Why is my dog licking her stomach so much? Essential Tips

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What Is Considered Excessive Licking or Grooming in Dogs?

Most dogs lick a few common areas—between their toes, along their forearms, over joints, and on their belly. They may lightly lick or even bite or chew these areas intensely.

Excessive licking, however, occurs when a dog experiences negative effects from constant licking. This may include hair loss or bald patches, red areas on the skin, pimple-like lesions, dandruff, skin or coat discoloration, yellow or green discharge, or even limping.

Some pets may also show obvious signs of discomfort while licking or grooming. Signs may include vocalizing, whimpering, moaning, or groaning.

If you notice the following issues, the licking may be excessive:

  • Your dog has hair loss, skin redness, or oozing anywhere on their body.
  • Your dog is unable to sleep or frequently awoken because of the urge to lick or chew.
  • Your dog moans or whines when focused on an area.
  • Your dog stops playing to lick or groom frequently.
  • Your dog has mats in their fur close to the skin.
  • Your dog is otherwise unable to live their life normally.

    • The most common reasons dogs lick their groin

  • Muscle sprain or injury is one of the most common causes. Dogs play, run, slip, and slide, and it is pretty common for them to injure their groin and psoas muscles that attach to their hips. If you suspect this has happened, rest your dog for a few days, administer a dose of homeopathic Arnica 30C or 200C two to three times daily for 2-3 days, and give your dog a triple dose of a high-quality Omega-3 supplement. It is also important to ensure your dog does not suffer from hip dysplasia, which is relatively common and can cause similar problems. Note: The most important Omega-3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA, are as effective as NSAID drugs without side effects like stomach and intestinal tract bleeding and also kidney and liver damage. Please avoid NSAID painkillers, and note that plant-based oils such as flax or other seed oils do not contain EPA and DHA.
  • Lumbar or sacral spinal injury or misalignment is also a relatively common cause. The spine and the adjacent (paraspinal) muscles are prone to injuries that may lead to nerve impingement and abnormal skin sensation in the groin. Administering a high-quality Omega-3 oil, giving Arnica, and resting, are the first steps but seeing a practitioner with knowledge of spinal adjustments or acupuncture is also important. Click here to learn more about spinal health in dogs.
  • Urinary bladder infection, inflammation, stones, or cancer can also be reasons for dogs to lick. If your dog doesn’t stop licking after you’ve addressed points 1 and 2, have your dog’s urine and blood work done to ensure urinary tract issues aren’t overlooked. Click to learn more about UTIs, kidney and bladder stones, and crystals.
  • Skin sensation, itching, and allergies are possible issues, but they rarely affect only the groin area. If your dog is licking their groin region exclusively, then points 1 and 2 are most commonly the cause. If you see irritation or a hot spot, you can treat them according to the hot spot protocol but also make sure that you address the underlying cause.
  • Hernias are relatively common in dogs and can sometimes be the cause of licking, check with your veterinarian to rule out this problem. You can feel your dogs groin to see if there is a hernia bulge under the skin.
  • Excessive licking of the vulva or prepuce is not directly related to groin licking but may also be the reason for dogs paying attention to this area, and an examination is necessary.

    • Pain

    If there is no sign of skin infection or allergies, vets will consider arthritis, pain, and wounds as reasons for overgrooming and licking. Dogs will commonly lick painful areas on their body.

    Carefully (and safely) examine the area your dog is licking for signs of lacerations, puncture wounds, or even small insect bites. If there is no hair loss, these may be very difficult to see. You may need to clip and clean the area to fully examine it.

    Clean the area with a mild soap or dog-specific soap, not household cleaners like alcohol or hydrogen peroxide, which can be harmful to dogs. Most wounds require medical care and possibly surgical intervention.

    Excessive grooming over joints could indicate arthritis, soft tissue injury, fractures, or degenerative joint disease. You may also notice joint swelling, joint heat, and limping.

    We have many treatment options for arthritis, strains and sprains, and degenerative joint disease, including medication, weight loss, supplements, laser therapy, physical therapy, and acupuncture.

    Why does my dog lick everything so much?

    Research indicates dogs who lick surfaces excessively could have a gastrointestinal disorder, and treatment of the underlying problem is likely to resolve the behavior, writes veterinarian Lee Pickett. The many functions of purring in cats are also addressed in Dr. Pickett’s column. BerksPets.com (Reading, Pa.) (7/1)

    Q. Henry, my 3-year-old shep-collie mix, has been licking the couch, carpet and other surfaces lately. What’s behind his behavior change?

    A. Ask your veterinarian to investigate Henry’s gastrointestinal tract. Recently published research suggests that stomach and intestinal problems can trigger excessive licking of surfaces (ELS).

    Researchers evaluated 19 dogs exhibiting ELS and 10 healthy dogs through blood work, neurologic examinations, oral exams under anesthesia, abdominal ultrasounds, endoscopies and biopsies of stomach and intestines.

    Fourteen of the 19 ELS dogs (74 percent) were diagnosed with specific gastrointestinal diseases, whereas only three of the 10 apparently healthy dogs (30 percent) were similarly affected.

    After treatment of the gastrointestinal diseases, ELS stopped completely in nine of the dogs and was significantly reduced in one additional dog.

    If your veterinarian doesn’t find a gastrointestinal disorder, Henry may be experiencing anxiety. Your vet can help address that too.