The
Dog Health Problem Licking Excessively
By Wade Robins
Almost every dog licks himself or herself at some
time or another. This can irritate owners if it becomes excessive
and persistent. The explanations for this problem are many
as some reason are health related and some may be physiological.
Different breeds of dogs lick because of the characteristics
of the breed; others do it because they are frightened or
have a health condition. Determining the reason can be time
consuming for the dog owner, but a vet might find the reason
quicker.
The Dog Health Problem Licking is Biological
Female dogs lick their puppies to keep them clean and free
from fifth. When pups are born, the mother cleans them after
birth and removes the film and body fluids that are common
after birth. This also helps to arouse breathing in the newborn
puppies. Another reason for the female to lick the newborns
is to get the puppies to pass urine and feces. The puppies
will sometimes lick the lips of the mother to persuade her
to vomit so they can eat, this does not always happen if owners
help with the care of the puppies.
Dog Health Problems Licking due to Psychological
Reasons
Signs of stress or fatigue will cause a dog to lick excessively.
If you compare human behavior to a dog’s behavior,
you will see that people twirl their hair or something like
that when they are bored or stressed and dogs lick themselves
for the same reason, they only have this to do. Dogs react
to different situations by licking and sometimes chewing on
their paws or legs.
In some cases, excessive licking may result in other health
problems such as dermatitis. Dogs make lick walls, floors,
and anything they can find. Around this same line, some dogs
eat fuzz off the floor as a way of expressing stress or displeasure.
If you have ever seen a dog with hair or fuzz in their mouth
and the continued mouth movement trying get it swallowed or
out of the mouth is just as irritating as excessive licking.
Treatment can only be given if there is an underlying health
problem.
Some believe that behavior training corrects the problem,
but punishment is not the answer. Rewarding the dog for not
licking may take some time, but some dogs respond to this
type of training to correct the licking problem. Some breeders
believe in treats for curing excessive licking behavior.
If you notice any skin problems resulting from excessive licking,
you need to contact a vet to correct any conditions
arising from this behavior before a serious condition results.
Some dogs will lick and lick until they have bald spots, this
can cause other health complications such as dermatitis or
skin infections if the lick the shin raw. The dog health problem
licking condition may be something like adjusting the diet
or providing a quiet room for the dog to get away from all
the commotion that can cause stress. Either way, whether it
is biological or psychological, your dog needs some kind of
help.
About
the Author:
You can also find more info on endocrine
dog health and problems
with dog health.
Source: www.isnare.com
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