Excessive licking of surfaces.
Dog licking carpet excessively.
The excessive licking behavior in dogs has been for many years attributed to anxiety and stress release.
Dog licking the carpet one possible explanation for this behavior is that the dog has a digestive problem.
Dogs may have something called excessive licking of surfaces or els where they lick not only the carpet but also any other type of flooring as well.
Some dogs will also smack their lips or drool excessively when they feel nauseous.
It is a dog s compulsive behavior which can be distressing for dog.
A study has also linked excessive dog licking with medical especially gastrointestinal disorders so a routine veterinary exam is the best place to start.
Licking can also be a sign of nausea in some dogs.
Before you try to fix the problem it is important to find the underlying cause.
Obsessive compulsive behavior your first concern is to decide whether your four legged friend s couch carpet and bed licking qualifies as an obsessive or compulsive behavior.
Dogs who suffer from els or excessive licking syndrome will not only lick carpets but they will lick all kinds of surfaces.
Some dogs with els will even lick your furniture walls or any other surface in your home they can get to.
Assuming everything checks out you can begin to tackle the problem from a behavioral perspective.
While this may be the case for some canines recent research has suggested that gastrointestinal issues may actually be a major factor in the development of the behavior for many canines.
Indeed when dogs have an upset stomach their instinct is to eat grass so they can induce themselves to vomit but in a domestic setting at home there s no grass to eat so the dog reaches out for the carpet or anything else in reach.
Many dogs lick the occasional carpet but some dogs are such dedicated floor lickers that veterinarians have coined a term excessive licking syndrome for the condition.
Once you know what s wrong you can treat it in an appropriate manner whether that means cleaning the carpet or taking your pup to the vet.
Afflicted dogs don t limit their licking behavior to the floor they may lick virtually any surface in your home including the walls furniture and their own crate.
If your dog is licking abnormal places such as the floors or the walls or if your dog is licking his her lips frequently these can be a signs of gastrointestinal upset.
