Why is my dog obsessively licking

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Check out our collection of more than videos about pet training, animal behavior, dog and cat breeds and more. Wonder which dog or cat best fits your lifestyle? Our new tool will narrow down more than breeds for you. Why Does My Dog Always Lick Me? By Dr. You need JavaScript enabled to view this video. Join the Conversation Like this article? Have a point of view to share? Home News Health And Science.

Why Dogs Lick and When to Worry. Published: June 20, Learn More:. Redirection Path. Help us make PetMD better Was this article helpful?

Yes No. Share this article. What did you find helpful? What was not helpful? Say more Sign me up for the PetMD Newsletter. Submit Feedback. Still have questions? Continue to Chewy. Mental stimulation? For extreme licking, a compulsive disorder may be a consideration. If your dog is interrupted from licking, she suggests you consider how long it takes them to return to the behavior again. Tynes suggests thinking back to when the problem first began and any changes that may have happened around that time.

Dogs can be telling you a whole host of things with their licking behavior and the first step is trying to understand what that may be:.

Pain in a joint, skin infection or nerve issues could trigger licking, too. A bug bite or allergies can create itchy skin for a dog, which they may deal with by licking instead of scratching in some cases. However, beware that a simple itch might become something more insidious in some dogs. Known as hot spots, dogs have a tendency to lick some spots raw in reaction to something small and itchy—like a scab or bug bite.

Other dogs might chew or lick at their tails and hind-quarters when their anal glands are impacted. My tummy hurts. A study done at the University of Montreal Veterinary Teaching Hospital examined dogs who excessively licked.