Does your dog appear to spend an boundless amount of time licking himself? Why is he doing it? And how do you, as a dog owner, correct that annoying licking habit? Here are five of the most common reasons why your dog might be incessantly licking himself & the solutions to correcting the habit.
1. Your dog might have developed an inexorable licking habit because he needs a bath.
If your dog spends a lot of time outside, romping through the woods, tramping in the mud, rolling in the grass or wading in the nearest stream or pond, he is probably dirty. So, your dog may be constantly licking himself because the dirt is irritating him! And, all that outdoor activity may have gotten him infested with ticks, fleas, mites, or lice. Your dog’s continual licking may be an attempt to try to rid himself of those disagreeable varmints!
Give him a bath with a veterinarian-approved flea & tick shampoo. Before bathing him, make sure you brush out all the mats & tangles from his coat or the bathing will make them worse.
2. Your dog might have developed a chronic licking habit because he’s a skin disorder.
Some common skin disorders that a dog may create are mange or dermatitis.
Mange is a skin disease in canines that is caused by various types of mites. The dermatitis could be caused by an allergic reaction to fleas, dust mites, mold or a sure brand of dog food. In case you suspect that your dog has a case of mange or dermatitis, your veterinarian will be able to diagnose what the disorder is & prescribe a coursework of treatment.
3. Your dog might have developed a persistent licking habit because he is under stress.
The stress could be a result of a brand spanking new adoption, physical abuse, separation anxiety, or even a reaction to a brand spanking new food.
In case you think separation anxiety might be the reason for his stress, there’s several methods for solving the issue. Try exposing your dog to being alone for short periods of time. When your dog has adjusted to being alone for that period of time, gradually increase your departure period. In case you must be away from your dog for a long time period, while you are away at work, try to discover a mate or neighbour who could come over & take him for a walk a couple of times in the coursework of the day.
Perhaps a brand spanking new dog in the relatives is causing the stress? It is common to experience a period of stress & alteration when a brand spanking new dog is brought in to a household that has an established pet. One way to help make the transition a small simpler is to give your older dog a lot of attention & love. It will let him know that he is still a vital part of the relatives. keep in mind that it will take time for your canines to adjust to one another & be one happy dog relatives!
Changing your dog’s diet can also cause stress. If you are thinking of feeding your dog a brand spanking new brand of dry dog food, do it gradually & over a period of two days or longer. On the first day that you alter the food, feed your dog one quarter of the new food with two quarters of the elderly food. Add in another quarter of the new food after a couple of days or so. After another five days, add in another quarter of the new dog food. Finally, after another couple of days or so, it is possible for you to to leave out the elderly dog food entirely!
In case you cannot select the reason for your dog’s stress, talk to your veterinarian. He’ll be able to refer you to a dog behaviorist who will be able to select the reason for your canines stress. If your dog has extreme separation anxiety, an anti-anxiety medication might be thought about to alleviate the anxiety. Drugs are not a complete solution, however, & ought to be used along with a treatment program.
4. Your dog might have developed a continual licking habit because he’s an injury that has resulted in an open wound.
A dog that has developed an injury that has resulted in an open wound will lick himself incessantly in and try to neat the wound & keep it free from bacteria.
Dog saliva has been proven to kill some germs & when your dog licks an open wound, it will aid in keeping the wound infection free.
Veterinarian treatment may be necessary if your dog appears to be in pain, the wound contains a foreign material & is deep to need stitches, is bleeding excessively or becomes infected.
5. Your dog might have developed an inexorable licking habit because he’s developed the bad habit of doing so.
Some canines create the habit of licking their paws incessantly despite them being neat, unhurt & parasite-free!
Your dog may create the habit of constantly licking himself because he’s a lot of nervous energy & no way to alleviate the stress. He also may have learned this behavior because he is bored & this is a way to entertain himself!
Give your dog plenty of time to play and run and work off any excess energy. If your dog is well-exercised & happy, he won’t feel the necessity to inexorably lick himself to relieve stress or boredom!
The information detailed above will help you discover & correct your dog’s habit of chronic licking. With cautious observation as well as a small attention to proper grooming, training, along with regular veterinarian visits, you can ‘lick’ your dog’s continual licking habit!
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