Keys® Regimen for Dog Lick Granulomas and Hot Spots

The Back Story

Our mascot, a Bichon Frise named Jasper, is sometimes an ironclad mess of compulsive behavior in the form of a lick granuloma. Driven by allergies, neurosis, or the spring weather, he starts incessant liking that creates one or more lick granulomas. Sometimes it is on a leg and sometimes in a challenging area like on a hip. Then there are those ever-present hot spots that need to be looked after before becoming a granuloma. All dogs can be tricky hiding their licking, and Bichon, like Jasper, is extra crafty.

First, What is a Lick Granuloma

A lick granuloma, or acral lick dermatitis, is a dog skin condition. It is a self-inflicted wound caused by excessive licking or chewing of a specific skin area, usually on the front legs or paws. They often start as hot spots and bloom. The area affected by the lick granuloma is often hairless and can become infected if left untreated. The underlying cause of the excessive licking is usually related to stress, anxiety, boredom, or allergies.  

These bumps are red and form scabs that irritate him even more, causing more licking. The solution is two use four of our products. Three are topical solutions, and one is an internal calmative. These products are OmniClean, RediCare, MetaCare, and ProCalm. RediCare and MetaCare can be located in our therapy category, and OmniClean and ProClam are dog specific. They are located under the dog category in our store. There are links below to each of the products mentioned.

MetaCare was first developed for human skin disorders and irritations. RediCare is a spinoff of MetaCare in the form of a spray topical therapy. Both MetaCare and RediCare use ayurvedic Neem and Karanja oil as their main ingredients. Below I will explain the ingredient more, along with the primary active ingredient in ProCalm is Magnolia extract as a calmative.

RediCare has an interesting background and was developed for the search and rescue dogs returning from Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. We were attending a dog show, and a search and rescue man brought his dog Tye to us. He showed us Tye’s injuries from all the chemicals in the water. His underbelly was a mess, and we applied MetaCare to Tye’s belly. A few hours passed, and Roger returned with Tye to show us how his skin had already started to turn for the better. We got his information and sent him some MetaCare. Tye is a Weimaraner with short hair. The next day of the show, another handler came by our booth and asked if we had anything for long hair dogs that had the same chemical burns. Bob, our founder, and scientist, figured out how to make MetaCare sprayable, and RediCare was born. Later when we developed our KODA dog brand, we streamlined the RediCare formulation and created OmniCare for dogs. It is not a sprayable lotion like RediCare, but it has similar properties and can be used for lick granulomas and hot spots. In the case of Jasper, he had worked over his spots so much that we needed to use MetaCare and chose to use RediCare because it is so close to MetaCare. ProCalm fits in because it is a natural calmative that helps with compulsive behaviors.

The Keys® Regimen for Like Granulomas and Hot Spots.

First, we bathed Jaspers granulomas with our OmniClean shampoo. It has Neem and Karanja oil in a castile soap. After drying, we applied MetaCare and wrapped both with that stretchy self-clinging bandage material that we found on Amazon. We then gave Jasper two squirts of ProCalm in his morning and evening meals. ProCalm is a series of oils that are high in Omega 3, 6, and 9 fatty acids and a dose of Magnolia extract is used at a rate of 1 pump per 10 lbs. Jasper is shy of 20 lbs, so he gets two squirts in his food in the morning and evening. As the lick granulomas healed, we changed from the MetaCare to the RediCare because RediCare has a more even spread for Jasper’s longer fur. We continue the ProCalm until all are healed. Jasper goes to the groomer with OminClean for his baths because of all the sulfates and Phthalates in dog shampoos. OmniClean’s Castile soap is very soothing, and it makes his fur very white and soothes Bichon’s itchy skin.

And yes, it works.

Key Ingredients To Consider

Neem Oil Benefits

Neem oil has several benefits for the skin, including anti-aging effects, promoting wound healing, and fighting skin infections. It can also be used to treat dry skin, wrinkles, scars, acne, warts, and moles.

Neem oil contains fatty acids and antioxidants that are beneficial to the skin.

It has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties that promote healthy skin.

Neem oil is safe but extremely potent.

We add Neem oil to the skin products or mix it with shampoos like MetaClean and OmniClean.

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Karanja oil Benefits

Karanja is a symbiotic plant to the Neem tree. It is a close kin, but different. Karanja oil has several benefits for the skin, including natural protection, added suppleness, moisture, and firmness. It is anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antifungal and offers antioxidant UV protection.

Karanja oil can soothe irritation, shield the skin against UV damage, and protect the scalp.

It can also be used to treat skin infections, eczema, or psoriasis.

Karanja oil is a great hair oil for people who want to preserve their color and stimulate hair growth.

Dogs and humans have lived together so long that most human products port directly to dogs. MetaCare, RediCare, and ProCalm are some of those products that benefit both humans and dogs equally.

Magnolia Extract 

Magnolia extract has numerous benefits for our health and well-being. One of the most noteworthy advantages of this extract is its ability to reduce stress and anxiety levels. It has been found to be effective in calming the mind and promoting relaxation, which can be helpful for those who struggle with stress-related issues like our Bichon, Jasper. Additionally, the magnolia extract has anti-inflammatory properties that can help to alleviate pain and discomfort caused by conditions such as arthritis. It has also been shown to improve sleep quality, which is essential for overall health and wellness. Another benefit of the magnolia extract is its ability to boost cognitive function. It has been found to enhance memory and concentration, which can be helpful for those who need to perform mentally demanding tasks. Overall, the benefits of the magnolia extract are numerous and varied. This natural supplement can help to improve our physical and mental health, making it an excellent addition to any wellness routine. This translates directly to our pups.

There you have it, a natural ayurvedic solution to a familiar dog skin disorder from Keys®