Most dog owners interpret licks from their pets as a sign of affection: in other words, the closest your canine companion can get to kissing you upon your return from work. Is this true, and what can you do if your dog is licking excessively?
What Is Considered Excessive Licking or Grooming in Dogs?
Dogs typically lick their belly, forearms, joints, and the spaces in between their toes. They might superficially lick, bite, or chew these areas vigorously.
However, excessive licking happens when a dog feels uncomfortable from repeated licking. This might involve limping, bald patches, red skin, pimple-like lesions, dandruff, discoloration of the skin or coat, or even hair loss.
While licking or grooming, some animals may also display overt signs of discomfort. Signs may include vocalizing, whimpering, moaning, or groaning.
The licking may be excessive if you observe any of the following:
When is licking private parts considered a problem?
Urogenital (genital and urinary) area licking on a regular or persistent basis could be a sign of a medical condition. If you notice any of the following symptoms, contact your veterinarian right away:
Allergies
If the skin tests for diagnosis came back negative, it’s possible that your dog has allergies. One of the most frequent causes of pruritus, or itching, is allergies. There are generally two types of allergies—environmental and food. An allergic pet may lick, chew, scratch, or even experience secondary digestion issues.
Many veterinarians advise using a multimodal approach, which entails combining a few different therapies, to treat mild allergies at home. In addition to antihistamines, using omega-3 fatty acids, a calming shampoo, a topical mousse, or wipes for over-the-counter treatment can be very helpful. Be sure to consult your veterinarian before beginning any medications or treatments.
Remember that your pet may frequently require stronger prescription drugs to feel better. They may need antibiotics or even prescription anti-itching treatments. A secondary bacterial infection can frequently result from excessive scratching, licking, and grooming, creating a painful cycle.
Food trials can take 1-3 months before seeing improvement. Because of this, it’s imperative to treat any ear or skin infections concurrently with the food trial.
You and your veterinarian would decide on the best diet for your pet before starting a food trial; two popular options are hydrolyzed or novel protein. During the trial, your pet cannot receive any other food. The goal is to eliminate from the diet any additional food allergens.
If your pet responds well to this diet trial, you can begin gradually challenging their system by reintroducing one new food item at a time. Your pet is probably allergic to the new food item if it starts licking or over-grooming once more. To determine your pet’s allergy profile, repeat this challenge as many times as necessary.
After your dog has finished a diet trial, environmental allergies, or atopy, can be looked into as an underlying cause of pruritus. Similar to food allergies, secondary infections in the skin or ears are very common and must be treated concurrently.
Although there are many medications available to help treat atopy, such as Apoquel, Cytopoint, or Atopica, allergy skin testing followed by immunotherapy, or desensitization, is the most effective long-term method of controlling environmental allergies, especially in a young dog.
FAQ
How do I get my dog to stop licking himself?
Some suggestions include keeping your dog close to you when you’re home, using bitter sprays to deter licking, having your dog wear a special collar to prevent access to hot spots. Addressing anxiety or boredom.
Should I stop my dog from licking his private area?
Even when neutered, some dogs will self-stimulate by licking or in other ways until they develop erections. Unless you also notice issues with your dog’s penis or changes in his general health, it is best to ignore this behavior.
Is it normal for dogs to lick their privates a lot?
In the dog world, a moderate amount of licking is part of normal grooming behavior, but is ever acceptable to lick private parts? For instance, both male and female dogs may lick their genitalia after urinating to clean them.