Here is a good grooming hack to share. Many dogs habitually lick specific areas of their body. More than typical self-grooming, this is probably an effort to soothe irritation. It is frequently related to some allergic reaction, injury, or infection, but sometimes, it is over a joint, suggesting the pet has arthritic aches that cause it to lick and chew. The top or underside of the paws is onecommon area for licking and chewing, but it can be anywhere: legs, chest, hips, or belly. When we bathe, dry, and groom dogs, these areas are often readily visible because the coat may be tangled and is usually discolored and rusty in the irritated area. Sometimes, the skin is also broken, inflamed, or even thickened.
It can be tempting to clip these areas very closely to remove tangled fur and reduce the stains as much as possible. The problem with this plan is that the skin in these spots is frequently irritated already, and close clipping may cause the skin to become further inflamed. This would cause the dog to increase their destructive behavior and keep the damaging cycle going.
Instead, wash the dog and the irritated spots well with a mild shampoo. Follow up with a conditioner to replace the natural oils that have been washed away. Gently brush with a soft slicker to remove any thick spots or tangles. If there is a very tight mat where the pet has been chewing and licking, you can reduce the mass of the tangle by carefully trimming it with scissors, being careful not to get too close to the skin. You can also cut the tangle into smaller sections with your scissors so it can be brushed and combed out. Using your favorite detangling spray will make this job much easier for you and the pet.
After removing any tangled areas, groom the pet as you normally would, leaving some coat to cover the spots the dog has been chewing. The fur will help protect the skin from the sun, the environment, and the dog's continuous efforts to lick and chew.
In an ideal world, the pet owner will work with their veterinarian to try to eliminate whatever is irritating the dog and causing it to lick excessively, but leaving some fluffy coat to protect the sensitive areas is good grooming practice.
