July 12, Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest. More From Cesar's Way Videos. Recommended Videos. Related Posts. December 7, Dogs are the physical embodiment of pure unconditional love — nobody knows that better than. March 3, May 19, Get ready for the most adorable friendship ever. Despite the ongoing pandemic, a boy and. August 24, No Comments. Chasing Cars. June 17, No Comments. Obsessive Dog Chasing Shadows. Excessive licking can lead to the formation of hot spots, or red raw spots where the skin and fur is now missing.
Your dog may grunt uncomfortably if the area is painful or very bothersome, or you may see your dog start to lick the area almost constantly even if it appears nothing is wrong. Excessive licking may also take the form of licking objects rather than your pet licking himself! Dogs may lick objects such as the same spot on the floor, couches, bedding, flooring, toys and more over and over again until the object loses its fabric or a bald spot is formed [6].
This behavior may also extend to the repeated licking of other people or pets. There are quite a few causes of excessive licking, so finding the underlying problem may be difficult at first. For dogs that are intent on licking, chewing or scratching themselves only, the cause may be easier to find.
There are six major causes of why your dog may obsessively lick [3]. These include: allergies, boredom, dry skin, hormonal imbalance, pain, and parasites. Allergies may be environmental or food-based. Environmental allergens tend to cause problems only where your dog comes into contact with the allergen, such as the legs or belly, or may present with full-body itching, redness, or rash.
Food-based allergies may have the redness and itching, but may also have a digestive component such as bloating, excessive gas, diarrhea or vomiting.
Dry skin may be caused due to nutrient deficiencies in the diet, too-frequent of bathing, changes in weather, or allergies. Hormonal imbalance and pain may be due to a metabolic disease such as Cushing's, pain related to allergies, thyroid issues and more. Pain may also be present if there is an infection from bacteria, fungus or yeast on the skin. This usually requires a medical exam to determine the underlying cause.
Parasites such as fleas, ticks and lice may all cause excessive itching along the entire body, or in key spots such as the legs, base of tail or back of neck. Mites and lice may also reside in the ears, leading to excessive scratching of the ears and licking of the paws in an attempt to relieve the itch. Boredom and behavioral issues can cause a number of different forms of excessive licking.
Boredom licking most commonly leads to obsessive-compulsive behaviors such as licking the same area even if the original underlying cause has been treated, and may be the main cause behind licking objects other than the self. Stress can also play a part in obsessive licking, as a stressed dog may attempt to lick objects or themselves to help calm down.
Hot spots have already been mentioned above, however there are quite a few other reasons why letting your dog continue to lick himself or other objects can be a problem. Hot spots themselves can lead to the introduction of fungus or bacteria, causing a secondary infection that may spread from the original site and even become systemic.
The continued licking of the area can make the hair follicles and sweat glands breakdown and rupture, leading to increased itching and a continuously repeated cycle [2]. Itching and licking secondary to an underlying problem can be problematic not from the licking, but from the progression of the issue itself. By Lucy Wendel Updated July 16, Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.
Save Pin FB More. Comments 3 Add Comment. View Comments. October 29, Agree with the above. Whoever updated this article should have examined the grain-free myth again in light of recent findings concerning grain-free food. Definitely check your dog for allergies but don't immediately decide to go grain-free. Talk to your vet. Why are you recommending a grain-free dog food when this has been shown to cause heart problems in dogs?
This should not be the first line of defense in dog allergies as the consequences can be fatal. Back to story Comment on this project. Tell us what you think Thanks for adding your feedback.
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