29 Reasons Your Dog Licks So Much

What Is Excessive Licking in Dogs?

Excessive licking is when a dog licks something for a long time. More often than needed, longer than they should—they just keep licking. Usually, it’s their own body part—a paw or leg, or near their privates for grooming. But sometimes it’s other things too—furniture, the window, carpet…the list goes on. That’s not considered normal and may mean your dog is anxious, stressed, or even bored. Sometimes it’s something physical fueling the itch at first, but then they just get into a habit they can’t stop.

Compulsive licking in dogs is similar to obsessive-compulsive behaviors in humans. Studies find that compulsive licking often is due to underlying behavioral or medical issues your dog is dealing with. In compulsive licking where dogs might lick surfaces like furniture, floors, or walls, there may be even more serious issues like neurological or gastrointestinal disorders.

If your dog keeps licking, they can develop a condition called acral lick dermatitis. This condition causes inflammation, infection, and thickening of their skin.

The thing is—you need to be sure that you understand the difference between normal licking and excessive licking. Dogs do lick themselves and other things (as a way to explore their environments) and that’s normal. Or they may give ‘kisses’ to bond with you. When it gets obsessive and they won’t stop, it becomes a problem and can lead to even bigger issues, so you’ll want to figure out why and how to help.

Dogs Lick Excessively for Behavioral Reasons

There are a lot of behavioral reasons a dog will keep licking and licking. Some of the most common include:

1. Boredom: Dogs are like us; they need entertainment. When they don’t get enough exercise or interaction they may lick just to pass the time. Think about how you may doodle or even fidget with something when you’re bored to just busy yourself. It’s a lot like that for dogs too, so make sure they have plenty of toys and things that can give them some stimulation. Play sessions and exercise can help prevent boredom-induced licking.
2. Anxiety: Just like some people bite their nails, dogs may lick to cope with anxiety. It releases calming hormones and just makes them feel better even if they don’t know why. They may lick to cope with anxiety, so making sure they feel supported and have safe spaces with comfort items can help prevent licking. Many dog parents also use calming sprays, CBD or pheromone diffusers to fight anxiety and find that helps the licking.
3. Compulsive Behavior: Some dogs develop OCD-like behaviors, and these can include excessive licking. We joke about it, especially when it seems funny to watch these quirky behaviors, but the truth is, that’s how they are trying to control their stress or environment. Sometimes it gets so bad you’ll want to talk to the vet or a behaviorist to see how you can help reduce the stress and the compulsion to lick. Often redirecting their focus or behavior modifications are needed.
4. Attention-Seeking: We all know this; dogs are smart! If licking gets your attention, they might keep doing it, even if it’s negative attention. It’ll be hard, but try not to reinforce their licking with attention and instead, really reward them when they’re displaying calmer behaviors. It’s like a trade that’ll be better for you both!
5. Habit: Sometimes, licking just becomes a habit. If it worked for them in the past, they might stick with it, solely because it is a memory response. Breaking this habit will just take consistent redirecting and patience on your part. Again, positive reinforcement for behaviors that aren’t licking are always a great way to help break the habit.
6. Exploration: Dogs explore the world with their mouths. If they’re super curious or investigative, this can turn into excessive licking. Always look at what your dog is licking (if you can) to be sure it’s safe. Rotate toys so they feel new and even giving your dog different scents and textures to sniff and lick can help itch that curiosity scratch without excessive licking happening.
7. Comfort-Seeking: Licking releases endorphins, the “feel-good” hormones. It’s like how we might eat comfort food when we’re down. Providing comfort in other ways, like a cozy bed or a gentle massage, can help reduce this behavior. Spend quality time with your dog to provide emotional support and comfort.
8. Boredom or Frustration: Like we said, dogs get bored too. And they get frustrated but can’t tell us with words. Excessive licking for dogs is a way for them to kill boredom or deal with their frustration. Regular walks, interaction, training and exercise can help. Tired dogs generally are not bored or frustrated!
9. Affection: Sometimes, dogs just want to show us they love us. Licking us is usually sweet, affectionate, and not excessive. But, if your dog constantly licks you, just redirect them with a toy, some rewarding pets, and praise words to help them understand there are other ways to love each other and bond!

