Excessive licking 1 year post PU surgery

My poor Oliver had to have PU surgery last November 2012.  He recovered well but about 7-8 months post surgery he began persistently licking his new "area."  By this time, the area was healed.  I took him to the vet as the area was getting pink due to his licking.  The vet thought he may just be experiencing new nerve sensation and thus the fixation on the licking.  He gave him a cortizone shot and he was fine and stopped licking for about 1 1/2 months.  Then the licking started again, back to the vet we went.  Same diagnosis.  I have now taken him to the vet 3 times for this issue and will again tomorrow because the licking is outrageous this time!  When I put a cone on him to prevent his licking he seems ok, but as soon as it comes off he "goes to town" on his area and it gets even worse!  The vet is at a loss as to why he is doing this especially since it started so many months after surgery.  Has anyone experienced this??  Please help! - Robin

Excessive licking usually indicates pain or discomfort.

How are his litter habits now? Does his pee flow quickly and easily?

Sorry I forgot to mention, yes he is peeing and pooping quite fine.  He is also eating fine and his personality is as normal (except when I put the cone on him which he hates)  Because he is peeing fine the vet is at a loss as to what is causing him to lick his surgery site a year after the fact.

Do you know if the vet used absorbable stitches for his incision?  Sometimes they don't always dissolve and that can cause issues if he used them on the internal incision.

Did the vet check his anal glands?

Hi, I was looking at some of the postings on years later after a cat has had the PU surgery, as mine seems to constantly have the issue of licking excessively and leaking when doing so!!! I have had many trips to the vet, they do a urinalysis, and find a few crystals in the urine and put him on antibiotics, then the issue goes away for a short time and then he is right back to leaking.. I'm at a loss of what to do..as vet bills have been extensive because of these issues. He certainly can't take antibiotics forever. Anyone have advice??

I am having the same problem as you..Its  awful watching him go crazy licking himself.I wonder if this  can this make him sick after 1 year of constant licking..I thought I was helping him but he looks so Irritated poor thing.

Does anyone have updates on how their cats are coping with the licking?

My cat had the surgery about 2 months ago. He has been licking obsessively so the vet actually put him under again to find out the issue but he said it all looks great. He also had  a number of other vets look at it and they all agree he is healing well and there is no problem. So now he has had a cone on for 3 weeks and some cream to put on it as he had irritated the area with all the licking. He has licked/bitten through the cone and some days he seems fine and others he is really irritable and tries to lick a lot as well as drag his bum along the bedspread or carpet. When I've taken the cone off (I was told to trial it off) he goes straight to that area and starts licking and biting at it. We have an appointment with the vet for his yearly vaccination in weeks time but I feel so bad for him on those days where he licks a lot. Could it be itchy?

It does sound like it could be his anal glands. Have you had those looked at?

No- I've really just told the vet symptoms and they've had a look at the area. I'll mention that to the vet. Thanks.

Thank you thank you thank you! I took him to the vet & asked if it could be anal glands bothering him. Just as the vet was explaining that it was very unlikely he felt the area and found out he did indeed have very impacted anal glands. So bad he had to put him under to squeeze it all out as it was a paste. He is still licking the surgery area more than normal but seems a lot more comfortable and his appetite is much bigger as well. Vet thinks if he is still licking a lot next step might be giving him something for nerve pain. So once again thank you so much. The vet said he wouldn't have thought to even check the anal glands if I hadn't mentioned it.

So glad the idea was helpful! It was the scooting that tipped me off.

I know this thread is 3 years old now. But I'm having the same issue with my car, Stewie. He had the PU surgery about 6 months months ago and everything has been fine, besides his excessive licking. He has been licking himself so much that he keeps giving himself a bacterial infection down there. I took him to the vet and they gave him a shot of antibiotics and I left the cone on for a week. I took it off and he was fine for 24 hours until he started showing signs of a UTI again. I have put the cone on him again and the signs have disappeared. I don't know if this is just PTSD or anxiety or what. But I'm not all too sure on what to do about him. I can't keep taking him to the vet every few months, he has been getting really expensive.

robvball said:

My poor Oliver had to have PU surgery last November 2012. He recovered well but about 7-8 months post surgery he began persistently licking his new "area." By this time, the area was healed. I took him to the vet as the area was getting pink due to his licking. The vet thought he may just be experiencing new nerve sensation and thus the fixation on the licking. He gave him a cortizone shot and he was fine and stopped licking for about 1 1/2 months. Then the licking started again, back to the vet we went. Same diagnosis. I have now taken him to the vet 3 times for this issue and will again tomorrow because the licking is outrageous this time! When I put a cone on him to prevent his licking he seems ok, but as soon as it comes off he "goes to town" on his area and it gets even worse! The vet is at a loss as to why he is doing this especially since it started so many months after surgery. Has anyone experienced this?? Please help! - Robin

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I know this post is very old but I came across it because I am having the same issue with my cat and wanted to know if you ever found any resolution?

Thanks Laura

My cat started licking after three teeth were pulled. I took Teddie for his annual checkups every year and nobody said he said bad teeth until they needed to be pulled. Surgery: Teddie had his collar cone on for two weeks; then one week later he started licking all over his body. Even though this behavior seems to happen to a lot of pets after surgery, Vets don't seem to either know or don't say what may have happened, such a nerve damage, etc. I purchase a soft head cone that can go up or stay down; my cat seems to like keeping it on him, but it doesn't solve the licking issue once it comes off either. Currently, I take his cone off when he eats; then, I watch him go right back to licking. Office visit: Yes, it can become very expensive @ 45.00 for sure, especially with more than one pet in the household.

Medication: I will not start giving my cat medication, unless I am told what happen after surgery, because Teddie was fine beforehand. I will have to find a way to stop him from licking without altering through drugs. Thank God for soft head cones though, because if he didn't enjoy wearing this type, his poor tongue probably would become raw. I just wish professional Vets would be able to tell more rather than office visits to try this and that without a doubt. Teddie's soft cone will stay on but not in the up position though. This type of cone is very soft too; I purchased @ Chewy! It comes in small, medium, and large.

Also, I started brushing him with a pin/brush type a lot more. This may work to stop his excessive licking, especially since he is licking all over his body; no, it is not fleas for Teddie is an indoor pet; has his monthly medication dose at least. As mentioned, this started after surgery. Well, all is well that ends well, right?