Dog Obsessively Licking Carpet

Dogs lick the carpet for many reasons including boredom stress and illness.

Dog obsessively licking carpet.

Licking becomes abnormal if it continues incessantly to the point where it is difficult or impossible to distract your dog when he s licking. A few reasons why your dog might be bored include lack of physical or mental stimulation. Your dog probably singled out the couches carpet and beds for acceptable reasons before the behavior became obsessive or compulsive and it has since escalated. Dog licking the carpet one possible explanation for this behavior is that the dog has a digestive problem.

Afflicted dogs don t limit their licking behavior to the floor they may lick virtually any surface in your home including the walls furniture and their own crate. Before you try to fix the problem it is important to find the underlying cause. Medical causes there are several illnesses that can cause obsessive licking so if your dog has this problem the first step is to have a complete veterinary workup to identify or eliminate a medical cause. A study has also linked excessive dog licking with medical especially gastrointestinal disorders so a routine veterinary exam is the best place to start.

Indeed when dogs have an upset stomach their instinct is to eat grass so they can induce themselves to vomit but in a domestic setting at home there s no grass to eat so the dog reaches out for the carpet or anything else in reach. Obsessive and compulsive licking in dogs have a few standard causes. Dogs can also have behavioral causes of excessive licking such as anxiety or a type of obsessive disorder where they over groom themselves. Some studies have shown that the act of licking increases endorphins in the brain which calms the dog while it is licking.

Many dogs lick the occasional carpet but some dogs are such dedicated floor lickers that veterinarians have coined a term excessive licking syndrome for the condition. It is a dog s compulsive behavior which can be distressing for dog. Some dogs chew up shoes and furniture and you ll find some dogs licking carpet or other areas. The licking is prolonged it lasts longer than is required to explore or investigate the object.

Once you know what s wrong you can treat it in an appropriate manner whether that means cleaning the carpet or taking your pup to the vet. Dogs who suffer from els or excessive licking syndrome will not only lick carpets but they will lick all kinds of surfaces. High energy dogs need to be exercised daily or at least have toys that keep them engaged and focused. The licking may begin intermittently and increase in frequency and intensity as time goes on.