Occasionally licking your own body is part of dogs' instinctive grooming. This is particularly common when dogs come in from outside.
Excessive licking, on the other hand, can indicate unfulfilled longings, fears or even existing illnesses. It is therefore all the more important to find out the cause.
You can often assess how serious the situation is with the following test: Test how easy or difficult it is to stop your dog from licking.
If he can hardly be deterred, then the situation tends to be more serious. And vice versa. The licked area is just as important for the diagnosis.
Here's an overview first:
Licked spotPossible causesThe ownerAcceptance, affection, boredomFace of the ownerAffection, hunger, acceptanceThe hands and feetBoredom, affection, hungerTheir own pawsFear, stress, allergies, dementia, pain, fungal infectionTheir own snoutAllergies, fear, thirst, stress, painTheir own tailParasite infestation, infectionsTheir own genital areaDementia , pain, boredom, bacterial infection, Fungal infectionYour own jointsAllergies, dementia, anxiety, pain, infections, stressGrass and other plantsNutrient deficiencies, digestive problemsFloor, blankets and basketsDementia, anxiety, digestive problems, stress, nutrient deficiencies
Then let's go through all the causes together step-by-step.
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#1 Allergies
Some allergies cause the skin to become very itchy. Constant licking counteracts the itching.
Allergies are said to be one of the most common causes of excessive licking. The problem? Almost anything can trigger allergies. [1]
The most common allergens in dogs include:
- Food (grains, soy, dairy, chicken, beef, etc.)
- Dust and mold spores
- grasses
- Perfumes and cleaning products
- Medication [2]
If your dog constantly licks its mouth, it is often due to food allergies. A change in food can help here.
Dogs most often lick their paws, muzzle and joints when they have an allergic reaction.
If you are unsure, an allergy test at the vet can help. A blood or saliva test is usually carried out for this purpose.
Alternatively, such a free food check can also help to get individual food recommendations and free food samples.
Constant licking of the paws, muzzle and joints can be an indication of existing allergies. To be sure about the cause, an allergy test at the vet is sufficient.
#2 Affection
When dogs lick you or other people, it is often a sign of affection and love. This is especially true if it is part of the greeting.
The constant licking is the counterpart to many tender kisses. This also explains why female dogs constantly lick their puppies.
Typical places on the body to show affection are:
- hands
- Face including mouth, nose and ears
- Feet
Studies have also shown that dogs often lick people who cry to comfort them. [3]
Hence the question: How are you? Is it possible that your dog feels that you are currently not feeling well?
Instead of kissing, dogs often show their affection and love by licking their owners. They particularly often lick the face, hands and feet. Constant licking can also be an attempt to comfort.
#3 Dementia
If your dog is a little older and constantly licks its fur, then this could be a sign of dementia.
According to studies, one in four dogs over the age of 11 is affected. In dogs over 15 years old, more than two thirds are. [4]
The problem? Your dog has simply forgotten that he has already groomed his coat. Other typical symptoms include:
As with humans, dementia in dogs is currently considered incurable. To slow the progression, mental thinking tasks can help.
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As they get older, up to two thirds of all dogs suffer from dementia. In addition to disorientation and incontinence, constant licking is also one of the typical symptoms of progressive cognitive impairment.
#4 Stress & Anxiety
According to research, constant licking is said to have a calming effect. Because it releases endorphins – the body’s own happiness hormones.
The effect is roughly comparable to a smoker smoking a cigarette to calm down. Endorphins also inhibit physical and mental pain.
Typical stress factors and triggers for anxiety are:
- Loud noises (e.g. trains, fireworks, etc.)
- Separation anxiety after being taken away from the mother
- Fear of being alone
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from past situations can also show up through excessive licking. [6]
Other typical symptoms include:
- Lowered muzzle
- Nervous behavior
- Avoiding eye contact
- Retracted tail
- Trembling and restlessness [7]
If you can identify a cause, then you have to eliminate it or at least reduce it.
