Lick granulomas often start as a tiny sore spot on the skin which gets worse as your dog continues to lick it. They tend to look like hairless, thick sores that have scarred over and have ulcerated and oozing centers. And, as most anyone who has had a dog with a lick granuloma knows, applying sprays and ointments simply doesn't seem to help. If you suspect that your dog may have a lick granuloma, have him seen by your veterinarian. There is no perfect or simple cure, but there are some things that you can do.

With lick granulomas, the skin is usually deeply affected and, under a microscope, bacteria, broken hair follicles, plugged and scarred oil glands, and dilated and inflamed capillaries can be seen even in the base layer of skin. Surgical removal of these lesions often won't help if the dog continues to lick at the surgical site thus creating a new lick granuloma.

Certain breeds of dogs are more inclined to develop lick granulomas and these can include Doberman Pinschers, German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, Irish Setters, Labrador Retrievers, and Weimaraners. Furthermore, these lesions are most likely to occur on the front or outside of the rear leg just above the paw or on the front of the wrist area.

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