Your hot dog has a few preferred pastimes : lap up his food bowl , licking himself and lap the trading floor . He ’s been know to clobber the linoleum , savour the roofing tile , and pass over down the wood with the fervent moving picture of his clapper .
There ’s an obvious “ ick ” factor that comes from walking through the puddle of tosh your dog left on the floor . But it ’s also just , well , eldritch — or is it ?
“ work the base can be entirely normal , ” says Dr. Sara L. Bennett , clinical assistant professor of veterinary behavior at North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine .
Dog Licking: What’s Normal?
Dogs normally use their clapper for eating , imbibition , grooming , or offering up wet kiss . These are all normal behaviors , concord to Bennett . However , habitual lickingmight be the sign of an offspring .
“ In the correct circumstance , licking is moot a normal behaviour , ” she adds .
To determine whether your dog ’s drubbing is normal , Bennett look at where it happens . In areas where there might be food scraps — cerebrate near their food trough after supper or around the kitchen island — dogs might lick the flooring to see if something tasty has fall .
Frequency , intensity , and length matter , too . Bennett notes that dog-iron who lick the floor nonstop without a specific reason may have something more serious go on . In these cases , your vet may name it as inordinate licking of surfaces ( or ELS ) .
“ When it becomes more habitual — it ’s hap multiple times a mean solar day in areas where there ’s no food nowadays … it lasts more than a couple of minutes and the behavior ca n’t be interrupt [ by call off the andiron or offering a treat ] , it starts to fall into the ‘ abnormal ’ category and we have to do some tec work to estimate out why . ”
Why Is My Dog Licking the Floor?
Some of the most common reasons for your andiron licking the trading floor include :
Food
One of the biggest reason your cad licks the floor ? It may smack good ! A few drops of run out coffee , bacon grease , or spaghetti sauce can send your dog into a floor - licking frenzy .
“ If you splatter some food on the trading floor , of course your weenie is going to be propel to lick it up , ” Bennett say .
When your dog frantically licks a intellectual nourishment - prone region of the floor , Bennett says it ’s probable just an endeavor to assimilate every last crumb .
As long as there are n’t scraps offoods that are toxic to dogson the floor , it ’s hunky-dory to countenance your dog serve as a four - legged vacuum .
Upset Stomach
Tummy trouble are among the most uncouth reasons your andiron ’s licker may be working overtime . In fact , 73 % of frank with ELS are diagnosed with gastrointestinal issues like irritable bowel syndrome , pancreatitis , andGiardia , grant toone survey .
“ The hypothesis is that it ’s a behavioural reaction to feel nauseous to their stomachs , ” Bennett explain .
Licking the floor increase saliva yield , buffering against acid in the venter . Or , the saliva provides added lubrication to make it easier to regurgitate , Bennet adds .
When tummy upset is to charge , your dog may be licking the floor and vomiting , eating grass , or panting . Your veterinary can feed trial run to determine the source of the tummy upset . address the job should serve manipulate the behavior ( and palpate better ) .
Stress
Like all repetitive conduct , a frank work out the floor could bea sign of the zodiac of an obsessive upset or stress .
“ Repetitive base licking can be a ‘ displacement behaviour ’ and might be a sign that your wienerwurst is have anxiety , ” explains Dana Emerson , a veterinary technician and Karen Pryor Academy - certified flight simulator with the University of Minnesota Veterinary Medical Center .
Emerson suggests count at recent changes to the environs , like a move or new deary . These change may make your dog-iron experience nervous and stimulate the behavior . Other anxiety - inducing triggers such as thunderstorms , bleep , buzzer , orloud noisesmay be to blame , too .
Cushing’s Disease
Increased levels of cortisol , the emphasis hormone , can spark continuing focus , leading toCushing ’s disease . The hallmark signs of this disease let in increased thirstiness , urination , and appetite , as well as overweening panting , fatigue , pilus deprivation , and frequent skin infections .
Not all hot dog with Cushing ’s disease constantly bat the trading floor , Bennett observe . “ The chronic stress state works against the normal mechanisms of stay fresh the GI tract healthy , ” and that breadbasket overturned could cause excessive trouncing behavior .
Your veterinary surgeon can do parentage forge to get a determinate diagnosis and medications can help superintend the disease .
What to Do if Your Dog Keeps Licking the Floor
Remember , licking the floor can be a normal behavior , especially if your andiron is swosh up solid food remnants off the ground . But if the behavior start suddenly , increase in absolute frequency or intensity , or pass when there is no food for thought around , it could be a sign something is wrong .
“ babble to your vet , ” Bennett rede . “ They can do the police detective body of work to get to the cause and come up with a treatment plan . ”
Dog Licking the Floor: Diagnosis and Treatment
A comprehensive physical exam is often the starting point for determine why your frank is suddenly drub the floor .
Your veteran will front for symptom like bloating , hunch over back , febrility , tomentum personnel casualty , andskin infectionsthat could steer to a serious illness . They ’ll also ask question about environmental or behavioural change like emesis , eating grass , diarrhea , or red ink of appetite .
Depending on their findings during the examination , your veterinary surgeon may recommend blood tests , X - rays , sonography , or faecal sampling . When overweening floor drubbing is tie to a gilbert issue or Cushing ’s disease , your veterinary may prescribe medication to treat the illness .
If there are no sign of a strong-arm illness , your vet may suggest consulting with a behaviorist . These specialists can avail determine if stress or a compulsive disorder could be to blame .
