My dog has a licking and biting problem. Should I be worried?

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your question. This is likely just behavioral and is commonly seen in young dogs / puppies. Over time, this Behavior will likely resolve or greatly reduce. you can try and apply bitter apple to the areas where Preston likes to lick and see if this helps deter her from doing this behavior. You can also use a spray bottle filled with water and lightly Spritz Preston in the face whenever she licks you and say “off!” while spraying her. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any further questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Hello, and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It seems your photo didn't attach; if you could post your question again with a photo that would help us give better input. However, if Percy is consistently biting and licking at one particular spot, he should be taken in to the vet to determine why. Dogs will typically bite and lick out of either pain or persistent itchiness, or occasionally anxiety, so it's best to have the vet determine what the cause (and correct treatment) is.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! That is not normal. This is possibly due to allergies. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing her allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. A secondary infection is likely and also needs to be addressed. This may also be mange and usually this is differentiated on a physical exam and basic cytology. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for environmental allergies which require blood and/or skin tests. Allergies can be very frustrating to deal with at first but so rewarding at the end when we are able to treat them effectively!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is possibly due to allergies. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing his allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. A secondary infection is likely and also needs to be addressed. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for environmental allergies which require blood and/or skin tests. Allergies can be very frustrating to deal with at first but so rewarding at the end when we are able to treat them effectively!

I'm sorry to hear Chico is having issues with over licking. Excessive licking can be a coping mechanism secondary to an underlying anxiety or stressor. On himself, it can be secondary to a skin issue, such as allergies, skin parasites (fleas or mites), an infection or an underlying medical issue. I would recommend he be evaluated by his regular veterinarian to determine the underlying cause for his licking (medical vs behavioral), have any necessary testing done (skin scrape, bloodwork) and get started on a treatment plan that may help resolve his issue. Good luck!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is possibly due to allergies. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing her allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. The secondary wounds are likely due to infections from the licking and need therapy with antibiotics for her to get better overall. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for environmental allergies which require blood and/or skin tests. Allergies can be very frustrating to deal with at first but so rewarding at the end when we are able to treat them effectively!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This can be a classic sign seen with flea allergy dermatitis. If he is otherwise doing well, you can go ahead and start him on a flea preventative. I like Bravecto and Frontline though there are many products available in the market that are also good. If there is no improvement or he actually has a wound associated with this, have him evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment. He is adorable! Have a nice day!