When Licking Is A Sign Of A Potential Health Issue
While licking is one of the most common types of dog behavior, there are times where it can be a sign of a potential health issue.
For example, a dog suffering from allergy issues will often lick between their toes or show signs of itching skin, such as chewing. They may be allergic to a flea bite, airborne pollen, or dust.8
Lip licking is another indication of other health issues. It might mean your dog has an upset stomach. The same holds true if your dog licks the walls, the floor, part of your furniture, or any other type of odd place (including your ears, if that’s out of the norm for them). Excessive drool and lip smacking or licking are other indications of nausea. Contact your vet if your dog shows these signs, especially if they have a loss of appetite and vomiting.9
If your vet says there’s no health problem, yet you’re still concerned about your dog’s excessive licking, consider talking to a veterinary behaviorist.
Why Does My Dog Lick Other Dogs’ Ears?
The thing you have to understand about dog breeds is that their ancestors were pack animals. In fact, they see us as other members of their pack.
Like any good pack member, communication is key, and for your pooch, that means barking and licking, among other behaviors. Licking is something that pack members use to say, “Hey, I’m here!” It’s really an essential part of living in a dog pack.
Of course, it’s been a long time since dogs were wild pack members, but genetically, they still are, so licking is still an important way for them to communicate. Your furry friend licks you as a sign of affection, and this is behavior they learned as a puppy.
Mother dogs lick their babies to groom them and show her motherly love. The puppies pick up on this from adult dogs early in life, and they continue the behavior as part of communicating with other pack members. It’s often the submissive dog who is licking the dominant dog’s ears and you can tell which is which by watching their body language.
Submissive dogs often keep their tail down when they approach a dominant dog, and they will do that kind of cheesy submissive grin. They might also lie down and expose their belly to the dominant dog as a way of saying, “I recognize you’re the boss.”
Aside from submission, it’s also a way for your dog to say I love you and I respect you and soothe his anxiety. According to the veterinary experts at PetKeen, there are, however, some other possible common reasons that dogs lick other dogs’ ears. Let’s explore some of these since they can indicate a medical issue in the lick receiver’s ears.
Your friendly pooch may like the other dog and want to show that by grooming them. They lick themselves as part of a grooming regimen, but they can’t reach their own ears, so this is how other dogs can help them out.
When two dogs are on friendly terms as part of the same family, they become very comfortable grooming each other. Licking each other’s ears is just one way to show that. What’s more, it can ward off ear mites, but too much licking can cause irritation and possibly an ear infection.
Your Dog Loves You
One of the major reasons a dog licks you is probably the most obvious—they are showing you they love you. They often lick ears upon greeting you or if you are suddenly eye-level with them. Dogs love making contact with your face. It’s a direct sign of intimacy, allowing them to show you how much they care.
They gladly give it to you without question because they want your love and approval back. In showing us affection through licks, they are telling you that this partnership is definitely mutual. Isn’t it sweet to think about how many ways our dogs show us appreciation?
Why Do Dogs Lick Ears: The 7 Reasons Behind This ( Weird ) Behavior
If you’re a pet owner, you’ve undoubtedly noticed a number of quirky behaviors in your beloved pets. For dog owners, one of these is licking another dog’s ears. Why do dogs lick each other’s ears?
Ear licking seems to have no good explanation at first glance — it’s hard to imagine why they could be doing this — but your pooch might be responding to ancestral urges or maybe they’d just like a little snack!
There are actually a variety of reasons why dogs lick others’ ears, so let’s take a look at this odd aspect of dog behavior.