Why do dogs lick the floor?
Some dogs will lick almost anything, and while we don’t fully understand how they could possibly enjoy licking the floor, this seemingly unusual behavior makes perfect sense to your pup. Dogs can’t express themselves using words, so they have to find other ways of communicating with us. Unless you’ve recently spilled something tasty on the floor, your dog is trying to tell you something. So, why is your dog licking the floor? According to the Dharamsala Animal Rescue, “There are several reasons – some are relatively harmless; others could be a cause for concern.” Here are a few potential reasons your pup licks the floor.
Issues With the Teeth and Mouth
Any injury or condition involving the teeth, mouth, or gums could also lead to abnormal licking or ELS behavior. Dogs with mouth pain or disease may also paw at their mouth, drool more than normal, experience difficulty chewing, or have an unpleasant smell to their mouth. Some of the more common conditions of the mouth and oral cavity include:
Your veterinarian will carefully examine your dog’s mouth in consultation but in some cases, sedation or general anesthesia may be required to fully assess the area.
Problems with the brain can also lead to behavioral changes which may include ELS. Though it’s not a common presentation, neurological disorders should always be considered in cases of floor licking. Older dogs licking the carpet may be starting to experience canine cognitive dysfunction – changes related to brain aging, similar to dementia in humans.
Seizures, hydrocephalus (fluid accumulation within the brain), and brain tumors are other potential causes of behavioral changes. If your vet is concerned about the possibility of a neurological disorder they will discuss diagnostic testing with you, which may include blood and urine tests, x-rays, CT, MRI, and spinal fluid analysis.
Is your pup actually trying to eat unusual and inedible objects like your drywall or carpeting? This behavior is known as pica. Dogs with pica often eat smelly items like socks, towels, or underwear. Sometimes they may eat wood because of the texture. They may also be attracted to the carpet, especially after a recent spill.
Pica should be treated as a serious condition that warrants further investigation. The items your dog swallows with this condition could be toxic or cause a blockage (intestinal obstruction). Like ELS, pica is also a non-specific behavior that can be caused by a wide variety of medical conditions.
Polyphagia (increased appetite) due to diabetes or the use of steroids is just one potential cause. Even behavioral issues such as boredom or separation anxiety can lead to pica in dogs. Your veterinarian will likely perform some diagnostic testing including blood and urine tests to try to identify the underlying cause.
There are a number of underlying medical conditions that can cause excessive carpet or floor licking in dogs. It’s important to have each one of them checked by a veterinarian. Many of these conditions cause nausea, pain, or discomfort and can have severe consequences if left untreated.
When taking your dog to your veterinarian for carpet or floor licking, it can be really helpful to bring a video of the episodes with you on your mobile phone. Another tip before you head off to your appointment is to check to see if your dog responds to you when licking the floor. You should try calling his name or distracting him with food.
Keeping a diary and taking note of any repeatable patterns or triggers for the behavior can also be useful. These tips may help your veterinarian piece together the puzzle of why your dog has decided to start exhibiting this behavior.
Compulsive disorders are characterized by repetitive behaviors that dogs perform to try and alleviate chronic stress and anxiety. These behaviors are performed to such an extent that they significantly interfere with their normal day-to-day function.
Compulsive behaviors seen in dogs include licking or over-grooming but can also include spinning, tail-chasing, mouthing, freezing, constantly pacing, and self-trauma. Certain breeds tend to be prone to particular compulsive behaviors such as spinning in Bull Terriers, which suggests genetics may also play a role.
As discussed previously, ELS can become a ‘displacement behavior’ to alleviate stress and anxiety. You might notice your dog starts licking the carpet in response to a particular trigger. This might be a loud noise, or someone yelling. However, these triggers are not always easy to spot.
Dogs will also lick their paws or ‘overgroom’ in response to stress or anxiety. Boredom resulting from a lack of environmental stimulation can also cause these signs, often combined with the destruction of the carpet or walls.
Keep the Floor Clean
Your next option is to keep your floors clean if you have taken your dog to the vet and found out that they are in good health. Clean the floors with a pet-safe cleaner frequently to limit the number of things that your dog can smell, so they will be less likely to try to lick them.
Another way to limit your dog licking on the floor is to stop eating anywhere but at the table or in certain areas. Don’t eat while you walk around, or you could end up encouraging your dog to lick up the crumbs after you.
Dog Obsessively Licks Floor- ask me anything – Dog Training and Behavior
Dogs lick for all kinds of reasons. They use taste as a powerful method of interpreting the world around them. A tiny lick here and there helps them know where you have been, where they might be going, and other things so they can interpret their situation.
Although this licking can be irritating sometimes, it is often a healthy behavior. Small licks are usual for a dog. Excessive licking of any kind frequently comes down to a lack of training or some kind of health issue.
Sometimes the location that they choose to lick can help you determine what is going on with them. We have a list of reasons that your dog might excessively lick the floor, the floorboards, and the walls and when to take it seriously.