Golden Retriever (Detailed Introduction)

　　Many Golden Retrievers have the habit of licking their feet and hands, and even licking their owners and others. This habit is often overlooked by owners. Sometimes these undesirable behaviors may be caused by certain diseases. So below is an introduction to the reasons why Golden Retrievers lick their paws?
　　The behavior of a Golden Retriever continuously licking a certain area is called Acral Lick Dermatitis (ALD), commonly known as lick granuloma or canine neurodegenerative disease. ALD is a difficult behavior to treat and in severe cases may cause disability. It requires a multi-faceted approach to identify and eliminate the cause, provide behavior correction, and if necessary, use medication.
　　1. Causes of Acral Lick Dermatitis:
　　1. Boredom
　　2. Lack of social activities
　　3. Long-term confinement
　　4. Continuous physical punishment by the owner
　　5. Excessive concern from the owner or a neurotic owner
　　6. The appearance of new family members, whether human or animal, if accompanied by physiological issues, bacterial infections, tumor formation, trauma, or allergies, can also cause the Golden Retriever to continuously lick a certain area.
　　2. Treatment methods:
　　1. It is best to choose a diet suitable for Golden Retrievers; for those spending most of their time at home, avoid highly nutritious foods.
　　2. The more exercise the Golden Retriever gets, the better; at least twenty to thirty minutes of aerobic exercise daily.
　　3. Provide a diverse but interesting environment, giving them plenty of activities and chewable toys.
　　4. If there is an infection, please consult a doctor to prescribe antibiotics.
　　5. Increasing exercise is not just letting the Golden Retriever run in the yard; owners need to take them out on walks and interact with them, play with them. Just giving a bunch of toys for the dog to play alone cannot meet their need for social interaction because, like us, Golden Retrievers are social animals.
　　6. Enroll the Golden Retriever in obedience classes, engage in dog sports, and provide opportunities to interact with other Golden Retrievers.
　　7. If possible, find a companion for the dog.
　　8. A more extreme method is to put a head or muzzle cover on them, preventing licking.
　　Whatever method the owner chooses, it is essential first to identify the cause before making corrections. If the cause is a disease, early detection and appropriate treatment are critical.