For some months, Abby and I have noticed, to our annoyance, that Max the Chihuahua has been licking himself more frequently and more intensely. We tell him, “no licky!” but the next time we check, he is licking himself again.

Chihuahuas tend to be very clean dogs, almost like cats, but this was not only more than typical for the species, it was bordering on obsessive.

I took him to our vet today, where our friend Stephanie examined him, joined by the other vet, Bruce. Together they examined him with great care, then with a tweezer teased out a stitch, which had to have been left behind from when he was neutered, sometime prior to when Abby and I got him in 2006. I have to say I was surprised that it was something as simple as that, and a little amazed that it’s been in his body for nearly seven years. Steph gave him an antibiotic injection and sent him home.