Dogs Licking Furniture Carpet
There are some dogs who are such dedicated floor lickers that vets have actually coined a term to refer to the problem.
Dogs licking furniture carpet. Afflicted dogs don t limit their licking behavior to the floor they may lick virtually any surface in your home including the walls furniture and their own crate. Unless you just dropped food there s no normal reason why a dog should regularly lick the carpet or furniture. If you see your dog licking the carpet or the couch this is where the behavior tends toward the stereotypical or behaviorally problematic according to dr. Some dogs are also are known to exhibit behavior like excessive licking of their paws too which further leads to another medical condition called acral lick dermatitis.
Difficult as it is to believe your dog may have a perfectly good reason for licking these surfaces. While a snack may temporarily help if it s caused by acid buildup it s important to find the exact cause and address the underlying problem. Many dogs lick the occasional carpet but some dogs are such dedicated floor lickers that veterinarians have coined a term excessive licking syndrome for the condition. It should be no surprise that dogs love to lick.
The dogs who have this condition often stick their tongue to any surface such as walls furniture crate and the carpet. There are a variety of reasons behind this mysterious furniture licking behavior. Boredom can cause carpet licking dogs have a lot of energy and when that energy isn t released properly it can come out in weird and unexpected ways like licking the carpet. Some dogs chew up shoes and furniture and you ll find some dogs licking carpet or other areas.
It is so common that 6 out of 10 dogs have this condition. Crumbs on the furniture and floor are obvious inducements. A few reasons why your dog might be bored include lack of physical or mental stimulation. Dogs who suffer from els or excessive licking syndrome will not only lick.
It might seem odd to you but be glad her boredom is coming out in a non destructive way as she could be chewing shoes or destroying your furniture instead. However it can be confusing when your dog starts licking your furniture or the carpet. Your dog may have lost control of what he is doing and may not even realize he is doing it. So if your dog is licking the carpet floor fabric or walls consult with your vet especially if these episodes tend to reoccur or last for a long time.
Insistent licking of the furnishings could also indicate your dog has or is developing a compulsive behavior disorder such as obsessive compulsive disorder ocd or anxiety disorder. In some cases a dog will lick obsessively simply because they re bored.