to do with the anxiety.

Now we’re settled again, She’s still doing it. We’ve eliminated fleas and mites, we’ve checked her diet and added a daily dose of fish-oil. We’ve even introduced the cone - which she doesn’t seem to mind much - just to give her and us a break from it, but soon as it’s off she’s back again, nanging at her back legs.
Apart from anything else, she’s looking a bit threadbare from behind, but it’s not just that; something’s not right and we need to get to the bottom (!) of it.

Any suggestions, please?

 

[JoanneF]

added a daily dose of fish-oi

What kind of fish oil? I'm sure I have read cod liver oil, for example, can actually cause itching.

 

[FlossyRaptor]

What kind of fish oil? I'm sure I have read cod liver oil, for example, can actually cause itching.

Salmon. But she was itching before we started with that.

 

[Inka]

I am assuming your vet checked his anal glands just incase they have become impacted or infected.

 

[JoanneF]

Oh well, worth a shot!

Is it worth trying an antihistamine? If it works, you will know it is an allergy, then you just need to try to find out what she is allergic to.

 

[Hemlock]

I was thinking anal glands too. But you can try an Adaptil plug-in, and have a mental check for smells like air fresheners or pot-pourri, which can be stressful for dogs. Did your vet take a skin scrape? Rodent mange shows under an ultraviolet light where it doesn't show to the naked eye.

If none of these apply, aloe vera gel can be applied topically, or a few drops of lavender oil in tepid water taken up on a strong tissue can then be dabbed on. Neither will harm if licked at.

 

[FlossyRaptor]

I was thinking anal glands too. But you can try an Adaptil plug-in, and have a mental check for smells like air fresheners or pot-pourri, which can be stressful for dogs. Did your vet take a skin scrape? Rodent mange shows under an ultraviolet light where it doesn't show to the naked eye.

If none of these apply, aloe vera gel can be applied topically, or a few drops of lavender oil in tepid water taken up on a strong tissue can then be dabbed on. Neither will harm if licked at.

Thanks again, for the responses.

So, yes, glands done, Antihistamine has no effect, nor does lavender - all tried.
The skin scrape is new to me… I’ll ask vet. Aloe shall try too. Thanks

 

[JudyN]

Whatever the original cause was, it could have become a habit. This article might help: Canine Obsessive Compulsive Disorder | Calmer Canine® Though of course you need to rule out any physical problem as far as possible for treatment to be effective.

 

[Inka]

The skin scrape is new to me… I’ll ask vet.

Without a skin scrape you can't exclude mange/mites. However this has been going on for a year or more, if your dog was anxious/stressed because of the move then, dogs know 'chewing relieves anxiety' and they can chew on skirting boards, chair legs or themselves and you naturally correct this behaviour and that can make them even more anxious and cause them to chew more, also you know if you have an itch and scratch it, it itches more, so you scratch more and that possibly could be a potential reason.
It is very difficult to stop a dog doing something negative by 'correcting' or 'blocking' much easier when you want to stop them doing something is you do a simple 'exhange' so in an attempt to stop the compulsive licking/chewing of themselves you give them something else they can lick/chew eg a raw bone, their meal stuffed into a kong, so they work and earn what they get...that does two things it deflects from licking themselves and builds their confidence reducing their anxiety

 

[FlossyRaptor]

Whatever the original cause was, it could have become a habit. This article might help: Canine Obsessive Compulsive Disorder | Calmer Canine® Though of course you need to rule out any physical problem as far as possible for treatment to be effective.

Very interesting and thank you.

 

[FlossyRaptor]

when you want to stop them doing something is you do a simple 'exhange' so in an attempt to stop the compulsive licking/chewing of themselves

Thanks. The OCD suggestion sounds quite likely to be at the root of the problem here, and adding some extra activities to her day can’t do any harm, can it?

She’s having surgery today; a mammectomy - not related to this (I don’t think it is, anyway), so I’ll ask the vet about skin scrape.

 

[Tinytom]

Could it all be related to her lumps she aleady has ....let us know how her surgery goes xxx

 

[Hemlock]

All the best with the surgery and a good recovery.