Due to their absence of hands, licking surfaces is one of the major ways dogs explore and interact with the world. This is why, as weird and icky as it might look to us humans, a dog licking the floor is a dog exhibiting normal behavior.
But what if the licking won’t stop? What if your pooch has taken to having prolonged make-out sessions with the rug, the ceramic tiles, the hardwood flooring?
Read on as we discuss why dogs lick floors and how you can prevent the excess of this behavior!
When floor licking is normal
As long as your dog’s tongue hasn’t developed an obsessive relationship with the floor, floor licking is no big deal. The truth is, most dogs lick floors for mundane reasons.
So what does your dog’s licking mean?
They want a taste of the yum-yum
Whether or not you once spilled food on the floor, there may be food particles lying on various surfaces in your home. These traces of food may be invisible to the human eye, but to the canine’s powerful sense of smell, they’re invitations to a treat. If you catch your dog licking the floor suddenly, they’re likely trying to get a taste of something that smells delicious.
They’re marking territory
Dogs leave their scent in an area to mark it as their territory. Usually, they achieve this by peeing on something in said area. However, it’s possible dogs also mark a spot as theirs by licking its surface. So if you catch your dog licking the section of the floor on which they typically sleep, they’re likely leaving behind a message saying, “This place is mine. Stay out of it, would-be intruders!”
They’re cleaning their spot
Maybe your dog is just licking the floor clean. Dogs are naturally clean animals; if they’re going to sleep on their favorite spot, they’re going to make sure it’s dirt-free.
They’re trying to relax
The act of licking is known to release stress-relieving hormones in the canine body, so your dog may be licking the floor because it relaxes them. This is another reason why a dog licks the spot on the floor they’re lying down on – they’re making themselves comfortable in preparation for a good, well-deserved nap.
They’re exploring
It’s possible the ground’s texture fascinates your dog and they want to know more about it. Maybe they’re even trying to determine if the carpet or flooring is edible. At any rate, expect your dog to stop the behavior once they’ve satisfied their curiosity.
ELS: when licking becomes excessive
The occasional floor lick shouldn’t be a cause for alarm. However, if the licking is extreme, then your dog may have what veterinarians call “excessive licking of surfaces,” or ELS for short.
ELS compels a dog to lick surfaces extremely often, for ridiculous amounts of time, with great gusto, or any combination of the three. They may lick the floor as well as the couch, your bed, themselves, and more. They may also lick the same spot repeatedly.
A dog with ELS doesn’t lick surfaces for any of the normal reasons described in the above section. In fact, the habit may be caused by underlying medical conditions or behavioral issues, as you’ll see below.
Pica
If you catch your dog trying to rip up and chew the carpet fibers, they may have a compulsive disorder known as pica.
The National Eating Disorders Association defines pica as “an eating disorder that involves eating items that are not typically thought of as food and that do not contain significant nutritional value, such as hair, dirt, and paint chips.”
Pica is associated with many health issues, including nutritional deficiencies, anemia, hormonal imbalances, anxiety, and stress.
Neurological disorders
A neurological disorder affects the brain and the nervous system, which explains why a dog suffering from it may start displaying odd, potentially dangerous behavior.
Brain tumors, seizures, and a condition known as hydrocephalus, which is the buildup of fluid inside the brain, are all neurological disorders that may cause bizarre, compulsive behaviors including but not limited to the licking of floors.
Senior dogs that are experiencing a cognitive decline due to their aging brain may also obsessively lick the floor and other unusual surfaces. Canine cognitive decline (CCD) is to dogs what dementia is to humans.
Compulsive disorders
Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a type of neurobiological problem that can occur in humans as well as dogs.
As stated by the American Kennel Club, canine compulsive disorder, or CCD, is “identified by normal dog behaviors that are performed in such an extreme, repetitive way that they are difficult for the dog to stop and can interfere with the dog’s ability to function.”
A dog constantly licking the floor is therefore exhibiting a key symptom of this issue. Other behaviors you may witness include excessive spinning, pacing, tail-chasing, and barking.
CCD is linked to anxiety and stress (more on this below). It also has a genetic component, as certain breeds are more likely to develop the disorder than others.
Gastrointestinal problems
If your dog obsessively licks the floor, they may be having stomach problems.
Researchers at the University of Montreal studied 19 dogs with ELS. 14 of the subjects were discovered to have gastrointestinal issues such as irritable bowel syndrome, intestinal parasites, an inflamed pancreas, and delayed gastric emptying.
It was also found that treating these issues significantly improved the compulsive habits of most of these dogs.
The discomfort caused by gastrointestinal abnormalities is known to cause strange and/or destructive behaviors in dogs, so it’s no surprise a dog’s stomach upset may trigger excessive licking.
Oral concerns
Any disease or infection affecting the mouth, teeth, or gums may result in ELS.
Infected cavities, gum disease, fractured or loose teeth, mouth ulcers, mouth tumors, and oral injuries can cause a dog pain. Getting something stuck between the teeth, such as a piece of stick or bone, can also result in distress.
Because of their discomfort, the poor pooch may start drooling excessively, pawing at their mouth, and engaging in excessive licking behaviors. A foul-smelling mouth and chewing difficulties are also symptoms of oral problems.
Anxiety and/or stress
Poor mental health is behind many unusual, destructive canine behaviors, such as chewing the remote control, peeing on the rug, and excessively licking inedible surfaces.
As mentioned previously, licking releases stress-relieving hormones, specifically endorphins, in the dog’s body. So if you see a fearful, anxious dog licking the floor obsessively, it’s likely a sign they’re trying to soothe themselves.
