Need help for coton de tulear licking problem

by Suzan Rango
(Mesquite)

My Coton de Tulear licks her paws, feet, front and back areas constantly. I have checked the paws,feet along with front and back area where she licks there is nothing I can find in any of the areas. I have given her Benedryal referred by my vet and also put ointment in areas which seemed to help but after her grooming she's back to licking.

She's bathed with oatmeal shampoo and I've tried putting her paws,feet in oatmeal shampoo to clean and it doesn't help my poor little Coton can't seem to get a break and I don't know what else to do.

Does anyone have suggestions of what I can do to help relieve her? Thanks for any suggestions

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Feb 27, 2022
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Six year old licking NEW
by: Andie

My six year old coton who had back surgery seven no this ago has suddenly taken up constant licking of anything in front of her. My hand, the couch, her body. She is also yelping suddenly when I touch certain areas like her back paw or whithers. She is normally so cuddly and calm. She loves walking and is always by my side, but seems really uneasy. Vet gave her earache meds for a slight bit of redness in one ear, but could not find anything else that could be wrong. Any suggestions? She eats Hills Dental Health and is topped with Stella and chewy freeze dried chicken. I love her and feel badly for her!

Feb 20, 2019
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14 Year Old Coton Just started pulling out and digesting leg hair
by: Anonymous

Our coton developed a few unusual habits all at once when she was about 13. She became phobic of the bulk head of her expandable leash and started running away when it was time to put the leash on. She started yelping when she was picked up, at times, and she started pulling out the hair on her leg at night and digesting it.
Our vet has been very thorough. We have x-rayed her, examined her for injuries, tried Yuck spray to deter the licking and various internal medications. She eats Science Diet for environmental allergies. Always an easy going, affectionate dog, she has changed suddenly.
The CBD oil was a first attempt at internal medication. It made her drowsy and allowed me to clean the matter from her eyes (which she hates). But the CBD oil also seemed to distort her depth perception and she began trying to jump up on the couch from too far away. I was giving her 2-3 drops twice a day. It is experimental and no one could give me advice on an exact dosage. We have recently stopped the CBD oil and began Amitriptyline 10 MG (anti-depressant). We are now at the max dosage of 2 tablets per day. In addition we attached a lanyard to her harness. This acts like an extension and allows us to latch the leash without her avoidance behaviors. The Amitriptyline dosage has just been increased to the 2 tabs a day. We will see what that does. It has not stopped her licking but she is happy and very puppy like and back to her typical disposition. She now runs eagerly to the door to go out but still does not care for the leash head. To stop the licking we put her in an e-collar which is like a soft cone. She can no longer reach her leg to pull out her hair. So, the possibility of her getting a sore is gone, but she has now started licking the cone. The next steps, according to our vet, include talking to a behavioral specialist vet. Any advice would be appreciated.

Dec 29, 2016
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Licking feet
by: Anonymous

My Cotton, "Cotton" licks his paws regularly. He use to lock them to the point that they would be raw. Turns out he had a good allergy. Switched his food to a salmon based anti allergy formula and he is 100% improved. Doc also gave some steroids for a short period.

Sep 06, 2011
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coton
by: Anonymous

My dog does the same thing and my vet said he has allergies so your dog may have allergies.

Aug 28, 2011
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My Vet checked out my cotton this is why she may have been licking
by: Suzan

The vet couldn't find what was causing her licking he couldn't find any irritation or sores. I explained she has been licking intensely since she was groomed two weeks prior I asked him to express her anal gland maybe this is why she is licking her butt. Although pet groomers are suppose to do this when a dog is groomed I thought maybe it wasn't done. The vet said the anal gland was full and asked if an anal gland fills up in a 2 week period he said sometimes it can. He also gave me ointment and pills to give her. She is much better now and isn't licking like she was. She stopped licking her rear since the anal gland was expressed which I am happy about. I am now going to take my cotton to the vet to have her anal gland expressed since I can't trust the pet groomer to do this. I would groomer her myself but she is very hyper and will not stay still for me. However when I do go to the vet to have the anal gland expressed I am going to ask if they can show me how its done maybe I can do it myself. Thank you all for responding to my question it was helpful. Suzan

Aug 24, 2011
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also...
by: Mike

You reminded me of another tip my vet gave me when you mentioned that she might be sore elsewhere. He said that dogs will lick their paws in lieu of the wound that they can't reach. This may also play into the anxiety issue, as I'm sure having an itch you can't scratch would give anyone anxiety. In the past my vet has told me to put baby ointment on raw/inflammed areas to soothe it.

Aug 24, 2011
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licking
by: Iris

Tuffy licks his lips when he is feeling nervous ans insecure. I try to assure him everything is okay. That helps.

Aug 24, 2011
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My Cotton's intense licking problem
by: Suzan

Iwant tp thank everyone who responded to my ? on my coton's licking issue. Alot of thing you all mentioned I tried and it seemed to work until she came home from the groomer's 2wks ago It's been intense since then today I am taking her to the vet today now I've noticed under her tail skin is real pink & there is hair loss in that area my mom noticed on her rectum it looked like she was cut not sure if groomer did it but its coinsidental this happened when she came home from there I just want my baby to be better I will keep u all posted. There was also a comment that she might be doing this because shes left home alot shes been with my mom for a few months & my mom goes out alot when she lived with me I was always there would only go out shopping or movie this is how it was since she was a baby I might have to have her come live eith me again.

Aug 24, 2011
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Licking the licking
by: Mike

I've heard a couple of reasons for this. Obviously allergies is the most likely this time of year. But instead of Benadryl, which would probably make your dog tired and lethargic, my Coton takes a very low dose of Vetalog. You might ask your vet about it, it's a low-grade steroid just enough to beat the allergies. They lick their paws because we have gravity on our planet and all the histamine(?) settles in their feet.

The other reason they lick their paws is habitual, like a kid sucking their thumb. It's common in pets that are alone longer than they want to be. If that's the case, getting them back up on your lap every chance you get should do the trick; lots of petting, lots of contact.

Aug 24, 2011
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paw licking
by: Anonymous

My Coton Ripley licks his paws as well. Sometimes it seems like he is doing it alot and then he stops and does it occasionally. My vet has said he probably has allergies as well and to use Benadryl if I felt he needed it. I do not believe he is really suffering or uncomfortable so I do not medicate him and he seems to be happy. I think it is just another trait of the coton and as long as he is not creating sores and doesn't act like he is suffering I would just let it be.

Aug 23, 2011
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feet
by: Ellie

Oliver licks his feet intensely at times and then not so much. I've been told it's allergies...maybe to the grasses he walks on or the fertilizers. He has food allergies, but those are out of his diet, so I think it is contact allergy. Good luck, but I don't think it's something you need to stress about. Sounds like you are doing the right thing.

Aug 23, 2011
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Joyce
by: Anonymous

What does your Vet say? It sounds like alergies - but he would know for sure. When did you start the benedryl? It takes awhile to take effect. Good Luck. Jr licks his pads too.

Aug 23, 2011
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licking
by: Anonymous

may be a food allergy

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