Why Do Dogs Lick The Floor And Furniture

Allergies parasitic infections digestive disorders pain and other problems can all prompt your pooch to do strange things including lick your floors and furniture.

Why do dogs lick the floor and furniture.

There are some dogs who are such dedicated floor lickers that vets have actually coined a term to refer to the problem. Once it becomes obsessive your pooch s floor licking is considered a stereotypy. The sensation of licking soft fabric may help him cope and alleviate his feelings by keeping him otherwise occupied. Dogs that are regularly bored can develop bad habits such as licking furniture and other items excessively.

Canine cognitive dysfunction which is basically dementia in dogs and other neurological problems also cause obsessive and compulsive licking as can other illnesses. This type of behavior can also self soothe and provide comfort. Unless you just dropped food there s no normal reason why a dog should regularly lick the carpet or furniture. Some dogs chew up shoes and furniture and you ll find some dogs licking carpet or other areas.

Which is good for him but not great for your soft furnishings. Excessive licking furniture most often occurs when your dog is relaxed or even bored. If your dog s carpet licking episodes occur quite frequently it s important to consult with the vet to find out what s causing them in the first place. If your dog is not only licking the floor but also eating things such as carpet fibers splinters from the hardwood floor or pieces from the baseboard she may be suffering from pica.

It could be your dog has the canine equivalent of acid reflux which causes the buildup of acid when the stomach is empty for too long. The origins of floor licking may be innocent enough your dog may have started it after meals when there were yummy crumbs on the floor but such purposeful licking isn t an obsessive or compulsive behavior. Why do dogs lick the carpet and the couch. A few reasons why your dog might be bored include lack of physical or mental stimulation.

If not much is going on around the dog he may be licking to provide himself with an activity or stimulation. Dogs who suffer from els or excessive licking syndrome will not only lick. In some cases a dog will lick obsessively simply because they re bored.