If your dog has separation anxiety, they may also resort to excessive licking whenever you or anyone else they love leaves the house.
Anxiety and stress can be triggered by something as simple as getting startled by a loud noise. Your own actions may also have an adverse effect on your pet. So if you’ve started spending additional time away from home, moved the entire family into a new environment, or recently introduced a new pet or human into the household, don’t be surprised if your dog starts licking the ground.
Such mental health problems can result from a history of neglect and/or abuse. A rescue dog that has a tendency towards weird, repetitive behaviors may have once shared a home with a cruel human.
Boredom
As licking can bring about positive feelings in a dog, it’s possible a bored dog licks the floor to entertain themselves.
It’s also possible their need to release all that pent-up energy triggers such repetitive, compulsive behaviors. Have your high-energy dogs been cooped up all day? They might just start French-kissing the tiling!
Like anxiety and stress, the lack of mental and physical stimulation can make your pooch do odd things – obsessive licking being one of them. It’s for this reason regular exercise and training are necessities in every dog’s life.
The dangers of excessive licking
Any dog licking the floor excessively exposes themselves to many possible dangers.
A dog, for instance, may inadvertently swallow something they can’t digest, such as a piece of plastic or metal. This can cause an intestinal obstruction, which can be fatal if not treated immediately. Even carpet fibers can accumulate in the stomach to cause such a blockage.
Alternatively, a non-food item can get stuck in the throat and choke poor doggo.
Your pooch may also gobble up any edibles you accidentally dropped on the floor. If this is chocolate, a grape, or anything else that’s toxic to canines, your dog’s health will suffer.
Additionally, your dog may unwittingly ingest any harmful chemicals, such as pesticides, on the floor.
What to do if your dog licks the floor nonstop
If you observe your dog licking the floor suddenly, check if anyone has spilled food or water onto the spot they’re currently obsessed with. Once you establish that there are, in fact, traces of flavor on the floor, simply tell your dog to stop (a well-trained dog should obey your command without issue), then distract them with a squeaky toy or some other novelty so they don’t resume their floor licking behavior. Mop the floor clean.
Is your dog licking the floor constantly? Are they displaying other repetitive, uncharacteristic behaviors? Have you noticed any sudden, unexplained changes in behavior and/or other symptoms of more serious health issues? If your answer to any of the above is “Yes,” then the licking is a symptom of a bigger problem. A vet visit is in order.
Through diagnostic testing, a vet will thoroughly examine your dog for any underlying medical problem that may be triggering the oddball licking. Depending on the severity of your pet’s health concerns, the vet may perform one or more procedures and prescribe proper medication to treat any immediate distress. They’ll also develop a treatment plan to restore your dog to health and prevent further floor licking.
If pica or a behavioral disorder is identified in your dog, you’ll likely be referred to an animal behaviorist. Training can undo ELS behaviors and other undesirable habits resulting from compulsive disorders, poor mental health, and the like.
Preventing floor licking
Dogs licking floors is a reality many pet parents will face.
Keep in mind that dogs that suddenly start licking the floor are most probably just engaging in regular doggy behavior. To ensure it doesn’t turn into a bad habit, however, you should take steps to keep your dog healthy and happy.
Medical checkups
Bring your dog to the vet at least once a year for a health checkup. This will prevent the occurrence of serious medical issues and nip newly developing ones in the bud. If you notice your dog licking the floor obsessively in addition to other sudden, unusual symptoms, seek veterinary advice immediately – or better yet, bring your pet to the clinic.
Proper nutrition
Your dog needs a balanced, nutritious diet to stave off the health problems that can generate ELS behavior and other, more serious side effects. Your vet can recommend the ideal food for your pet using their age, breed, and other factors as a basis.
If your dog is suffering from some sort of health condition, there’s a specific type of food that can help treat said condition. For example, anxious dogs will benefit from dog food specifically developed to make them feel calmer.
Training
Training is known to develop the canine-human bond, which strengthens your dog’s sense of security around you. Confident dogs that trust their humans experience reduced anxiety and are thus less likely to become obsessive floor lickers.
In addition, regular training and practice sessions stimulate the dog’s mind, keeping them from getting bored enough to lick the floor and other surfaces.
Of course, training will also teach your doggo to obey your command, so that the next time you catch them doing something undesirable, you can simply tell them to stop.
Crate training can also help. With time and proper technique, you can train your dog into feeling the crate is a safe space they can crawl into whenever they’re not in the best of moods. So whenever loud noises frighten them, they’ll retreat into their den instead of chewing the couch or licking the floor.
Early crate training can even help prevent separation anxiety.
Avoid using harsh punishments when training your dog as they can harm their mental health. Stick to positive reinforcement.
Exercise and entertainment
Regular exercise has many proven benefits. In addition to keeping your dog’s body healthy and strong, it stimulates their mind to prevent boredom and related behavioral issues.
Daily walks and games such as fetch and frisbee are essential. You should also have them enjoy new activities to introduce variety into their life. So explore nature together. Go swimming at the beach. Enroll your dog in advanced obedience classes and take them to a pet-friendly park to meet other dogs.
Love and affection
Last but not least, ensure you do everything to make your dog feel loved. Give them a good belly rub every once in a while. Let them cuddle with you on the sofa. Reward their good behavior with treats and praises. Never punish unwanted behavior by shouting at or physically hurting them.
Conclusion
Does your dog lick the floor? If your dog isn’t doing it excessively, there’s most probably no cause for alarm.
But if your pet is exhibiting compulsive behavior and other signs of trouble, seek help immediately; the successful management of an underlying illness or behavioral issue depends on prompt treatment.