A Case of Acral Lick Dermatitis in a Dog with Multiple Lesions

A 7-year-old intact male Maltese dog was presented with firm, raised, erythematous, alopecic, and pruritic skin lesions on the right dorsal distal metatarsal region and the tail. The skin lesion started a year ago with a crust-like lesion on the right dorsal distal metatarsal region which gradually swelled as the patient continued to lick and chew without healing. Recently, similar lesions occurred on the tail. Based on the licking history and ruling out other diseases through skin examination, acral lick dermatitis (ALD) was diagnosed. Treatment included antidepressants, preventive antibiotics, topical corticosteroid, and wearing Elizabethan collar as a physical barrier. After three weeks, the lesion on the hind limb healed entirely. However, the tail lesion recurred as it was able to lick the tail again with a type of an E-collar. This case shows that it is essential to block the contact lesion and provide medical treatment until the lesion has been completely resolved for successful management of ALD.