Dogs lick themselves and others for many reasons. This article explains many of the common reasons as well as issues that need medical attention.
A lot of people wonder why dogs lick, so here are the answers.
The first reason is that it is an instinctual survival trait. Dogs use their mouth as a major communication tool and licking is an extension of this. Dogs learn that by licking they can find out what things are, they will lock rocks, humans and just about anything so they can catalogue what things are using this sense.
Dogs also lick themselves and others to help cleaning. You will often see a dog lick its paws before it runs them over its head.
Dogs also tend to lick each other and humans as a bonding experience because it is pleasurable and friendly. A dog is really putting itself out there when it shows its tongue.
Another reason that puppys lick is associated to their wolf origins. Licking the mothers face on return from the hunt encourages her to bring up food for them to eat.
Problems or excessive licking issues
Dogs can also over lick. Constant licking, like any obsessive action can signal a sickness that needs treatment. The most common compulsive licking is to remove debris from their hair or to satisfy an itch. If there is no obvious matter on their hair it is likely that they have either a localised itch or an allergy itch. Yearly many grasses can trigger a strong allergic reaction in dogs that makes their skin very itchy. Treatment of this type of itch can be by steroids, soothing vegetable lotions, anti histamines or long term use of Omega 3 oils. A treatment plan is best discussed with your dog health professional.
Poodle breeds are often susceptible to this form of allergy and its tell tale sign is a discolouration of the hair where it has excessively licked to relieve the itch.Another surface itch can be caused by grass seeds entering the dogs paw, belly or anywhere else it has scrubberf itself. These intrusions can be very serious as they often do not resolve themselves. The seeds are often known to burrow under the skin and travel deeper into the body potentially causing severe health issues.
other dog info sites to review: dog 1. love the pic and the breed?
and a shout out to random dog rescues
A lot of people wonder why dogs lick, so here are the answers.
The first reason is that it is an instinctual survival trait. Dogs use their mouth as a major communication tool and licking is an extension of this. Dogs learn that by licking they can find out what things are, they will lock rocks, humans and just about anything so they can catalogue what things are using this sense.
Dogs also lick themselves and others to help cleaning. You will often see a dog lick its paws before it runs them over its head.
Dogs also tend to lick each other and humans as a bonding experience because it is pleasurable and friendly. A dog is really putting itself out there when it shows its tongue.
Another reason that puppys lick is associated to their wolf origins. Licking the mothers face on return from the hunt encourages her to bring up food for them to eat.
Problems or excessive licking issues
Dogs can also over lick. Constant licking, like any obsessive action can signal a sickness that needs treatment. The most common compulsive licking is to remove debris from their hair or to satisfy an itch. If there is no obvious matter on their hair it is likely that they have either a localised itch or an allergy itch. Yearly many grasses can trigger a strong allergic reaction in dogs that makes their skin very itchy. Treatment of this type of itch can be by steroids, soothing vegetable lotions, anti histamines or long term use of Omega 3 oils. A treatment plan is best discussed with your dog health professional.
Poodle breeds are often susceptible to this form of allergy and its tell tale sign is a discolouration of the hair where it has excessively licked to relieve the itch.Another surface itch can be caused by grass seeds entering the dogs paw, belly or anywhere else it has scrubberf itself. These intrusions can be very serious as they often do not resolve themselves. The seeds are often known to burrow under the skin and travel deeper into the body potentially causing severe health issues.
other dog info sites to review: dog 1. love the pic and the breed?
and a shout out to random dog rescues