All dogs lick; it’s a natural behavior for them to explore their world, groom themselves, or show affection. However, when licking becomes excessive, repetitive, and difficult to interrupt, it can signify a more serious issue known as compulsive licking disorder. This behavior can be worrying for dog owners, often leading to skin irritation, hair loss, or even open sores. Identifying the underlying cause, whether behavioral or medical, is crucial for effective intervention and helping your beloved canine companion feel better.
Excessive licking is defined as any licking that goes beyond normal grooming, exploration, or affection, and which starts to cause harm to the underlying skin or becomes a persistent, difficult-to-curb habit. In many instances, what appears to be compulsive licking may stem from a range of behavioral factors rather than strictly medical ones. However, differentiating between the two is vital for providing the appropriate care and support to your dog.
Why Do Dogs Lick Excessively?
Dogs lick for a variety of reasons, and understanding the root cause is the first step toward addressing any excessive or compulsive patterns. While natural licking serves many purposes, when it escalates to an obsessive level, it often indicates an underlying problem. This could range from simple boredom to complex psychological conditions or physical discomfort. Recognizing the triggers and patterns associated with your dog’s licking is key to determining the best course of action. If you’re concerned about your dog’s repetitive licking, especially when it seems uncontrollable, exploring available options for obsessive compulsive disorder in dogs treatment can provide valuable guidance.
Understanding Compulsive Licking Disorder: A visual guide to behavioral and medical causes in dogs.
Behavioral Roots of Compulsive Licking
Often, a dog’s excessive or compulsive licking behavior can be traced back to psychological or emotional factors rather than physical ailments. These behaviors are frequently seen in the front paws, simply because they are the easiest for dogs to access. Dogs may lick due to the appealing salty taste of their owner’s skin, as a strong display of affection, or purely out of habit and boredom. Licking can also serve as a self-soothing mechanism, similar to how humans might receive a relaxing massage or engage in nervous habits like nail-biting. If the behavior isn’t disruptive or causing trauma to the skin, intervention may not always be necessary. Here are six common behavioral reasons that can contribute to a dog’s tendency to excessively or compulsively lick themselves, objects, or people.
1. Boredom and Anxiety
A significant motivator for repetitive licking can be boredom or anxiety. If your dog isn’t sufficiently stimulated, they might turn to licking as a way to alleviate their restlessness. Similarly, an anxious dog may engage in excessive licking as an outlet for their angst. The act of licking triggers the release of hormones such as dopamine and endorphins, which possess calming properties and can help your dog relax. This mechanism is comparable to a nervous person unconsciously twirling their hair. Observing the context of the licking is important: if it occurs primarily when you’re away, it could signal separation anxiety. If it happens while you’re preoccupied at home, it might indicate simple boredom.
2. Affection
When your dog’s compulsive licking is directed at you or another pet, it’s often an expression of affection. Many dogs use licking as a tender way to show their fondness for an individual or animal. Your dog might even be reacting to your own emotional state, attempting to calm or soothe you. Just as their mother licked them as puppies, they may replicate this behavior to convey companionship and care. This affectionate licking, while sometimes persistent, is generally benign unless it becomes truly obsessive or disruptive.
3. Seeking Attention or Greeting
Dogs frequently use licking as a form of communication. They may lick you intently to capture your attention, especially if you’re engrossed in something else. If you notice the licking when you first arrive home or when new people are greeted, it could simply be their way of saying hello. Much like humans pet their dogs as a greeting, dogs utilize their tongues to offer their unique form of welcome. While this is a normal behavior, some dogs learn that persistent licking garners attention, potentially leading to a more compulsive pattern if unintentionally reinforced.
4. Habit
Sometimes, a dog might engage in excessive licking purely out of habit. This occurs when the behavior, initially triggered by another cause, becomes ingrained over time, even after the original trigger has been resolved. In such cases, gently redirecting your dog’s attention to alternative activities when they start licking can be an effective strategy. Consistency in redirection can help break the cycle of this ingrained habit and encourage more desirable behaviors.
5. Liking the Taste
Your dog might also lick you because they genuinely enjoy your taste. This is often observed if they lick you after you’ve been cooking, eating, or exercising, as residual flavors or salts on your skin can be appealing. Pay attention to the situations in which your dog licks you most frequently; identifying these connections can help confirm if taste preference is a contributing factor to their licking behavior.
