This might include a commercial elimination diet to isolate the food component which is causing the problem, Treatment of any parasitic infestation, infection or other parasitic involvement, If a gastric foreign body is found, surgical removal may be necessary, If a gastric blockage is found, surgical removal of the blockage will be required, Exercise routine changes may be suggested for those canines found to be responding to built up anxiety and stress, Changes in grooming products or shampoos may be suggested if contact dermatitis is found, Changes in household cleaning products may be required if contact dermatitis is suspected, Hormonal supplementation may be required if a systemic hormonal imbalance is found, Retraining of both the family pet as well as the family may also be required if the excessive licking is determined to be just a compulsive or attention-getting behavior. Together you can determine if the signs are something to be concerned about, or if your pet is simply taking his/her daily bath. But there are times when licking can become excessive and can be a clinical sign of an underlying illness. Your dog might want food and water if the bowls are empty, or he might want you to open the door so he can go outside. Possible reasons why your dog has been licking blankets are that it is anxious, it likes the taste due to sweat or dead skin cells on the blanket, it smells your scent on the blanket or that it is a compulsive behavior. What Else Do Dogs Lick? When trying to determine why your dog is licking or chewing excessively, be sure to consider the possibility that something is making them physically uncomfortable. Emotional Problems. Cleaning your dog’s paws with doggie wipes or a warm washcloth after walks outside can help to decrease environmental allergens. It could be the case that it is a compulsive behavior that it has developed which is where it feels the urge to lick the bed and it can’t stop itself from doing it. Often an untrimmed nail can be to blame. Your dog may be coming into heat, or she may have an infection. This can help get his/her mind off of the compulsions. With the newer research into the gastrointestinal component, your vet may wish to do a gastric work up on your pet to look for those causes. These infections and granulomas can be painful to the dog. Keeping a low stress environment for anxious dogs can be very helpful also; quiet, low lighting, and slow movements. Your veterinarian can often prescribe or administer medications to help control and sometimes eliminate the nausea for your pet. You may catch your pooch bathing daily to keep clean. It’s most likely the result of dental trauma that is giving them a sore mouth. Share this conversation . Allergies are the number one cause of excessive licking in dogs. When a dog is stressed, they try to release tension through behaviors that, in many cases, can be misdiagnosed. You should expect him to order blood testing, urine and fecal samples, perhaps tissue scrapings from abraded areas and even some imaging studies like x-ray, CT scanning or MRI studies. So you suspect your dog has an upset stomach and now you have noticed your dog licking the carpet or licking the floor. What Are Some Causes of Excessive Licking? Dogs can also have behavioral causes of excessive licking, such as anxiety or a type of obsessive disorder where they over-groom themselves. If you have a canine family member who is afflicting with this behavior, it is important to understand that it may not completely go away forever. As I mentioned above, the main reasons for a dog licking excessively and suddenly can’t be explained in a couple of words rather the answer varies! Licking can be one way to alleviate pain. And When Should You Worry About Licking? However, dogs licking their paws excessively can also be a sign of a health or behavioral problem. Compulsive behavior would be more likely if it has been doing it excessively for more than a week. Owners may note that their dog licks in between the toes (sometimes leading to staining of the fur due to enzymes in the saliva), they may lick and chew at their hind end and their inner thighs. I have heard that it is an allergy, but not sure. These natural products tend to have little to no side effects and are safest when starting a treatment plan. Thank you for your question. Since this behavior could be behavioral or neurological as well as systemic, a multi-step diagnostic approach may be required by your veterinary professional. The dog could be excessively licking the other dog’s genitals because he detects a brewing issue like infection. Underlying pain from an injury or arthritis can cause dogs to lick, similar to when a person rubs a sore muscle or joi… Owners should seek veterinary attention for their dogs if the skin is changing color, if there are wounds, pimples, or crusts noted on the skin, if there is excessive scratching associated with the licking, and/or if fleas are seen. If they are still having problems, It would be best to have your pet seen by a veterinarian, as they can examine them, see what might be going on, and get any testing or treatment taken care of that might be needed. Cushing's disease, a condition marked by an overactive adrenal gland, and liver disease are other potential causes of obsessive floor licking. Taking a couple of minutes to try and figure out what your dog wants can not only get him to stop licking, it can also help to strength your bond. In most cases, dogs that lick their paws is not something to be super concerned about but you may want to check on the following things in case the licking behavior does point to a health or behavioral issue. Excessive licking is a compulsive behavior which can affect any dog, of either gender, of any age and of any breed. It has increased in frequency over the past several months. If your dog is licking you excessively you might want to take a minute to look around. Thanks for any help. Constant licking can lead to bald patches and painful trauma to the skin, so it’s good to take care of it sooner rather than later. The paw licking may start innocently as a way of coping with an allergy, arthritis or a mental state of boredom, anxiety or frustration, and soon the dog becomes addicted to it. Here are the most common reasons for dogs that lick their paws excessively. For instance, if you notice your dog biting their paw repeatedly, they could have a thorn or sharp stone stuck in their foot pad. Dog suddenly excessive licking. If you think your dog is excessively licking, it is pertinent to discuss these signs with your veterinarian. Because this behavior is so difficult to treat, it's important to determine the cause to most effectively treat the problem. They might even compulsively lick their paws over and over again (which is actually a separate condition called acral lick dermatitis). Excessive licking can cause that quality to decrease over time. Most dog owners would agree that this behavior is unusual. If this