My dog won't stop licking the floor and comforter. What's wrong?

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! There can be medical reasons that would explain this behavior or boredom, stress or curiosity. I would recommend having Snow's feces tested for parasites to ensure this is not the problem, as specific treatment is needed to treat different intestinal parasites. A blood panel may be suggested by the veterinarian as well. However, with Snow's age this is likely a behavioral problem. Floor locking is a common self calming behavior. I would consider dog day care once or twice per week or hire a dog walker if you do not have time. If Snow is alone at home, you can relieve the stress or boredom by using safe dog chews or interactive dog toys such as the Kong toys. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns!

Hi there. Excessive licking of surfaces, such as the floor or wall, is often a sign of nausea or GI discomfort in dogs. So it's possible that he's not feeling well at night for some reason. I would suggest talking to your regular veterinarian about this issue. He/she may recommend some testing for possible GI issues, and/or a trial course of an antacid or anti-nausea medication to see if this makes a difference.

Chronic licking is a common sign of nausea, as well as hypersalivation. Nausea can be caused by many conditions such as dietary indiscretion (eating things Bella shouldn't be), intestinal parasites, foreign bodies, and pancreatitis. If Bella is consistently doing this, it is worth it to rule out the conditions above. Your vet may recommend bloodwork, x-rays, and possibly an abdominal ultrasound. I hope all is well and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Some dogs will do this when they are nauseous so I would monitor Willie closely for any vomiting, drooling or decrease in appetite. I've also seen dogs that tend to lick objects when they have oral pain, so if you think he could be painful you may want to have your vet examine his mouth. It's also possible that this is simply an unusual behavior he has developed and if he otherwise seems perfectly normal I think it's probably also okay to ignore it.

You may want to have Sadie examined by a veterinarian. Sometimes dogs will lick the floor when they are nauseous or have an upset stomach. Ingesting non-food items like clumps or hair or dust could be a form of pica which can be a sign of anemia and related to fleas. It is also definitely possible that this is a compulsive behavior she developed at some point, but it would be best to rule out medical problems first.

Some dogs can exhibit OCD like tendencies. It sounds like Chechen may be one of those dogs. It can occur due to anxiety or boredom. Try to evaluate if Cheech is nervous or anxious typically. Or if you can distract him from licking with play time. Some dogs can be redirected others may not. In some cases you can discuss with your veterinarian and behavior modifying medications can be helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Some dogs do like to nibble, lick, or suck on fabric as a self-soothing behavior - similar to a human toddler sucking her thumb. It's not likely that you will be able to make her stop doing this, so if it bothers you, I would recommend having her sleep in a dog bed or a crate in your bedroom with her own blanket. That way, she can lick and nibble as much as she wants to without disturbing you :)