6. Hunger
Licking can sometimes be an instinctual behavior driven by hunger. In the wild, it’s common for pups to lick their mother’s lips upon her return from a hunt, signaling their readiness to be fed. While this is less common in domesticated settings with regular feeding schedules, some dogs might exhibit subtle licking behaviors, perhaps around meal times, as a residual instinctual response to anticipate food.
Medical Causes Behind Compulsive Licking Disorder
Compulsive licking disorder can also be a significant indicator of an underlying medical condition. The physical symptoms often mirror those caused by behavioral licking, including hair loss, skin redness, or irritation. If your dog is exhibiting persistent and excessive licking, a veterinary visit is always advisable to thoroughly rule out these potential health issues. Addressing the medical cause is paramount to resolving the compulsive behavior. If your dog also displays symptoms like continuous paw licking or chewing, it might be related to discomfort or pain. For further insights, you might find information on why your dog keeps licking and chewing paws helpful.
1. Allergies
Allergies are a common medical culprit behind itchy skin and paws, which can escalate to excessive licking. These allergies can be environmental, such as reactions to airborne pollen or molds. Food allergies can also cause dermal irritation leading to persistent licking. Dogs can even develop allergies to fleas, which is a very common cause of intense itching, or even other animals in the household. Allergies are often frustrating and time-consuming to manage, frequently requiring ongoing treatment to keep symptoms under control.
2. Skin Conditions
Various skin conditions are linked to immune response-related diseases or other systemic illnesses, such as endocrine disorders, that affect the entire body. These conditions often manifest with intensely itchy skin, which can provoke excessive licking and sometimes lead to “hot spots”—localized areas of dermatitis or infected skin that a dog cannot leave alone. In cases of an underactive thyroid, you might also observe patches of hair loss. A visit to the veterinarian is always necessary for such symptoms. A comprehensive physical exam, potentially including blood work, will help determine if there is an underlying systemic cause for the skin licking. Effective treatment and management of the primary disease often resolve the licking behavior. For dogs that won’t stop scratching, there could be other underlying dermatological issues; you can read more about it here: my dog wont stop scratching himself.
3. Infections
Infections caused by bacteria, fungi, or parasites can also lead to intense itchiness, driving excessive or compulsive licking. A veterinary visit may involve skin scrapes and fluid samples (cytologies) to detect microscopic evidence of yeast (like Malassezia) or mites (such as Demodex). Flea bites alone can cause significant skin damage, making your pet vulnerable to secondary infections that are intensely itchy. Additionally, ticks can transmit diseases like Lyme disease, which can cause discomfort and lead to increased licking.
4. Underlying Pain
Chronic pain from an injury or conditions like arthritis can compel dogs to lick persistently, much like a person might rub a sore muscle or joint. Licking in these instances triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers, which help to soothe the discomfort. This type of licking is often localized to the area above the affected joint. A trial course of arthritis medication or pain relievers prescribed by your veterinarian can help confirm if underlying joint pain is the cause of the licking.
5. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
If a dog develops true obsessive-compulsive disorder, excessive licking can be a primary manifestation. These dogs feel an intense compulsion to lick and struggle greatly to stop, often spending hours licking themselves, inanimate objects, floors, or furniture. These behaviors are frequently observed in dogs with other underlying behavioral issues, such as general anxiety or over-reactiveness. While redirecting the behavior can offer some relief, professional guidance from a veterinarian or certified dog trainer, and sometimes even specific medications, may be necessary to effectively manage these obsessive tendencies and prevent self-mutilation.
6. Gastrointestinal Issues
A frequently overlooked medical cause of licking, especially after allergies and skin infections have been ruled out, is gastrointestinal upset. Conditions such as an upset stomach, acid reflux, or nausea can trigger this behavior. A study published in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior highlighted that up to 60% of dogs displaying excessive licking behaviors were actually suffering from a gastrointestinal disorder. To alleviate GI pain, a dog might lick unusual surfaces, or even the air, and may exhibit excessive swallowing. Occasionally, the licking will be directed at their flanks or abdomen when GI distress is the underlying cause. Your veterinarian will likely recommend diagnostic tests and potentially diet or medication trials to pinpoint a GI issue as the source of the licking.
