Dog Self Mutilation Deterent

[barbiegirl]

You can try a spray for hotspots. It's a tea tree oil. My dog is always linking and when she sees the spray she stops. It will help soothe and heal the spot. Good luck.

 

[Suzie]

I can empathise with you - I have a GSD with the problem of licking his hip area until it is red raw - I have had veterinary advice of treating him with hibiscrub ( antiseptic wash ) and applying an oil based ointment to the area - I have used a "Buster" collar but have found that the best treatment for him was to use tea tree oil - it soothes the area and eventually he has healed with no ill effects - it is a common problem with labradors and GSD's.... it will take time and patience and the problem may come back - my GSD is fine now BUT....

I wish you luck!

Suzie

 

[KimKimWilliamso]

I have a GSD who also does this.
Years ago, when he was just a puppy and we worked 9 hours a day and he was left home alone frequently, he started chewing the tip of his tail. Before we noticed the blood splatter on the walls and then his bleeding stumpy tail, he was able to chew away 3 inches of his tail out of pure boredom and obsession. We stopped kenneling him, took him to dog daycare during the week, started walking him with a backpack with weights in it, and the tail chewing stopped, never to return. We used excercies, distraction and re-direction training methods to deter the chewing and it worked.

Since then our work habits have changed as such that our pets are never alone. All three dogs benefit from this, but because German Sheps. tend to suffer from obsessive behaviors (some even claim OCD) Deefer (My GSD) still chews some parts of his body obsessively. When he is settling down for the evening, he actually pulls his back legs up between his front legs and begins to chew the joints on the back legs. Gently, but obsessivly and consistently. He has fallen asleep with his leg in his mouth! We still use re-direction and have tried to train him out of the behavior, and he responds UBER well to voice commands to stop, but you can see it in his eyes that he WANTS to continue. He just wont once we bust him. All we have to do now is call out from another room "STOP" when we hear him doing it, and he will, but begrudginly, LOL

His other obsessive behaviors include an unhealthy obsession with fetch. I know I know, what dog doesnt love it, but Deefer can turn ANYTHING into a very serious and obsessive game of fetch.....a peice of cardboard, a crumpled sock, leaves blowing in the wind, bubbles, etc. he will zone in, focus, and wont quit till he drops dead of it! You can see it in his eyes that he is in anothr world! This one has been harder to break him of, but it isnt as harmful as the others.

Laslty, he has a licking obsession. When he and the other dogs are snuggled up, he starts to lick them. Picks a spot (usually the ears, his fav) and will lick and lick and lick until they are drenched. My Huskey would prefer he not, but she tolerates it, my Boston Terrier LOVES it and usually joins in and it turns into a sick licking circle. Anyhow the re-direction and voice commands we have taught him usually make him lay off as well. A firm "STOP". But my GSD has always put loyalty and pleasing us before everything....thats not always the case with others, so it could be a long road of work!

Deefer is 12 Now, and relatively healthy. With our close monitoring he has become manageable with these obsessions, but it is a constant maintenance we must address, as will your issue be. Even though she is older, GSD require TONS of mental stimulation. If they arent getting it, they create it, and that is when most of these obsessions come to play. As we did, I suggest you use a firm verbal command of your choice when you see her go for the area. No names, no threats or physical contact. Just a quick verbal command to snap her out of the obsessive thought process. Repeat as necessary, as often as necessary, and eventually she will learn to stop when you use that word. Also, I dont recommend bandaging it. The feeling of the bandage often just alerts her, reminds her of the obsession and actually perpetuates it. Also, when she is alone, the cone is a must until you feel the habit has been broken, but only when she cant be observed. Lastly, a tuired dog is aways a good dog Get her tons of mental and physical stimulation to distract her from thoughs of obsession, and to tire her out so that when she is relaxed, she doesnt want to chew/lick cause she's too tired. The best stimulation is giving her a job. They sell dog backpacks, you strap em on and fill it with a water bottle or two, have the dog see you put things in, and take things out, and walk around with her. She will feel like she has a job, a puropse, and that will stimulate her.

Years after we got Deefer, I started working in the Animal Industry, and over time I have become a certified Canine Behavioralist, and work part time as a Vet Assistant for one of the best Specialist Vets in Canada. (www.westernvet.ca) I have found the advice I gave you to work (in addition to vet care) on many different species. Good Luck!!!

 

[mixitup]

It sounds like a nervous habit. She started and now it is something that comforts her. It's a hard habit to break, but can be done and will take a long, long time. There is also something called bandage spray from the vet. It's like bitter apple only a bit better. I would try the Dogglegg boot and keep up with the bitter apple as well. Bitter apple/lemon only works when it is wet. Once it is dry, or gone, it doesn't prevent anything. Please don't put jalepeno, pepper spray, hot sauce, etc on it, it will just irritate it and she will lick all the more. Good luck, let us know how it goes.