Licking Licking Licking... I can't take it anymore!

[Belinda Stevens]

Now, I need some help getting Stella to stop licking the sight where she had her IV. She started licking her shaved leg about the day after we brought her back home. Then it got worse and she was licking so much she was making it raw. We got her, what we call the "cone head" collar. Even though this created quite a bit of entertainment for us running into things, along with our legs and trapping the cat under the cone. She even has learned new tricks. She realized she doesn't have to actually catch her treats. Just catch them in the cone, tip her head down and Walla! Well she found a way to stop the laughing. She is chewing it up and somehow getting it off. We also took her back to the vet (once again) and got an antibiotic and some spray with steroids to put on the site. The Vet said she should stop but it has been several days and like I said she is getting it off (notice the duct tape) and continuing to lick.
Does anyone have any suggestions for me?

[Joy Williams]

Hey Belinda,
Try putting a sock on her leg and see if that will help any.

[Leslie, Dexter & Kirby]

Try a human tee shirt. Either a short sleeve or a 3/4 sleeve depending on how long her legs are. Then you can use duck tape around the bottom (near her "wrist"...do doodles have wrists?) of the sleeve so she can't move the shirt up. We had to do this with Dexter when he had his stomach surgery and it worked well. He hated the cone!

[Belinda Stevens]

Good idea's! Thanks, I'm going to try it now and see if it works.

[AndySharon BoomerShaynaMariner]

I was going to suggest bitter apple but you beat me to it.

[Leslie, Dexter & Kirby]

She is so cute by the way!! She has a wonderful coat!

My only thought about bitter apple is that if her leg is irritated already, bitter apple may sting her (I think there's alcohol in it).

[Belinda Stevens]

Thanks for the compliment on her coat. Right now I feel as though she is a greasy mess not having a bath and all the different things that I have had to put on her.

[Belinda Stevens]

Yeah even the spray that the Vet gave me seems to bother her. I put the shirt on her and she is licking right through the shirt. Ah that'ss it. Maybe I can just put the bitter apple on the shirt and not on her leg.

[2hl9mp3c2fuam]

Oooh poor baby...I like the suggestion of the sock - maybe that will help.

[2widfg8okrqg5]

No suggestions here Belinda, but you are cracking me up (sorry) - Stella looks so pitiful and so stinkin CUTE!!! What a stinker...

[Nanette de la Torre]

Hi Belinda,

Higgins also kept licking his forearm where the vet put the IV and then for some reason decided to lick the other forearm as well! He understands the command "leave it" for anything I want him to ignore, including licking his paws. But since I work during the day, he can't be monitored for this annoying habit. Because I did not have a good experience with Bitter Apple (my Dalmation would just lick through that) I finally found a product called Bitter Yuck (PetsMart) It seems to be working well on Higgins as he is not licking at the site anymore. I spray every other day and his hair is finally beginning to grow back. Good luck. I hope you find something that works!

[Janie]

Belinda, sorry you and Stella are going through this...I wish I could add to the suggestions you have already gotten,but they are the ones I would suggested.