Dog Community

Dog Addicted to....Licking

Posted : 12/3/2006 5:31:16 PM

My girlfriends 6 year old boarder collie cross has developed an interesting and actually cute (yet annoying) habit. For the last couple of weeks he will not stop licking. He sits and licks his paws, he will lick the bed cover, he will lick the floor, he will lick the couch, heck, he will even just lick the air. He has been doing it non-stop and we can't figure out why? As cute as it is, the sound is very annoying, and also kinda nasty cause he leaves big slobber pools on the couch and floor from licking them to death. He hasn't started licking people though...thank goodness. Any ideas anyone?

calliecritturs

Posted : 12/4/2006 12:13:08 AM

Vet time -- this isn't a habit. This can actually be pre-seizure activity or actual petit mal seizures.

Try to 'stop' the licking -- try to calm the dog down. I've got a little old peke that will do this (including the air licking) -- this is obsession, it's honestly NOT cute. This dog is pretty tormented in its own way.

Three things that will help Kee a great deal are Hylands "Calms" or "Calms Forte" -- another is Rescue Remedy (a Bach Flower Remedy) and the last is valerian root tincture (it works faster than just the plain herb capsules).

All of those are in some measure a relaxant.

But don't substitute them for vet care -- the dog honestly needs to be evaluated, particularly since this is a change for this dog. Sorry-- probably not the answer you wanted but it's better to address this now, than before the dog goes into full scale seizures.

Chris Komar

Posted : 12/5/2006 11:10:37 PM

That's actually quite terrifying. We will take him to the vet immediately. I'll keep you posted on what happens.

TAOofGoldyShep

Posted : 12/6/2006 11:10:11 AM

I second the trip to the Vet.

Also, licking can be habit forming (just like when people bite their nails) out of nervousness/anxiety and it actually helps them feel good by stimulating the release of endorphins & their parasympathetic nervous sytstem (relaxation response versus fight/flight). But then it can of course go from doing it on occasion to an unhealthy obsessive habit. Licking paws can be a sign of food intolerance, as well as, an allergic reaction to something the paws are coming into contact with (like grasses, especially chemically treated grass as one example of many).

Good luck, hope it's nothing serious!

houndlove

Posted : 12/6/2006 11:18:17 AM

If it isn't a seizure disorder, it may be anxiety. Conrad starts licking (his paws mostly but other things too) if there's been something stressful happening. If he and his bro get into a fight and I have to yell to break it up, Conrad will immediately commence with the licking to calm himself down. If the licking is all the time, that may mean the dog is feeling anxiety all the time.

janetmichel3009

Posted : 12/7/2006 5:38:22 PM

wow, i didnt know. jason used to do that before. lick everything (no air licking though). especially fluffy things. but then again, he WAS a pretty weird dog. maybe abused before. i don't know. but he had some issues before...
anyways, he's not doing it anymore now. at least not obsessively..

Rabbit

Posted : 12/8/2006 6:14:48 AM

Duchess obsessively licks . . . but only people she loves. She's licking my feet right now.

It's a little abnormal, but she's got a clean bill of health. She just likes to lay next to people and lick nonstop. ESPECIALLY feet.

I would also be concerned about licking other things - especially the air . . . Let us know what the vet says!

NicoleS

Posted : 12/8/2006 7:07:50 AM

My aunt has a dog that, since they adopted her at something like 6-8 weeks from a shelter, has done nothing but lick. She is now about 3 years old. Licks your hands, your clothes, your face, the air, herself and everything in between. I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that they let her and in the beginning at least encouraged her to "give kisses." It actually is the main reason we can't bring Sammy when we go visit them - this dog will lick him in the face eveb if he's trying to nap. she's just always been like this.

good luck and let us know if it turns out to be something serious (which I hope it isn't!) or just a characteristic of the dog.

tashakota

Posted : 12/12/2006 1:21:49 PM

When I read the title and then "border collie cross" my first thought was boredom. Dogs will develop habits out of boredom just as horses will crib or stall weave. Just as tigers in a zoo will pace back and forth in front of the enclosure.

But then callie came up with a plausible explanation as well. My dog has suffered from seizures but the licking does not come until he begins to come out of the seizure and it's not habit like.

So those are my thoughts.

Edited: I have a dog that is on the verge of a licking obsession but I know it's from boredom. I am trying to get them more exercise and/or mental stimulation whenever possible to help ease it.

Chris Komar

Posted : 12/15/2006 11:28:20 PM

Well I took Bailey to the vet and mentioned the licking, she said because of how is was acting (anxious, and nervous) thet it was probably that. He has no other symptoms of an illness, and she gave him a clean bill of health.

snownose

Posted : 12/15/2006 11:32:39 PM

If it isn't a seizure disorder, it may be anxiety. Conrad starts licking (his paws mostly but other things too) if there's been something stressful happening. If he and his bro get into a fight and I have to yell to break it up, Conrad will immediately commence with the licking to calm himself down. If the licking is all the time, that may mean the dog is feeling anxiety all the time.

Yes, Rumour, my GSD does the same thing, after things calm down, the behavior basically stops.

CoCo Chanel

Posted : 12/23/2006 3:13:25 PM

my puppy licks the poop out of me in the morning when she's waking up and wants some mommy and me cuddling time.

she also LOVES licking anyone's feet and toes when they just got out of the shower.

it wouldnt be too bad....if she didnt like eating her own poop....

GROSS. lol