Why Do Dogs Lick The Floor And Furniture

A few reasons why your dog might be bored include lack of physical or mental stimulation.

Why do dogs lick the floor and furniture.

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. Dogs that are regularly bored can develop bad habits such as licking furniture and other items excessively. Unless you just dropped food there s no normal reason why a dog should regularly lick the carpet or furniture. 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.

Dogs who suffer from els or excessive licking syndrome will not only lick. There are some dogs who are such dedicated floor lickers that vets have actually coined a term to refer to the problem. If not much is going on around the dog he may be licking to provide himself with an activity or stimulation. Canine cognitive dysfunction which is basically dementia in dogs and other neurological problems also cause obsessive and compulsive licking as can other illnesses.

Excessive licking furniture most often occurs when your dog is relaxed or even bored. In some cases a dog will lick obsessively simply because they re 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. Why do dogs lick the carpet and the couch.

Petmd says this is a condition where dogs crave and eat non food items. Once it becomes obsessive your pooch s floor licking is considered a stereotypy. Which is good for him but not great for your soft furnishings. 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.

If your dog starts to lick the furniture a lot it may be that he s stressed or nervous. The sensation of licking soft fabric may help him cope and alleviate his feelings by keeping him otherwise occupied. Some dogs chew up shoes and furniture and you ll find some dogs licking carpet or other areas.