Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!
Become a member today!
Members-only pricing and offers, personalized care notifications, Vital Care points back on every purchase and more!
Already a member? Sign in
Become a credit card member today!
Earn 2X Pals Rewards points at Petco
when you use Petco Pay!
APPLY NOW
Learn More About Petco Pay Benefits

Why is my senior dog suddenly licking everything? Is he sick?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Chihuahua (Smooth Coat) | Male | unneutered | 10 years and 10 months old | 8 lbs

Why is my 10 year old Chihuahua licking everything.He just recently started doing this.

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Eryn Taormina, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on February 24th, 2019

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!

2Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Related Questions

Training & Behavior

Why is my 15-year-old Dachshund licking everything for years?

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!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Training & Behavior

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

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.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Why is my senior dog peeing in the house and licking his urine?

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Cruz! I recommend a Vet exam, full blood work and have his urine tested. As dogs age sometimes they develop dementia and that can cause new abnormal behaviors. Though I am more concerned for a metabolic problem for him licking up the urine. Something like a UTI or diabetes. I hope this helps and I wish Cruz the best!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Why is my senior Shih Tzu not eating, drinking lots, and licking paw?

Tibby sounds like he isn't feeling quite himself. He is getting to be an older guy, at 14, and drinking alot of water can signify many issues like diabetes, kidney disease, hypothyroidism, urinary tract infection, etc. He may be licking his paw because his paw is itchy or painful. Also, studies have shown that excessive licking is sometimes a sign of abdominal pain in dogs. I think you need to schedule a geriatric appointment with your veterinarian to identify what might be going on with Tibby. Be prepared for some blood work and likely a urine test, and perhaps other diagnostics depending on what your veterinarian finds on physical exam.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Training & Behavior

My senior Yorkie is licking everything, even the air. Is it normal?

This behaviour could be related to a neurological problem (especially licking the air). Certain type of seizures can lead to this type of behaviour but a video of the episodes should be ideally analyzed before any final verdict can be given. At this stage this sign is unfortunately quite generic and it is difficult to give more precise differentials. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. Please find the time to give us a feedback about the consultation as that will be used to improve our service.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Training & Behavior

My dog licks everything excessively. Is this a health problem?

This could indeed be a health issue. It has been observed that many dogs which excessively lick objects or even eat strange things are suffering from gastrointestinal problems. On the other hand this could also be just a nervous tick. I suggest you take Pepper to your vet for an exam. Your vet may want to do blood tests and an x ray to get to the bottom of the excessive licking. If Pepper is suffering from gastrointestinal problem, medications will usually alleviate the problem.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Training & Behavior

Why is my dog constantly licking his lips like he's trying to swallow?

Licking the lips can sometimes be a sign of nervousness, nausea, or even an issue with the teeth or mouth. If he hasn't had a dental cleaning recently, tartar on the teeth or gums could be causing some irritation and thus the licking behavior. Nausea such as from minor GI upset, may also cause drooling, or have signs such as vomiting or diarrhea, but this is not always the case. If it continues or you see any signs of illness/smell bad breath, etc, having your vet take a look is best. If you've changed something in his environment around the time the licking started (new pet, people, items in the house, etc) it could be that he's feeling a bit nervous or uncomfortable as well. Making sure he gets some extra attention and the cause of the nervousness is addressed (IE making sure he has someplace to go rest and hide, using a pheromone diffuser, etc) may help.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Share