How to Stop Your Dog from Compulsively Licking
Addressing compulsive licking disorder always begins with thoroughly ruling out and treating any underlying medical causes. If the behavior is not obsessive, disruptive, or causing self-harm, active intervention might not be immediately necessary. However, when behavioral licking becomes excessive, leading to hot spots, hair loss, or skin irritation, knowing how to curb this self-destructive behavior is critical. It’s crucial to always avoid punishing your dog, as this can exacerbate anxiety and worsen the problem. Instead, try the following positive and supportive suggestions to help curb your dog’s licking. For general guidance on managing problematic behaviors, you may find valuable insights from resources that offer help with dog behavior problems.
- Redirect Your Dog’s Focus: Offer alternative activities to keep your dog mentally and physically occupied. This could involve engaging them in a game of fetch, using puzzle toys, or simply distracting them with a new command or a short training session. The goal is to break the licking cycle by shifting their attention to a more positive outlet.
- Implement Positive Reinforcement Training: This method can effectively curb licking by rewarding your dog for performing desired behaviors. For instance, if you use a “Leave it” command and your dog stops licking, immediately reward them with a treat, praise, or a favorite toy. This reinforces the cessation of licking and encourages compliant behavior.
- Avoid Reinforcing the Licking: If your dog engages in excessive licking to get your attention, it’s vital to avoid inadvertently reinforcing the behavior. This might mean ignoring them when they lick excessively to break the association, or gently moving the body part they are licking away, without making eye contact or speaking to them. Once they stop, you can reward them for being calm and not licking.
- Remove Allergy Triggers: If allergies are diagnosed as the cause, removing the source is paramount. This might involve keeping your dog indoors during high pollen counts, especially when lawns are mowed. Dogs with diagnosed allergic diseases often benefit significantly from prescription medications that target the itching, thereby reducing the urge to lick.
- Use Preventative Medications: Consistent use of flea and tick preventative medicine is crucial. This helps eliminate a common cause of intense itching and subsequent licking, particularly in areas where these parasites are prevalent. Flea allergy dermatitis, in particular, can be incredibly itchy and lead to severe compulsive licking.
- Provide Mental and Physical Stimulation: If boredom is a factor, ensure your dog has access to interactive toys when you’re away. Make a conscious effort to engage and play with them more frequently when you are home. Increasing their exercise levels is also beneficial, as dogs with excess energy may turn to compulsive behaviors to release it. More walks and active playtime indoors can significantly help.
- Veterinary Consultation for Medical Issues: If a medical reason for your dog’s licking is suspected or diagnosed, a consultation with your veterinarian is essential. They can accurately diagnose and prescribe the appropriate treatment plan for your dog’s specific condition, which is the most direct route to resolving medically induced compulsive licking.
The Bottom Line: When in Doubt, Check it Out
Compulsive Licking Disorder In Dogs can be a complex issue, often stemming from a mix of behavioral and medical factors. The most important step for any concerned dog owner is to consult with a veterinarian to thoroughly investigate the cause. Early diagnosis and appropriate intervention are key to preventing further skin damage and improving your dog’s overall well-being. Investing in pet insurance can also be a valuable resource, helping to ensure you can afford the best available treatments for conditions like compulsive licking disorder. Many pet insurance providers offer plans that cover chronic conditions and allow for customization to meet your pet’s unique needs, providing peace of mind and access to expert veterinary care whenever necessary.
References
- “Why Does My Dog Lick Me So Much?” The Kennel Club, https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/health-and-dog-care/health/health-and-care/a-z-of-health-and-care-issues/why-does-my-dog-lick-me-so-much/. Last accessed September 26, 2022.
- Kennedy, Madeline. “Why Does My Dog Lick Me? 6 Things Your Dog Is Trying to Tell You.” Insider, January 7, 2022, https://www.insider.com/guides/pets/why-do-dogs-lick-you. Last accessed September 26, 2022.
- Robbins, Mary. “Why Is My Dog Licking Me?” American Kennel Club, September 21, 2022. Last accessed September 23, 2022, https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/advice/why-is-my-dog-licking-me/. Last accessed September 26, 2022.
- Barnette, Catherine. “RAST Testing in Dogs,” VCA Animal Hospitals, https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/rast-testing-in-dogs. Last accessed September 26, 2022.
- Véronique Bécuwe-Bonnet, et al. Gastrointestinal disorders in dogs with excessive licking of surfaces. J Vet Behav. July/August 2012;7(4):194-204.
- Leticia M. S. Dantas DVM, PhD. Animal Behavior Case of the Month. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. ISSN: 0003-1488. Publication Date: 01 Oct 2016 https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.249.7.747 Volume 249: Issue 7
