Is it safe to remove the black surface of my dog's lick granuloma?

I've found cleaning this with antibacterial soap, rinsing well, drying the area and then applying an antibacterial ointment on it will protect it from infection. I prefer to use a restraint collar so Diesel can't lick it, rather than using a bandage. Leaving the area open to the air promotes faster healing. These can be difficult to heal so preventing the licking is very important. Some veterinarians give antibiotics and anti inflammatory medication as well as treating the area with a cold laser which speeds the healing. Keeping Diesel busy with exercise and playtime will help also as this is often made worse by boredom and stress. Be patient these can take weeks to months to fully resolve. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Diesel.

From your pictures, a possible cause might be a lick granuloma. These start for some reason (sometimes a bug bite, a small scratch, or a small skin mass) and the dog licks at them and makes it worse. They lick at it and push surface bacteria deeper which makes it itch, so they lick. It becomes almost a habit like a human biting their fingernails. So- I would recommend a visit to the veterinarian. They can check to make sure that is what it is , make sure that the inciting cause is gone, and do some diagnostics to determine a treatment plan. Has there been any changes to Neo's environment? Sometimes stress can start a lick granuloma or prolong it. Your veterinarian will most likely start antibiotics and anti-inflammatories. They might also recommend increasing his activity in case boredom is a cause. If there is a small skin mass present- they will recommend diagnostics on that. Good luck! Sometimes these take time, so have patience. Thanks for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

The most important thing to do is stop his licking by using a cone. Then clean the wound with a warm damp cloth and apply a thin film of antibacterial ointment on it. The skin discoloring is from licking. This should heal in a few days to a week once he leaves it alone. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for your dog.

Dolly has a lick granuloma. The staining you are seeing around it is from her saliva. Often times dogs lick a particular area due to underlying pain (ie: arthritis in the joint). Sometimes it can be that something irritated the skin which started the licking and the subsequent reaction. No way to tell just by looking at it. Here is a good article about this issue: https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/lick-granuloma-in-dogs I recommend you get her to the vet for some treatment. Usually steroids and antibiotics are needed to clear this up. Also, she will need to wear a cone to stop the licking. No matter what you treat her with it will not get better if she continues to lick it. Hope this helps. Best wishes!

I would be most concerned for a lick granuloma although it is difficult to tell from pictures. These can be related to arthritic pain, boredom, compulsive disorders and allergies, among other causes. The treatment depends somewhat on what the vet suspects the cause is- but may include diet changes, pain medicine, antibiotics if it appears infected and/or behavioral modification. If your vet does not think it looks like a granuloma in person they may recommend a biopsy! I hope this helps and Mercedes is back to normal soon!

Hi, from your picture it appears your dog is getting an lick granuloma. It will help to use hair clippers and trim the hair around the area to look for sores and redness. Some dogs will do this compulsively, or he may have a small bite or scratch. You can cover the area with a breathable baby sock, making sure it is not secure too tightly. Or keep the cone on for about 3 days to see it the area heals on it's own. Good luck, I hope this helps!

It looks like a lick granuloma which can be secondary to itching, pain, boredom, stress, OCD. They are commonly treated with antibiotics, anti-inflammatory medications, and bandages or E-collar to prevent licking. If that doesn't work then anti-anxiety medications, like Prozac, can be prescribed to see if that helps. Below is a link with a website with additional information. http://www.skinvetclinic.com/acrallickdermatitis.html