![]() A behavior that is difficult to interrupt may be more likely to be caused by a medical condition that causes distress than is a behavior that is easily interrupted. If no external stimuli appear to provoke the behavior and it is a relatively new behavior, then a medical cause may be likely.Īsk owners to keep a record of behavior problemsĪsk clients if the behavior can be interrupted, and if so, how do they interrupt it (yelling, physically stopping the behavior, chasing the animal away). Once you have determined that the problem is limited to excessive licking, collect a thorough history, including the age of onset, the length and frequency of licking episodes, any changes in the frequency or intensity of the behavior, and any stimuli that appear to lead to the behavior ( see "Ask owners to keep a record of behavior problems"). The potential medical causes and treatment of pica have been well-covered elsewhere, so they are not included here.1 Instruct clients to collect 10 to 15 minutes of their dogs performing the behavior, both with and without the owners interrupting the behavior.Īlthough some dogs may only lick objects excessively, others may exhibit pica and excessive licking as part of the same set of behaviors. If there is any doubt about what behavior the dog is performing, videotaping the dog in its home can be useful. Some dogs may exhibit the behavior in the veterinary clinic, but their tendency to do so or not is unlikely to be diagnostic. An observant owner can usually describe exactly what behavior the dog is performing. Excessive licking must be differentiated from pica. The first and most important step when presented with a dog that licks excessively is to define the behavior as accurately as possible. ![]() I only focus on the licking of surfaces in the environment and do not cover excessive self-licking, such as that resulting in acral lick dermatitis. This article will help you identify the reason a dog licks surfaces excessively and treat this condition. ![]() However, if hair and fibers are ingested, constant licking can potentially result in life-threatening intestinal blockage that requires surgical intervention. When not a result of an underlying medical problem, the behavior is unlikely to cause harm. Such owners often describe a dog that licks floors, carpets, walls, furniture, its own lips, and even the owner's legs, hands, or arms constantly.
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