What Causes Excessive Dog Licking?

(FTC Disclosure: If you make a purchase via a link on this page, I may receive a small commission, at no added cost to you.)

Overview

If a dog keeps licking himself excessively, it may mean that the dog is suffering from some underlying physical or emotional problems.

For this reason, it is important for dog parents to understand some of the possible causes of excessive licking in dogs.

If you cannot figure out why your dog keeps licking himself, it may be a good idea to take him to a vet for a check-up. Only by properly identifying and tackling the underlying cause can we stop our dog from licking, chewing, and scratching himself excessively.

What Causes a Dog To Lick Himself Excessively?

A dog may lick himself constantly for one of these reasons:

• Skin Problems
• Pain or Injuries
• Emotional Problems
• Genetic Predisposition

Let's take a look at each of these.

Skin Problems That Cause Excessive Licking

If your dog is constantly licking herself, check to see if she has any skin problems caused by:

• Allergies: Dogs with allergies have itchy skin and naturally tend to lick and chew their skin all the time.

  If your dog starts licking after being exposed to some sort of allergens, such as antibiotics for the skin, chemicals, cigarette smoke, pollen, food (yes - don't forget that dogs may also become allergic to their food), etc., then chances are she licks herself raw because the allergen is causing itch and discomfort to her skin.

• Fleas: Flea bites can cause extreme itching to a dog, especially if the dog is allergic to flea bites.

  One way for the dog to alleviate the itchy feeling is by licking, skin chewing, and scratching. If your dog is licking and scratching persistently, check to see if she has fleas.

• Other Skin Irritations: Other skin irritations, such as mange, ringworm, hot spots, hives, etc., can also cause excessive dog licking.

If you cannot find any skin irritations or problems that may have caused your dog's constant licking, here are other possibilities to consider:

Pain and Injuries

Dogs often lick when they are in pain.

When they are injured, they lick the wounds to promote self-heal by boosting blood flow. Also, licking creates moisture, which produces a form of topical anesthesia when it evaporates.

They also lick their sore spots even if there is no open wound (e.g. sore joints, a pulled muscle). If your dog licks a particular area excessively and persistently, check to see if he has a cut, bruise, or swelling.

Also, according to Dr. Dobias, DVM, dog collars can cause damage to the nerves supplying the front legs if the dog pulls constantly on the leash. This can lead to an abnormal sensation in the feet and dogs may start licking their front paws. Removing the collar (and using a harness instead) and treating the neck injury may stop the paw licking.

Emotional Problems

A dog may start licking as a result of some emotional problems, such as boredom, anxiety, stress, etc.

Over time, this licking behavior can develop into an obsession. In extreme cases, this may cause baldness and skin lesions to form.

Genetic Predisposition

It may be hard for us to understand, but it appears that some dogs are predisposed to certain obsessive-compulsive disorder. (If a dog is obsessed with licking but is otherwise healthy, the act of "licking" could be an OCD.) For example, doberman pinschers are known to lick themselves obsessively until they self-mutilate.

What To Do Stop Excessive Dog Licking

While you are working with a vet to figure out why your dog keeps licking himself, you can consider using some of the following natural remedies to help stop him from licking.

Calming Herbs

As many dogs develop their licking habit out of anxiety or stress, calming herbs can be used to reduce the stressful feelings.

Chamomile is a very effective and safe calming herb that can be given to dogs who are stressed out. One easy way is to make a cup of chamomile tea, let it cool down and then add some of the tea to your dog's food. (About one to four teaspoon depending on the size of the dog.)

Other relaxing herbs including St. John's wort, skullcap, and oat.

Homeopathy

Many people have used homeopathic remedies to reduce stress-related licking with good results. Remedies that have calming effects include Chamomilla (from chamomile), Valeriana (from valerian root), and Ignatia (from St. Ignatius bean).

Flower Essences

Animals respond to flower essences very well and these natural non-toxic essences are safe and easy to use.

Fatty Acids

If your dog licks himself constantly because of some kind of skin issues (e.g. itching, inflammation), try adding Omega-3 fatty acids (such as salmon oil) to the dog's diet. Fatty acids help recondition dry skin and stop itching and other irritations.

Coconut Oil

Another great oil for skin issues that cause excessive licking is coconut oil, which is antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal. Add about one teaspoon of the oil per 10 pounds of body weight daily to your dog's food.

Other Ways to Stop Your Dog Licking Himself Excessively

• Natural Diet: Some dogs who are fed commerical dog foods develop allergies, which cause skin irritations and of course excessive licking and scratching.

  Feeding your dog a natural, wholesome diet free of artificial flavors and colors, with supplements added, can lessen the chance of developing skin irritations.

  Healthy wholesome food can also strengthen the dog's immune system, resulting in healthier skin and therefore less licking!

• Regular Exercise: Regular exercise can make your dog healthy. Exercise can also stimulate the dog's brain, release a lot of pent-up energy, and keep the dog happy. This will help stop the dog from licking himself raw out of boredom or frustration.

References
Eldredge, et al. Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook 4th edition (Wiley Publishing, 2007).
C.J. Puotinen, Natural Remedies for Dogs and Cats (Keats Publishing, 1999).
Merck Publishing and Merial. The Merck/Merial Manual for Pet Health (Merck, 2007).