is something that’s been going on for some time with no detectable health issues involved, there’s probably nothing to worry about. Sometimes excessive paw licking in dogs can get quite out of hand and may lead to a compulsive disorder. Neurological disorders, including cognitive dysfunction, are another concern. If your veterinarian determines after examination (and possible diagnostic testing) that your dog is licking due to compulsive behavior or anxiety, there are some natural calming products that can be instituted. A dog may start licking as a result of some emotional problems, such as boredom, anxiety, stress, etc. This entails close monitoring and side-tracking your dog when he starts to obsessively groom. However, from the experiences I have gained when analyzing why does my dog lick me so much, it’s a way of passing the message telling you that something is missing. Show More. © 2020 Wag Labs, Inc. All rights reserved. This is most likely a sign that your dog is in pain in some way. Abnormal Licking . Answered in 1 minute by: 5/17/2009. Once you have a good … Excessive licking can be a symptom of liver disease, inflammatory bowel disease, dental problems and other conditions. Discussion in 'Dog Health and Nutrition' started by ell1e, May 19, 2009. ell1e PetForums Newbie. This is when a thorough discussion should be had with your veterinarian about behavior modification drugs such as Fluoxetine and Clomipramine. Very dilute apple cider vinegar can also be sprayed on the skin to deter licking but should be discussed with a veterinarian first to be sure it will not irritate the skin further. That will take away this possibility in the future. Signs of excessive licking will often resemble those caused by behavioral licking (hair loss, irritation, etc.). Just as among the other dogs, it licks humans too. Potential medical causes for licking include allergies that cause the skin or paws to itch. It is important to note that, if your pet is licking carpet, furniture and other fibrous surfaces, he may be ingesting fibers and hairs which can cause digestive issues that can range to intestinal blockages. This is an innate behavior in the animal kingdom. Following are some possible explanation as to … Habitual Problems and Medical Problems. If your dog is licking themselves, you, or objects excessively, to the point that it seems like a self-stimulatory behavior, this might be a sign of anxiety, boredom, or pain. We have even given her Omega supplements. If your dog has recently given birth to puppies, she may be licking her bed because of a biological urge to keep her pups' environment clean. Quality of life is the most important thing when it comes to our pets. If there is trauma to the skin, your veterinarian will treat the skin infections and/or granulomas caused by the excessive licking and then determine if the licking is a medical disorder or something that can be alleviated with behavior training. If you notice your pet suddenly licking excessively, make sure you call your vet and schedule an appointment for the check-up. The important point here is to get your family pet evaluated so that the important conditions are found and treated. While this may be the case for some canines, recent research has suggested that gastrointestinal issues may actually be a major factor in the development of the behavior for many canines. Here are some things you might notice in this area: The licking is prolonged - It lasts longer than is required to explore or investigate the object. Excessive licking is the compulsive licking of any surface for a period of time which is longer than is needed for exploratory or investigative purposes. Environmental allergies are caused by dusts, danders, pollens, and other airborne particles which lead to build-up on the skin and fur of the dog and in turn cause itching. She is licking the floor, the carpet, the furniture. Does your dog lick things obsessively? Impacted or infected anal glands are a fairly common cause of anal irritation in dogs. Some studies have shown that the act of licking increases endorphins in the brain which calms the dog while it is licking. I hope that all goes well for her. Your Dog Has a Paw Injury. He will also need to do some testing to rule out as many of the systemic causes for any potential skin infections or deeper internal abnormalities as possible. In the meantime, you can learn about five common reasons why dogs start licking things more. If the problem doesn't resolve, and she continues to lick herself, then she may have an infection, and it would be best to have her seen by a veterinarian. *Wag! Show Less. This type of odd behavior might be caused of either a neurological or physical illness. We made sure that it was not her food. Some excessive licking among dogs is caused by allergies. If it does seem to be doing it compulsively it would help to take it to a vet. If it is determined to be a result of ongoing home care or changes in home routines, changes could be temporary if those ongoing recommendations aren’t continued. Pain. If there is an underlying health condition which needs to be addressed, and that condition is addressed, then the prognosis is better for improvement in the behavior. Allergies to flea bites and certain proteins in pet food can cause similar signs. If your dog is licking just one foot or leg, that would indicate some sort of injury or ache. My … But when a dog obsessively and abnormally licks the floor, or brick walls, or other objects…that is another story. These include injuries; skin problems; environmental, parasite, or … Is your dog suddenly starting to lick his paw more often than usual? “That’s probably because something was spilled there or because it’s cool or they like the texture.” We woke up this morning to find that his bed was soakings, as was his tail and paws. If underlying systemic causes are found, expect that your vet’s primary concern will be to treat those underlying systemic diseases and conditions for the safety and health of your pet. Some dogs will also smack their lips or drool excessively when they feel nauseous. Plants, such as foxtails, can also become lodged in the mouth and cause lip licking. These include calming drops for the water, calming treats, pheromone collars, and thunder shirts. For dogs that are intent on licking, chewing or scratching themselves only, the cause may be easier to find. Items are sold by the retailer, not Wag!. Your vet may also recommend some diagnostic tests, such as a fecal panel, blood testing, and/or x-rays, to rule out causes of belly upset. Thank you for your question. Environmental allergies are caused by dusts, danders, pollens, and other airborne particles which lead to build-up on the skin and fur of the dog and in turn cause itching. , he may also need to order an emotional evaluation of your pet systemic a..., bed-licking may simply indicate that your dog may have an infection close and. 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