My dog persistently licks the same area (paws, elbows, tail...).

Table of contents

1. Causes of compulsive licking in dogs

2. What happens if my dog licks excessively?

3. My dog constantly licks their paws, tail or genitals.

4. What do I do if my dog licks insistently?

Causes of compulsive licking in dogs

When a dog constantly licks their paws, the base of their tail or any other area of the body, there may be a physical or psychological cause. Sometimes the licking is caused by an itchy or uncomfortable sensation, which may be due to flea infection, fungus, allergies to plants, products or food, pain, muscle or bone injuries, wounds, lack of sensation or other diseases such as mange. A visit to a veterinarian is essential to clarify the cause of the licking and establish the best treatment.

However, the cause could also be behavioural. Dogs with boredom, stress, depression, separation anxiety or lack of stimulation may develop this insistent licking as an obsessive-compulsive symptom. When dogs lick themselves, they generate endorphins that make them feel relaxed and comfortable, so psychological distress may explain why they do it so often. In these cases, it is best to seek the help of an ethologist to find out the source of the behaviour and find a solution. To prevent excessive licking due to psychological causes, it is important to socialise the dog, provide a varied and stimulating lifestyle, ensure that the dog has access to quiet areas to rest, avoid confinement, go for regular walks and get sufficient exercise.

What happens if my dog licks excessively?

Excessive licking can become a vicious circle that is difficult to solve if we do not seek veterinary attention. If the problem starts with physical discomfort such as itching, pain, tightness due to dry skin, etc., the animal will start to lick to relieve themself. Constant licking will cause irritation of the skin and may lead to the development of acral dermatitis or granuloma, a condition more common in large, middle-aged dogs. Areas of dermatitis will cause the dog to lick even more persistently, making the condition worse and worse. In this situation, bacterial infections, furunculosis (hair follicle rupture) or rupture of the apocrine glands may occur.

My dog constantly licks their paws, tail or genitals

Although compulsive licking can occur all over the body, there are areas where it is most prevalent. If your dog is licking excessively and insistently, we recommend that you observe them closely to detect where they are licking, whether lesions have appeared and what could be the cause of the problem with the naked eye (although the final and reliable diagnosis will be made by the vet).

• My dog licks their paws

Constant licking of the limbs is very easy to detect, not only by observing your dog, but also because this is an area with less hair, so it tends to get wet more quickly with saliva. If you notice that your dog's paws are always wet and you often catch them licking and nibbling these parts, check for wounds or splinters. In many cases, dogs lick their paws to get rid of dirt, because they have something embedded, a broken nail or discomfort in their bones or muscles (which you can rule out by carefully moving your pet's paw to see if there is pain).

• My dog licks their genitals

This is a very common behaviour in dogs and is usually not a problem. Dogs lick this part of their body to keep it clean, although it sometimes happens that they accidentally detect that it is pleasurable for them and may repeat the behaviour.

• My dog licks their tail

Most dogs that lick their tails obsessively do so at the base of the tail, also called the maslo. In many cases, this is due to the presence of fleas, so we recommend that you thoroughly check the fur in this area for parasites. If this is confirmed, you should visit your vet for a complete deworming. Occasionally, licking the tail indicates a hypothyroidism problem, but in these cases there is usually generalised itching and the animal is not very active and has a tendency to become obese. In any case, it is essential to visit the vet to find out the causes of excessive tail licking.

What do I do if my dog licks insistently?

When faced with a problem of excessive licking, it is important to react in advance, as this will prevent many complications. If your dog licks too much in one area, don't wait for the situation to resolve itself, as this could cause injury and the cause of the itching or discomfort could worsen.

If your dog exhibits obsessive licking, the first thing to do is to make an appointment with your vet to rule out physical causes. If there aren't, an ethologist will help you look into your pet's lifestyle to determine if there are any deficiencies or other reasons for this compulsive behaviour. In the meantime, we recommend keeping a close eye on your dog (be careful, sometimes they hide to lick themselves) and keeping wounds (if there are any) disinfected. You can also consult your vet about the use of an Elizabethan collar or bandages on specific areas to prevent the dog from ‘scratching’ with their tongue and causing further damage.

Excessive licking in dogs is not a natural behaviour and shows us that there is an underlying problem that needs to be addressed. Don't let it go and seek attention so that your dog feels better very soon.