LICK GLAUCOMA

In that pathology, the animal feels a lot of need to lick the inferior area of the members, what provokes the emergence of an oval and hard plate. The cause of the problem can be psychogenic or organic. Before closing the diagnosis of psychogenic cause all the organic causes they should be discarded (for instance bacteria, mushrooms, demodicose, previous trauma, allergy, diseases articulate, etc.).

The psychogenic causes can include boredom and anxiety, that take the animal to lick the extremity of the paws. A detailed history can reveal that the animal passes most of his/her alone time.

The predisposed races are: dobermann, German doque, labrador, Irish setter, golden retriever and German shepherd. It is more common in males and in almost all of the cases the lesions are only and they just attack a member.

The constant lambedura produces erosion and itch. Soon afterwards, he/she settles down a cycle" itch - will of scratching", taking to the emergence of a firm lesion and ulcerated. The lambedura impedes the cicatrization and it provokes bacterial contamination. Another effect of the constant lambedura is the liberation of endorphins, provoking a well-being sensation in the animal and analgesic effect. That process does with that the animal has that compulsive behavior. Some authors proposed that that is an obsessive upset - compulsive.

The diagnosis is made by the history, physical exam and the discard of all the organic causes.

The treatment is based on the psychological aconselhamento. The ideal is to discover the cause and to eliminate her (for instance dogs that a lot of time alone passes or confined, presence of a new animal or baby in the house, female in the rut, death in the family, etc.).

In some cases it is together necessary the psychological treatment with administration of antidepressants, tranquilizers and topical treatment of the lesion.

Extracted text of the site: www.kennelclub.com.br, 
section word of VET, kindly given in to our site.