Symptoms of Compulsive Licking in Dogs
You can know if your dog’s licking is out of the ordinary from precisely what you see: repeating the behavior day in day out and spending too much time licking. Dogs can virtually put their mouths on anything they see or within their reach, like you or your furniture.Here are some things you may notice:
It Could Be Accidental
Dogs groom themselves by licking their bodies, and if your pup has a designated place it likes to rest, its tongue could overlap and lick your furniture. The best way to be sure is to observe it and confirm where it licks the most.
Your dog may have singled out a chair, carpet, or couch to lick out of boredom, a behavior that escalated to being problematic and compulsive.
Dogs lick to relieve boredom. A pup that stays home alone for long can grow bored with its toys and may lick anything around it to occupy its time until you return home. It may also lick because the chair’s texture reminds it of licking your skin and offers some level of comfort in your absence.
A dog may lick your furnishings because it lacks certain vital nutrients like minerals and vitamins. It may instinctively resort to licking furniture to try to increment its intake. You should be ready for a trip to the vet if this is the case.
So, Why Does My Dog Lick The Couch?
A dog that licks furniture excessively might be indicating stress, anxiety, or even some kind of medical condition. A dog may lick furniture out of boredom, and repetitive licking is enjoyable for dogs because it releases endorphins allowing them to self-soothe.
In many cases, licking the couch can be an occasional response to loneliness, boredom, or stress.
If your companion is licking furniture, there may be several logical reasons as to why. For example, if your pet was at home alone bored with their toys, then licking the furniture just may have been something they did to pass the time until you arrived home.
Something to consider is the texture of the sofa, chair, or whatever piece of furniture that they are licking. Licking these surfaces may remind your dog of licking your skin, and it provides comfort until you return home.
However, if your dog begins to lick the furniture too much, it could be that they are nervous or stressed. The feeling of licking the soft fabrics may help your dog cope with feelings that may be troubling them. That can be good for them but obviously not for your furniture.
Here are a few other reasons, explained in more detail:
Dog’s have the amazing ability to sniff out the smallest particles of food. It could be that your dog found some small pieces of food lodged in the fabric of your couch.
Maybe he was driven by an enticing scent to seek out that morsel of food. So your dog licked and licked the furniture while being able to track down the source of the irresistible smell.
You may want to consider that your dog is missing something essential in its diet.
Dogs are known to lick at furniture when they have a vitamin or mineral deficiency in their diet. And because the dog has no other means to get the deficient vitamins in their diet, they will get it by any means—even if it involves licking your furniture.
When dogs do odd things, it could be your dog’s attempt to cure themselves of abdominal pains or just feeling sick in general. Dogs eating grass are an example of this.
Furthermore, if your dog doesn’t have access to grass, they will find a substitute such as licking your furniture.
Make sure that your dog isn’t licking your furniture out of pure boredom. Be sure to provide your dog with stimulating activities and toys that they are interested in.
If your dog is bored, there is a good chance that your dog can resort to something like licking the furniture to simply pass the time. If the licking isn’t constant and you can make your dog stop at the moment, then it’s probably nothing to worry about.
You may be surprised to know that stress and anxiety are also reasons that your dog will start obsessively licking furniture. If you just moved to a new house or in a new neighborhood, even brought in a new pet, they may be telling you that they’re uneasy about the change.
Much like us, dogs are used to routines and they develop habits and attachments along the way. This can get remedied by adding in a little more physical exercise, socialization, and other forms of stimulation for your pup.
You could, you’re up to it, try playing with them a little more. They will enjoy puzzles, playdates with other dogs, and just good old-fashioned running around in circles.
Exercise is known to be an effective stress reliever and it’s a remedy that’s good for your dog even if they aren’t experiencing any stress or anxiety.
There are some circumstances of excessive licking that may lead you to believe that your dog has OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder). If you find that you’re unable to distract your dog from licking the furniture, or they lick aggressively and intensely, almost in a routine fashion, it may be OCD.
To help paint a clearer picture, imagine if it were a person that constantly bit her nails when she felt anxious.
A veterinarian will be able to determine the best course of action if he or she thinks that the anxiety is mild and can get treated with distraction tactics. In more severe circumstances it might require corticosteroids. Either way, the best solution will always include your continued love and support.
Why does your Dog Lick the Couch?
Your poochs quirkiness is part of her charm, but sometimes odd behaviors become concerning. While your furry friend naturally explores with her senses of smell and taste, obsessive or compulsive licking indicates a problem. If your dog compulsively licks couches, carpeting and beds, you should figure out why.
Your first concern is to decide whether your four-legged friends couch, carpet and bed licking qualifies as an obsessive or compulsive behavior. Difficult as it is to believe, your dog may have a perfectly good reason for licking these surfaces. Crumbs on the furniture and floor are obvious inducements. If you use a lotion or other topical product with a yummy smell that lingers after you get up off the bed or couch, thats another. However, if your pooch licks for no apparent reason, if she does it often or aggressively and in a repetitious way, if she seems completely spaced out while licking or if you cant interrupt or stop her, its an obsessive or compulsive behavior.
Obsessive and compulsive licking in dogs have a few standard causes. 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. The most likely explanations are that your pooch is under-stimulated, under-socialized or experiencing stress and anxiety. Canine cognitive dysfunction, which is basically dementia in dogs, and other neurological problems also cause obsessive and compulsive licking, as can other illnesses. Allergies, parasitic infections, digestive disorders, pain and other problems can all prompt your pooch to do strange things, including lick your floors and furniture.
Start by assuming the problem is too little stimulation and socialization, because its the most probable explanation for your dogs weird licking behavior, and because theres no downside to increasing attention and activity. Of course, put in a call to your vet, to see if he wants to schedule a checkup. Exercise and play with your pooch, get her some new toys, enroll her in a doggy day care, take her to the park, set up pup playdates with a friends pet, get a compatible second dog or otherwise find ways to stimulate and socialize your dog more. If boredom and loneliness were causing her to obsessively or compulsively lick the couches, carpet and beds, the behavior should quickly fade away with these sorts of remedies.
Obviously, the reason your canine companion keeps licking the couch, carpet and bed dictates the solution. Stress and anxiety are the next most likely explanation. Consider whether her environment has changed lately. For example, is there a new family member in the home, a new source of noise or an increase in confinement? Some changes can be undone, while others must be adjusted to; for the latter, talk to your vet about relieving your poochs anxiety with a medication or supplement, aromatherapy, a constrictive canine coat or other measures. If a health problem is to blame, work with your vet to control or cure the condition. In the meantime, apply a harmless but unpleasant-smelling dog repellent to your couches, beds and carpeting. A little ammonia, vinegar, citrus or cayenne pepper scent often does the trick.
Always check with your veterinarian before changing your pet’s diet, medication, or physical activity routines. This information is not a substitute for a vet’s opinion.
Eric Mohrman has been a freelance writer since 2007, focusing on travel, food and lifestyle stories. His creative writing is also widely published. He lives in Orlando, Florida.