My old dog is licking the floor and carpet. Should I be concerned?

It's hard to explain why your dog would be doing this, it is likely a compulsive behavior and is not harmful to her. I would recommend watching her closely to ensure she doesn't accidentally ingest anything dangerous when she is doing this behavior. Otherwise I wouldn't be too concerned.

Hi there! I'm so sorry to hear about Mud Bud's troubles. Sometimes older dogs can actually acquire dementia over time. This could be the cause of Mud Bud licking everything. There is also a condition called, Pica, where animals will ingest odd things, due to vitamin or mineral deficiencies. I always recommend evaluating yearly lab work in elderly animals (7+ years old) to insure that they don't have any health issues that may cause this. I also think that sometimes if dogs lose vision at all to any degree, which can happen in older dogs, they may start to lick things more often for sensory purposes. I think it is best to have Mud Bud evaluated by his veterinarian. They can get some samples for lab work and give him a full physical exam, and make sure that he doesn't have any pressing health issues. From there, they can make recommendations for his behavior. I hope you find this answer helpful. Best of luck!

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.

Thank you for contacting Pet Coach with your question about Lucky. Licking objects can be a sign of nausea in dogs, and it may be he isn't feeling well leading to the licking. I'm sure it's pretty annoying for you to hear this licking over and over, and if he's not showing any other signs, I'd put him in a crate or keep him out of your room for the night so you can get some sleep. In the morning, if he's still doing this behavior, then I would take him into the vet to get checked out. Best of luck, I hope this helps.

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!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Tootsie. Dogs will lick excessively for several reasons. Given her breed and age, I suspect she has periodontal disease. Her mouth could be very sore and be causing the licking. If this is not the cause, she could be licking due to anxiety, nausea or a compulsive disorder. She should see her veterinarian for a thorough examination. I hope this information helps!

Hi there. Excessive licking, especially of surfaces like the floor or walls, is often associated with nausea or other GI discomfort in dogs. I would recommend taking Simba to the vet for an exam to try and determine if he may be sick or not feeling well.