About a week ago Ripple started licking the bottom of his leg. He licked away all the fur on a small patch, however I couldn't see anything there that could be irritating him. As he was still licking at it over the weekend we went to the vet and have been given Isaderm gel to put on it. Unfortunately it seems after just two applications that he is licking his leg more than ever. Does anyone know anything about this gel? Could it be making it worse? I'm at a loss what to do tonight - I tried a plastic collar on Ripple to stop him reaching it to lick but he went mad - ripping at the collar, rolling over and over and getting really distressed. The bare patch is now really red and obviously irritating Ripple, and I'm worried he will soon break the skin.
Can you ring the vet?maybe the cream is irritating it. Doug used to destroy his toes and feet I used to have to sleep with him holding his legs or feet he could cope with a collar sometimes. Hope he's ok xxx
It looks like it is a combination of an antibiotic and a steroid - the former for infection and the latter for inflammation - should help with redness and itching. I think it looks the same as "Fucibet" we would use on humans, but in a gel form not a cream. The steroid should help with the itching
I've just found some threads on the forum about Isoderm and I can't see that anyone else has had a problem with it. Ripple has now exhausted himself and fallen asleep - I'll definitely ring the vet in the morning. He seemed to completely zone out from us and just constantly lick at it . I'm also going away on Wednesday for a week leaving OH in sole charge - why do they always get things wrong when you've got to leave them?
I wonder if putting Ripple on a week's worth of Apoquel might clear it up? My dog is on it currently, he was licking and biting his front feet raw. It helped him pretty much straight away. He hasn't bothered with his paws at all and they are healing up nicely, no need for a cone etc. Might be worth asking your vet?
They've said to give it 3 days and go back if no improvement. He's still licking but not so frantically. Thanks @SilverFalcon I'll get OH to mention Apoquel if things don't improve.
My friend's dog recently went through this, and the vet said that he had developed a bit of OCD with licking the spot, cream or no cream. My friend had to try and break the habit - by distraction mainly, trying to stop his licking as much as possible to get the cream to start working. I think he put a tshirt on him as well (the spot was on his side). Could you try a sock or a wrap?
Best to apply cream/gel just before a walk so that it has time to work while he’s out and about, otherwise he’ll lick it off.
At the moment we are applying it just before his walks - it's the evening that's the worst, he just continually licks (and it's a big slurpy lick that drowns out the tv ).
That's the worst. it's horrible and hard to stop. Doug used to lick his paws constantly it was so bad it would make me cry he destroyed toes I used to just still with him and just put my hand arm and body between his tongue and feet. Just watch him break the cycle of licking if you can.
That licking sound - can drive you insane!! Especially at night when you’re trying to sleep. While still feeling sorry for poor Snowie. We have used prednisone when it’s really bad because we feel so sorry for him, and we need sleep, and also excessive licking can damage the skin. Best of luck!
It's just Ripple and OH for the next week and luckily he's quite happy to lay on the floor with him and keep his hand over the sore patch. I, of course, will be on the phone every hour checking on Ripple .
Have you bathed his leg? It can be very soothing. And you can use an antiseptic wash like povidone iodine or a salt solution.
The vet didn't mention it but I did wonder whether that would be worth trying. It's just one patch on his leg, the vet thought he'd scratched it on something and that is what was causing the irritation.
If my head is itchy, the first thing I do is wash my hair and scalp! Unless it’s an emergency, my first option is always the least invasive and least medicated. Washing an area and removing whatever is making it itchy seems like the logical first step.
