Help My Dogs Being Weird!

[Silivren]

So my dog is being really weird.. She isnt sick but is constantly licking the bed covers, the carpet, the couch(I stop her anytime I catch her doing it).. Anything she can really - does anyone else have a dog that does this or knows why she may be doing this? Im afraid its going to make her sick.

[Vephriel]

As always, the first thing you should do is consult a vet, not a forum where we have no personal knowledge of your dog. Excessive licking can be any number of things, from boredom, anxiety, OCD, allergies, mineral deficiency...the list just goes on. It's impossible to say, so I'd suggest just going straight to a vet if you're concerned.

[Silivren]

Well she just started it yesterday and she hasnt in the past. I've heard of OCD and plan to call my vet on it tomorrow, I was simply wondering if anyone elses pet has exhibited this behaviour. I wasnt aware it could be mineral deficiency.

[Lotusii]

I had a dog that did it, I took him to the vet and they found nothing wrong with him, he needed to go in for his shots anyway so it worked out. I don't think there is anything wrong, sometimes they just like licking things like how my cat likes to lick plastic bags and venetian blinds.

If it bothers you that much just stop her when she does it and switch to all pet friendly cleaning stuff. If she's acting weird in other ways in addition to this then get her checked out, but hopefully it's nothing.

Edited to fix an error and to not sound quite so dismissive. I hope she's just being weird and isn't sick. Also fixed again for calling her a "him"

[Silivren]

She isnt really, shes herself.. She threw up once yesterday after she ate too fast but she will if she does that and scarfs her food... She was a stray so she sees to feel like every meal is her last. We do have pet friendly cleaning supplies we use but other than that shes perfectly normal and her always ever needy self.

[zedxrgal]

Usually when an animal licks something it's simply because they like the smell of whatever it is. Same thing as a dog rolling in a carcass. To us it's fowl, to them yummy perfume. I would just keep an eye on her and see if it becomes obsessive or truly unhealthy. Yes it can be anything but this is my first guess.

And use this:

Slow down doggie dish. My vet recommends these as does all the dog rescues I know to help slow them down so they don't regurgitate their food from eating to fast which can make an animal sicker and /or not want to eat. Odd I know. Obviously you can get the bowl online for cheap or just go into a local pet store. I got mine at PetCo.

Good luck.

[Mozag]

Also, eating too fast can cause gastric torsion (unless reacted to IMMEDIATELY usually fatal), in dogs, especially the larger variety, so really DO get one of those slow down dishes Zed suggested (or, alternatively put a tennis ball in the dog's food bowl, which will force her to eat slower.

[Silivren]

Thanks guys, I'll look into that dish - My bigger dog whos close to 60-70 pounds eats from a raised dish because shes so big and she tends to wanna eat laying down. Our vet told us that isnt healthy and can tie up her intenstines I think so we make sure she never eats from the floor since shes so big. How exactly does that bowl work? Do the grooves make it to where shes forced to eat slower?

[zedxrgal]

The little dividers create a small barrier so the dog cannot just shovel food in and forces them to slow down the over all intake and in turn makes them chew also instead of swallowing foot whole.
Very good investment if you have a dog like mine. I figure the $8 dog dish is much better then a $1500 vet visit or worse my dog passing of bloat.

[Tsiya]

My Cane Corso licks sometimes, drives me nuts. Hubby and I both have long hair now, and we've noticed a few days after he licks he'll have a "bead" poop where it's all strung on a long hair...might just be a hair caught in her throat or teeth, like when you get a hair in your mouth and can't seem to get it out.

[Acherontia]

I totally should not have come in here to read the last comment while eating pasta.

Anyway, I wouldn't personally take a risk here--poison (accidental or otherwise) can manifest in strange ways. At the very least call the vet, imo. Any time a dog has a sudden change in behavior, call the vet.

[Tsiya]

I'm sooo sorry Acherontia! Agreed, always check with the vet first. And watch all bodily functions, 'cause that's something the vet will ask.

[Acherontia]

Oh God don't worry, was my own fault--this forum is about animals, and medical issues too... It's my fault like if I go watch South Park while eating