HOW TO STOP YOUR
DOG FROM CONSTANTLY LICKING
Does your dog seem to spend an infinite amount of
time licking himself? Why is he doing it? And how do you, as a dog
owner, correct that annoying licking habit? Here are five of the most
common reasons why your dog might be incessantly licking himself and
the solutions to correcting the habit.
1. Your dog
might have developed an unrelenting licking habit because he needs a
bath.
If your dog
spends alot of time outside, romping through the woods, tramping in the
mud, rolling in the grass or wading in the nearest stream or pond, he
is probably dirty. So, your dog may be constantly licking himself
because the dirt is irritating him! Plus, all that outdoor activity may
have gotten him infested with ticks, fleas, mites, or lice. Your dog’s
incessant licking may be an attempt to rid himself of those nasty
varmints!
Give him a bath
with a veterinarian-approved flea and tick shampoo. Before bathing him,
make sure you brush out all the mats and tangles from his coat or the
bathing will make them worse.
2. Your dog
might have developed a chronic licking habit because he has a skin
disorder.
Some common
skin disorders that a dog may develop are mange or dermatitis. Mange is
a skin disease in dogs that is caused by various types of mites. The
dermatitis could be caused by an allergic reaction to fleas, dust
mites, mold or a certain brand of dog food. If you suspect that your
dog has a case of mange or dermatitis, your veterinarian will be able
to diagnose what the disorder is and prescribe a course of treatment.
3. Your dog
might have developed a persistent licking habit because he is under
stress.
The stress may
be a result of a new adoption, physical abuse, separation anxiety, or
even a reaction to a new food.
If you think
separation anxiety might be the cause of his stress, there are several
methods for solving the problem. Try exposing your dog to being alone
for very short periods of time. When your dog has adjusted to being
alone for that duration of time, gradually increase your departure
period. If you must be away from your dog for a long period of time,
while you are away at work, try to find a friend or neighbor who could
come over and take him for a walk a couple of times during the day.
Perhaps a new
dog in the family is causing the stress? It is very common to
experience a period of stress and adjustment when a new dog is brought
into a household that has an established pet. One way to help make the
transition a little easier is to give your older dog alot of attention
and love. It will let him know that he's still a vital part of the
family. Just remember that it will take time for your dogs to adjust to
one another and be one happy dog family!
Changing your
dog’s diet can also cause stress. If you're thinking of feeding your
dog a new brand of dry dog food, do it gradually and over a period of
four days or longer. On the first day that you change the food, feed
your dog one quarter of the new food with three quarters of the old
food. Add in another quarter of the new food after a couple of days or
so. After another two days, add in another quarter of the new dog food.
Finally, after another couple of days or so, you will be able to leave
out the old dog food entirely!
If you cannot
determine the cause of your dog's stress, talk to your veterinarian.
He'll be able to refer you to a dog behaviorist who will be able to
determine the cause of your dogs stress. If your dog has severe
separation anxiety, an anti-anxiety medication might be considered to
alleviate the anxiety. Drugs are not a complete solution, however, and
should be used along with a treatment program.
4. Your dog
might have developed an incessant licking habit because he has an
injury that has resulted in an open wound.
A dog that has
developed an injury that has resulted in an open wound will lick
himself incessantly in an attempt to clean the wound and keep it free
from bacteria. Dog saliva has been proven to kill some germs and when
your dog licks an open wound, it will aid in keeping the wound
infection free.
Veterinarian
treatment may be required if your dog appears to be in pain, the wound
contains a foreign material and is deep enough to require stitches, is
bleeding excessively or becomes infected.
5. Your dog
might have developed a relentless licking habit because he has
developed the bad habit of doing so.
Some dogs
develop the habit of licking their paws incessantly despite them being
clean, uninjured and parasite-free!
Your dog may
develop the habit of constantly licking himself because he has alot of
nervous energy and no way to alleviate the stress. He also may have
learned this behavior because he is bored and this is a way to
entertain himself!
Give your dog
lots of time to play and run and work off any excess energy. If your
dog is well-exercised and happy, he won't feel the need to relentlessly
lick himself to relieve stress or boredom!
The information
detailed above will help you discover and correct your dog's habit of
chronic licking. With careful observation and a little attention to
proper grooming, training, along with regular veterinarian visits, you
can 'lick' your dog's incessant licking habit!
About The
Author: For a free dog training guide containing dog and puppy
training tips, articles, books, and information, visit http://freedogtrainingguide.com
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