In any case, it is helpful to spend a lot of time with your dog. In addition, physical and mental activity also has a calming effect.
Constantly licking your own body has a calming effect on dogs and can help against stress and anxiety. Affected dogs also often behave nervously, walk with their tails tucked in and have their heads lowered.
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#5 Hunger
If your dog constantly licks your mouth, it is often due to hunger or greed. Especially if it happens after eating.
Believe it or not, mouth licking is a natural instinct of dogs to make you vomit. Yes, you read that right.
This behavior has already been intensively researched in wolves, foxes, coyotes and other wild dogs. Because licking your mouth often leads to vomiting.
This is most often seen in young wild dogs that are still too young to hunt on their own. Here they lick the muzzles of the dogs returning from hunting in order to get some of the food. [8]
If your dog licks you after exercise, then he could also be lacking salt. Because there are around 2 g of salt in one liter of sweat.
In rare cases, licking is also a sign of dehydration. In this case, the dog often looks to the owner to signal that he needs water.
Constant licking of the owner's mouth is usually a sign of hunger or greed. On the other hand, the salt it contains is usually responsible for licking sweaty skin. It can also be a symptom of a lack of water.
#6 Pain
If your dog is licking his paws and limping, it may be due to a splinter in his foot. Just like licking your mouth can indicate bone splinters.
This is roughly comparable to people rubbing a muscle that hurts. Licking also releases endorphins that counteract the pain.
Saliva also contains both antibacterial and anti-inflammatory bacteria, which clean the wound and promote wound healing at the same time.
In older dogs, arthritis can also be a culprit. Here, lots of licking serves to relieve pain in chronically inflamed joints.
Other typical symptoms of this are:
- Swelling of the joints
- Stiff gait
- Problems getting up
- Dislike of stairs [9]
In this case, you should visit the vet for a diagnosis. In most cases, the problem can be treated very well with medication and a change in diet. [10]
Constant licking of the front paws, mouth or other parts of the body can indicate possible splinters or other wounds. In older dogs, licking is also more often a sign of existing arthritis. But this is usually accompanied by other symptoms.
#7 Boredom
Boredom can manifest itself in a variety of ways in dogs. The most common symptoms of boredom include:
- Barking and whining
- Constant licking
- Gnawing and digging
- Panting for no reason [11]
If your dog constantly licks you and looks you in the eyes at the same time, then it is often a cry for attention.
This is often the case, especially with very active and energetic dog breeds, when they cannot let out their energy. Typical breeds here are:
- Labrador retrievers
- Golden retrievers
- Russell Terrier
- beagle
- Border collie
- Australian Shepherd
The solution? To ensure more mental and physical utilization. More exercise, a second dog for entertainment or more toys can help here.
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Constant licking from the owner can be a cry for attention. In many cases it also manifests itself with barking, digging and gnawing. To solve the problem, it helps to ensure more physical and mental activity.
#8 Acceptance
Wolves and other wild dogs have a hierarchy within their pack. The leader is the Alpha. This is followed by the Betas, Deltas and Omegas.
Here, the constant licking of the face and teeth is a sign that the other wolf is part of the pack – a symbol of acceptance.
This behavior is most commonly seen in Omegas and Deltas. So those wolves who are very low in rank.
In this case, licking is confirmation that they accept the other member as superior. [12]
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So if your dog constantly licks you, it could be a sign of submission. Or to put it the other way round: your dog has accepted you as his master.
Typical parts of the body are:
- Face
- Mouth including teeth
If you don't mind the licking, then there is no need for action. If so, you can stop it with strict feedback (“No!”).
Constant licking is used by dogs and wolves to communicate acceptance and submission. In this case, licking is a positive gesture. It signals to the master that he has the more dominant position.
#9 Digestive problems
If your dog suddenly licks unusual objects, stomach and intestinal problems are often responsible.
In particular the following…