It’s true; dogs don’t have hands for putting away their toys, opening doors, or even sending text messages. However, unlike many dog lovers, you are probably aware of the fact that your dog has a funny way of interacting with his world with those teeth-filled jaws and feet!
It surprises us to learn that some people do consider this weird or strange behavior – surely, your dog knows better than anyone else what it’s trying to do when chewing on that shoe!
Even so, some similar behaviors can be much stranger.
Sometimes, dogs can get a little carried away with licking floors. When this occurs, wet fur or paw prints are visible on the floor, but it’s still a mystery where this unusual behavior stems from.
There are many reasons Lick the Floor:
1. Licking for Taste and Enjoyment vs. Excessive
Floors with carpeting catch dog hair, debris, and dirt. Dogs love to clean themselves by licking floors in their home constantly.
In most cases, carpeted floors are not the best option for a dog’s environment, whereas tile or wood flooring is much more sanitary for your pup because nail trimmings don’t stick to it as easily, and things won’t splatter onto it the way that they do when having carpeting.
If a dog licks their fur every day to feel cleaner and look healthier, they will lick whatever spot you have rug shampooed last.
2. Gastrointestinal Tract Abnormalities
It may not seem like this issue is central to the root of the problem, but gastrointestinal concerns may play a role in why your dog licks himself so much.
We’re not talking about just one or two types of issues here either. Many GI afflictions might be on the list of possible causes for this behavior!
Does My Dog Lick the Floor. According to a study published in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior, GI issues are thought to be one of the most common causes of excessive licking.
These issues ranged drastically and included:
- Chronic pancreatitis
- Giardiasis
- Lymphoplasmacytic infiltration of the GI tract
- Eosinophilic infiltration of the GI tract
- Gastric foreign body
- Delayed gastric emptying
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Stress
Of course, you and your dog managed to bond over many years of relationship, but dogs respond differently than humans like any long-term relationship.
You might handle stress by going to Starbucks, hitting the gym to work off some anger, or scheduling an appointment with a therapist.
For example, when your dog is under stress, he may start licking his paws excessively for hours on end, or if that doesn’t make him feel any better, he may chew at the carpet!
It’s best to get professional help when dealing with stress in your canine companion so you can ensure they are behaving properly and speaking your language!
3. Anxiety
One common result of anxiety is the occurrence of compulsive or repetitive behaviors such as excessive licking.
When a dog is experiencing anxiety, there are generally other telltale signs that a dog owner will be able to pick up on aside from just excessive licking.
Other symptoms of canine anxiety include:
- Drooling
- Destructive behaviors
- Excessive barking
- Restlessness
- Depression
- Accidents in the house
- Aggression
- Environmental Changes
To cure a dog’s anxiety or stress, begin by figuring out the cause. Suppose the cause doesn’t have an easy solution. In that case, it may be time to seek additional help from a qualified vet and possibly get medication if needed with any prescription changes being monitored regularly.
Sometimes for dogs that suffer from stress or anxiety, there’s something at home causing these behaviors, especially if an underlying medical condition might exist like a new pet or baby.
It’s best to figure out and eliminate it, but sometimes things happen, and they can’t be changed.
Final Thoughts:
Though your dog’s excessive licking could be caused by stress, anxiety, or even OCD, it’s more than likely got something to do with a gastrointestinal problem.
So, if you see your dog starting to lick an excessive amount, you should schedule a vet visit right away to determine the source of the licking and possible treatment.
I hope this article has helped deal with your dog’s licking problem. With luck, it was just normal licking and nothing to worry about, but at least now you know what signs to look for and how to tell when licking the floor might be a sign of something more serious!
