Sores from licking after blowing his coat... WHY?

[vomdominus]

First of all, I want to say that it's uncanny how accurately a dog can predict the changes in season by how they blow their coat.

Last week, when it was still in the 100's, Ty blew his coat. By Friday, when he was done with the blow, it was hitting low 40's at night. Anyway, whenever he gets done blowing his coat, he always licks one spot or another, generally on the back of one of his thighs, until he occasionally gives himself a sore spot.

I scold him when I catch him doing this, generally to good effect.

However, I was gone most of the day today, and when I came home, he had licked himself into a sore on his belly and behind his right thigh. I treated him in the way I was taught by shaving the spot and putting bag balm on it, and he obviously feels better.

I'm baffled as to why he would do this to himself. The only guess I could venture is due to his obsessive, almost neurotic focus. But what I can't understand is... why?

 

[RedyreRottweilers]

oh no, NEVER PUT OIL on one of these spots.

They need to dry out to get better. I use Listerene and gold bond powder.

I would wonder what he is eating.

 

[vomdominus]

oh no, NEVER PUT OIL on one of these spots.

They need to dry out to get better. I use Listerene and gold bond powder.

I would wonder what he is eating.

He's eating Taste of the Wild. I'm religious about his grooming, I'm not sure what causes him to do it. He only does it after he sheds, and there's never a sore spot there until he starts licking it.

 

[xpaeanx]

if it's hotspots, they are caused a lot by the dead hair getting trapped next to the skin, especially in warm humid climates.... but if you're on top of his grooming, I don't see why that would happen. and they can show up REALLY quickly.

It could also be an allergy to something...

You mentioned that he's gotten them before, did you ever bring him to the vet on one of the past sores?

 

[vomdominus]

if it's hotspots, they are caused a lot by the dead hair getting trapped next to the skin, especially in warm humid climates.... but if you're on top of his grooming, I don't see why that would happen. and they can show up REALLY quickly.

It could also be an allergy to something...

You mentioned that he's gotten them before, did you ever bring him to the vet on one of the past sores?

I took him to the vet once because of the sores, and the vet said they were hotspots. Honestly, I took it at face value and thought that was just what he called it. I do brush him daily, and furminate him twice weekly, but there's so much dead hair when he blows his coat that I guess I could miss some. :/

I really, really doubt it's an allergy because this only happens after he blows his coat.

Could his over-licking a spot and causing it to matte cause a hotspot as well?

 

[xpaeanx]

I've never had to deal with hotspots myself, so I can't recommend anything. I know chewing definatly makes them worse. Since, you've already talked to the vet, I would follow his advice. Red also mentioned a treatment, that's worth trying. Here are a few links about hotspots that may help.
http://www.ygrr.org/doginfo/health-skinproblems.html
http://vetmedicine.about.com/cs/dogdiseasesh/a/hotspots.htm


I hope he starts to feel better soon!