Medical Reasons Dogs Lick Excessively

1. Teething (in puppies): Puppies lose their teeth and licking helps soothe their gums. Just like babies, they’ll mouth and lick and chew to bring some relief. You may be able to help by giving them frozen chew toys to numb pain and bring some moisture in place of what licking behavior may bring.
2. Allergies: Allergies can make dogs itch like crazy. It doesn’t matter if it’s food, pollen, or something else, the way a dog might soothe that itch is to lick. Constantly. They can’t really scratch much, and so watching what may precede excessive licking can help you understand if there’s an allergy that’s causing it.
3. Parasites: Fleas, ticks, and mites are no fun. For you or your dog. They cause itching, and like we said, that usually means licking. Just one flea bite may make a dog itch all over, and that may mean they want to lick everywhere too. Keep an eye on whether that could be the issue.
4. Infections: Bacterial, fungal, or yeast infections can cause uncomfortable skin conditions. And you know what that means…they’re likely to lick to bring some relief. If the licking ends up bringing redness, swelling, or yucky odor, you could be dealing with an infection you’ll want to treat.
5. Skin Irritations: Hot spots, rashes, or dermatitis can make dogs lick like it’s their full-time job. Often, hot spots stem from excessive licking, so it’s the vicious cycle you’re fighting to help keep your dog’s licking to a minimum. Use clean ingredients when grooming, and try to keep their skin clean and dry to help prevent some of those issues.
6. Pain or Discomfort: If something hurts, dogs will lick it. It’s their way of trying to heal the area, like a natural band-aid. It could be anything from a sore paw to a sore joint, but if you see them licking a lot, it may mean something is painful.
7. Nausea: Dogs have a subtle way of letting us know their stomach is queasy—they may not eat or they may try to eat grass and ‘settle’ their stomach. They also may lick excessively as well, so consider making sure that their gut health is in its best shape.
8. Gastrointestinal Issues: Dogs with other GI issues may lick floors or even themselves to bring pain relief. Conditions like acid reflux or inflammatory bowel disease can cause this behavior and again, great gut health is the best preventative and defense against GI issues in dogs.
9. Dental Issues: Gum disease, tooth pain, or oral infections can make dogs lick to soothe their mouths. If you think this is an issue, you can give them dental chews to help break the licking habit, and even maybe prevent further issues.
10. Neurological Issues: Certain neurological disorders can cause abnormal behaviors, including excessive licking. Conditions like syringomyelia affect the brain and spine. This can lead to your dog licking too much. A vet neurologist can diagnose and manage these disorders. Treatment plans may include medications, physical therapy, or specialized care routines.
11. Hormonal Imbalances: Hypothyroidism can affect skin and coat health. The itchy, dry skin may make your dog lick a lot. Other hormonal conditions can do the same. Blood tests can help diagnose these imbalances.
12. Injury: Dogs often ‘lick their wounds’ or injuries as a natural response to clean the area and promote healing. Unfortunately, this is also how they can get into a habit of licking, so if your dog is recovering from a wound, an Elizabethan collar (or other cone/lick preventative) may help. It’s important to use bandaging that won’t make the problem worse and cause them to lick more.
13. Dry Skin: Just like humans, dogs can get dry skin, especially in low humidity. And, just like us, they get itchy and scratchy. Keeping your dog groomed regularly and their skin moisturized will help . Omega-3 supplements are super important to skin health, and humidifiers can also help.
14. Foreign Objects: Sometimes, something as simple as a burr stuck in their fur can cause a dog to lick excessively. Especially if they can’t get it out or it’s created a wound. They just want to get it out, and licking behavior is all they know.
15. Paw Problems: Interdigital cysts, injuries, or things stuck between their toes can make dogs lick all the time. It’s important to address paw problems in dogs because this is how the most common hotspots start.

Other Possible Causes for A Dog’s Licking Excessively

1. Nutritional Deficiencies: If your dog’s not getting enough nutrients, they may have skin and coat issues. Vitamins, omegas, and good digestive response for optimal nutrient absorption is so important.
2. Behavioral Conditioning: If your dog was ever rewarded for licking (even if it was just getting attention), they might keep doing it. Let’s face it; our dogs giving us kisses is sweet. Until it’s not because it leads to excessive licking. We may need to find different behavior rewards to break the habit.
3. Taste Preferences: Some dogs just love the taste of certain things. They simply may find salty skin or food remnants they’re scrounging for to be worth the constant licking, and if they’re rewarded even now and then, it’ll be worth it for them to keep looking. Giving them things that may satisfy those needs (chew toys they love, etc.) can help.
4. Residual Food or Scent: If they even smell something tasty or interesting, they may keep licking to get to what they think is there.
5. Environmental Irritants: It’s true, dogs put their mouths everywhere. If you use cleaners/sprays/lawn treatments that may irritate their skin, they may keep licking to get rid of the irritant. Consider using pet-friendly products as much as you can.

While there are tons of reasons a dog may lick excessively, the bottom line is trying to nip it in the bud so more severe situations like hotspots or infection don’t pop up. Knowing where to start looking is the first part of figuring out how to stop them, and then you can both kiss the ‘lickies’ goodbye!