110 lb lab chews his legs????

Question

My lab likes to chew on his legs. When I took him to the vet she didn't seem to worried and gave me meds that aren't working. She just told me he was bored. He has a 50 foot runner and we let him off that 3 times a day to play ball and he still does it. Does anyone know of anything else to use?

I am home with him all day. He comes inside in the winter and still does it. Alleriges have been ruled out but I nver thought of ocd.

Answer 1

My German Shepherd does the same thing. They may be a little bored but my vet told me that she suffers from seperation anxiety. She also has some allergies. I have found a very effective treatment called Skin Eze. I just melt two tablets a day in a little water in the microwave and add it to her food. It really does make a difference. I also bath her with T-Gel Shampoo AND Conditioner. This has coal tar extract which coats the skin and provides a lot of relief for her. You can find the Skin-Eze on allergicpet.com

Answer 2

It is usually a mental issue. I have a Newfie bit ch that does this too. Sometimes they prescribe medications like Prozac ffor these dogs, but the condition can be fixed by better mental engagement of the dog. I started walking my dog for 45 min each evening, and having scheduled playtimes during the day. They get bored with the same thing day in and day out. Just because you think that the dog is getting prroper exercise, does not mean it is. At 110 pounds, the dog sounds overweight. You can switch to an all natural food, and start WALKING the dog twice daily...on a leash around the neighborhood. If you can't do it there, take the dog to a place that you can. And make it a GOOD walk where the dog is MOVING....not just sniffing around. It really works!!! Within a week of starting this program, my dog stopped licking her foot and has not done it since!!!!!

Answer 3

The Mack Sennett answer is likely--movies had (and have) a strong influence on popular culture, as when undershirt sales plummeted after Clark Gable didn't wear one in It Happened One Night. I've read that before 1915, prostitutes were the group known for shaving. The chief reasons women shave are aesthetics, smell, and custom. Hairy armpits on an otherwise groomed woman, especially when she's wearing something like a sleeveless ballgown, look unkempt, unsophisticated, and earthy--a more hippy look than generally desired. If they're wet with sweat, even worse. Hair also traps smell, so you 're going to have more BO if you're unshaven. And third, culturally there's a EWWW factor--we're just not used to seeing it. Shaving the legs is done strictly for aesthetic reasons--hair under nylons gets all bunched up and ruins the sleek look of the leg, and long, dark leg hair looks masculine. The aesthetics have a lot to do with achieving an illusion of maximal youthfulness, as cited by some here. Women generally like to look fresh and girlish, and certainly don't want to invite comparisons with an old, hairy guy.

Answer 4

If he is actually doing it out of boredom take the little guy some place to play other than just throwing the ball around in your backyard. You might not be giving him enough exercise. A lab is a high strung animal that needs a lot of exercise. Do you have any place you can take him swimming? Get a retrieving decoy and have some fun with him tossing it into a pond or lake for a while.

Don't just might have some sort of allergy that the vet didn't figure out. Have you change anything in his diet or even the soap that your washing him with? Just a few other things to look into.

Answer 5

Your lab is overweight and bored. He needs mental as well as physical exercise. Teach him something new. Try more advanced obedience training. While his mind is working he won't be self destructive. Also, see what you can do about taking some weight off this dog. 110 lbs is far too heavy for a Labrador Retriever.

Answer 6

I have a yellow Lab. They are companion dogs, and I think they have to be near someone a lot. My dog is miserable when I go somewhere. He chews up the edge of a carpet rug on my porch when I leave him for a long time to go somewhere. You might find someone to be with him while you work, that would interact with him more. He is probably frustrated and bored, and misses you. They are such good companions, and really need to be with someone or another dog. Hope this helps. I love Labs.

Answer 7

Maybe he needs some time with a pet counselor. I know first hand that this works. He could have issues if you have to leave him to go to work. Maybe three times a day for play isn't enough. Did he just start this or has he done it since you got him? Sounds like he just can't help it. Maybe you need a second opinion from a vet. My late Yorkie, Alex, had allergies that kicked in during late summer and fall just like humans and had to have a shot at that time which worked until his final year of life. Good luck! Remember he can't help it!

Answer 8

this is a common problem it is an ocd i had a friend who had a bull terrier that would chase his tail all day for no reason for hours on end the vet put him on some type of i guess paxil for dogs now the problem is gone the dog became a more docile pet but this if for sure an ocd and almost anytime the dog is left alone he is going to chew that leg call your vet and tell them the meds are not working the either should give a stronger dose or try another med

Answer 9

its allergies!! not boredom lol! you should switch vets! our golden retriever chews his legs and his feet between his toes. its because theyre itchy, and hes itching them. theres different kinds of allergie meds for dogs, you should get a second opinion from another vet. our dog is on some med that i dont know what its called.... its a pill we give to him everyday in peanutbutter and it works. we also use a special hypoallergenic shampoo (which can be found at the pet supplies store) and we bathe him once like every two weeks... dogs dont chew on themselves because theyre bored! get a second opinion lol!

Answer 10

I have a dog that used to do the same thing...until I got him stuffed animals. Now he sucks on his stuffies like a pacifier and he's a happy doggie!! It happens sometimes when they're weaned too soon from their mothers. Try getting him one & see what happens. I get mine from garage sales because he goes thru them so quickly! HIs favorites are Fisher Price puffalumps...so they're a lot cheaper at garage sales than buying them new.