Repetitive Licking and What it Means
Is excessive licking a sign of a serious problem?
Jolanta Benal, CPDT-KA, CBCC-KA
Question: My dog keeps licking her front paws. Is this normal?
Answer: If your dog repetitively licks a particular body part or parts, get a vet check pronto.
One of the possibilities is medical. So if your dog repetitively licks her paws, she could have the dog version of hay fever – inhalant allergies to pollen, dust, grasses, even human dander. These can make the skin miserably itchy.
Other possible itch culprits include fungal and bacterial infections of the skin. Persistent licking has also been associated with cancers, bone fractures, and pain caused by thorns or other objects stuck in the flesh. Some veterinarians think there may be a link with chronic gastrointestinal distress. Worse yet, the licking can cause new medical problems. Dogs who lick one spot on their bodies over and over again often develop acral lick granuloma, a weeping sore that can reach all the way down to the bone.
So get your pooch to the vet immediately to have the problem checked out.
Check out my article on excessive licking for more information.
Want to raise a happy dog who loves to play and cuddle — but still comes when called and doesn’t chew up your favorite shoes?
Then check out The Dog Trainer’s Complete Guide to a Happy, Well-Behaved Pet!
Image courtesy of Shutterstock
About the Author
Jolanta holds professional certifications in both training and behavior counseling and belongs to the Association of Professional Dog Trainers and the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants. She also volunteered with Pet Help Partners, a program of the Humane Society of the United States that works to prevent pet relinquishment. Her approach is generally behaviorist (Pavlovian, Skinnerian and post-Skinnerian learning theory) with a big helping of ethology (animal behavior as observed in non-experimental settings).