For about a year now, Drift has been chewing on her legs. We thought it was allergies so we've been treating her for that. She's been on HerbSMith Allergy, Zyrtec, and Resicort leave on lotion for the itching. For 3 months she's been eating only ground rabbit to rule out a food thing.

Today, I had to work from 10-2. I left her home in the crate with an Elizabethan collar on. She has not chewed for about a week, and seemed fine when I left her. Somehow she managed to get the collar off, and chewed her right thigh raw. It was flaming red and hairless when I got home. I put her in the bath to clean it up and see how bad it was, and blood actually ran down her leg.

This is the worst she has EVER chewed. And, at my wits end, I PMd Connie. Per her recommendations, I will be seeking a derm vet for Drift... this just does not seem like allergies anymore.

Drift only chews on the outsides of her thighs. Until today, it was only one thigh at a time. This appears to go in cycles, like it will be fine for a couple of weeks, the hair growing back, and then she will chew the heck out of it again.

She does not appear to have any other allery symptoms. In all other respects, she appears healthy and fine. I have searched my house and surrounding grounds and have found no evidence of fleas. I am at a loss to explain it.

Drift will also be getting a Thyroid panel done, if nothing else, just to rule that out as well.

Does anyone else have any thoughts or recommendations for me?? I want only the best for Drift, and seeing her chew herself to pieces is killing me.

Thanks!!

--Kel (and Drifty Dog)

I'm sorry to hear about the issues poor Drift is having. I have no suggestions, but wish you the best in getting to the bottom of this and finding a solution!!

Kelly, I'm really, really sorry to hear this about Drift the Magnificent! Poor baby... I wish I had some words of wisdom to offer but I don't. Keeping all paws crossed that the derm vet will be able to quickly get to the bottom of this. Please keep us posted.

Could it be fleas even though you haven't seen any? My Leo itched for a couple of months recently (not nearly as bad as yours) until I finally broke down and treated for fleas and the itching stopped within hours. But I still never saw a single flea.

Whatever it is I hope she finds relief. It's awful seeing them in such discomfort.

I doubt fleas. I have been all over the house and grounds and haven't found anything. Plus, with 4 other dogs in the house, I should have found something.

I also treated with Advantix last week as ticks have been wicked recently.

Thanks, though!

(I am washing all the bedding -human and dog- and rugs in the house though )

--Kel

Does Drift live in a plastic crate?

Nope, metal. The bottom is plastic, but she's always got a bed on it.

Her bed is the unreal lambskin bed or a cotton blanket. She usually sleeps on the bed with us at night on top of a cotton sheet.

Any chance of a knee injury or similar?

Some dogs nibble when they are achey.

 Quote: Kelly

... this just does not seem like allergies anymore.

Hey Kelly, I would be trusting my instincts on this too.

I’ve never dealt with allergies but I’ve seen some of stress licking. Of course there can be a million and one causes for that too.

It was quite severe with Edward when he first came to us. With the back upper thighs as well. Once he stabilized it subsided. A lot of redirecting in the meantime.

However, he ended up with arthritis in his knees; they were almost ceased when he passed away. He also had spondylosis. So a fair amount of under the surface, structural stuff that wasn’t initially diagnosed.

When he started licking his front knees raw we had them x-rayed and sure enough, they were signs of arthritis. The Deramaxx really helped for this. And with his back problems, of course he couldn’t reach it but was redirecting to his back thighs.

Our vet had seen this type of liking before and when she did the hip/back legs x rays, she did his spine too and sure enough, there was a fair amount of degeneration that was also causing him a bunch of discomfort. She added morphine to the deramaxx.

Definitely not saying that any of this is what's happening for Drift but sometimes licking in one spot can be signs of something elsewhere and I just thought I'd throw it out there.

Poor Drifty. She’s helped so many and now she’s in need. Her precious insight, the way she is able to make people open up and tell what’s happening for them. If only she could tell you what happening for her.

How old is she now? Is she still going to work with you?

Good catch, Lauren and CJ!

I still say derm vet first, I think. This initially presented with a hot belly rash.

BUT, a very wise thing to add to the possibles list.

Even the fact that the first episode ended with a short-term Pred trial and the second didn't, even that can fit in with what you're saying.

I totally missed this thought in PM. The rash that could have had zero to do with anything led me into derm and nowhere else.