Gastrointestinal Problems
Dogs that have gastrointestinal problems may develop a condition called ELS (excessive licking of surfaces). This is because when they lick their stomach feels better temporarily.
Fortunately for your dog, this can usually be treated easily by your veterinarian.
Concrete Tastes Good
Your dog might like the taste of concrete. If this is the case, there’s not much you can do about it except to try to keep them from licking it.
It’s not always about the taste of concrete itself, but also what other scents and tastes are on the concrete as well.
Maybe a wild animal is sleeping on the concrete at night, or maybe some other dog owner gave their dog yummy smelling treats on the sidewalk.
If this is why your dog is licking concrete, you can do this by providing them with plenty of chew toys and bones or by keeping them on a leash when they’re outside.
Why does my dog lick concrete?
Below are likely causes and what would make each of them more likely.
The cause could be that your dog has a nutritional deficiency and your dog has been trying to make up for it by eating or licking on things that they should not be. This would be more likely if your dog has not only been licking concrete but has also been eating things that they should not be.
It would also be more likely if your dog has been showing signs of illness such as weakness or vomiting a lot. In this case, the best option would be to take them to the vet for a checkup.
It might also simply be the case that your dog likes the taste of concrete. This would be more likely if your dog has not been behaving unusually in other ways and if your dog does it at random times.
It might also be the case that your dog is bored and looking for ways to stimulate themselves. This would be more likely if your dog does it more before having gotten exercise.
Anxiety could be what has been causing it to do it. This would be more likely if it has started doing it after something happened that could make it anxious or if it does it more at a time where it is likely to be anxious. Examples could be if it does it more when a certain person is around, when you are about to leave home or when there are loud noises coming from outside.
The reason might be that it is due to an obsessive-compulsive disorder. This is where it has an irresistible urge to lick concrete so it keeps doing it. This would be more likely if it has been licking concrete constantly for a few weeks now. In this case, the best option would be to get help from a vet.
It might also be the case that your dog has been doing it because food was dropped there. This would be more likely if your dog has been licking a certain area of concrete where people were recently eating or doing a barbecue.
Below are some things to consider to help figure out the main cause.
If your dog did not always lick concrete, it would help to consider what else happened when your dog first started doing it.
If it started doing it suddenly, it would make it more likely to be due to being anxious, ill, a diet issue or food being stuck to the concrete. It would help to consider what else happened at around the same time that it started to lick the concrete.
If your dog also does it at a certain time, it would also help to consider the timing. If it does it more at a certain time it would be more likely to be due to things such as being anxious, hungry or bored due to not getting exercise.
It would also help to consider how often your dog does it. If it has been licking the concrete constantly then it would be more likely to be compulsive behavior and something you’ll want to get help on from a vet or dog behaviorist.
If it does it less often, it would help to consider what is different when it does do it.