Dog Won't Stop Licking & Eating Things

Plenty of dogs like to give a kiss here and there, and may even try to eat something they shouldn't. When your dog makes a consistent habit out of licking and eating inappropriate things, though, it generally indicates some kind of problem. It could be behavioral, or it could be symptomatic of a health problem -- in either case, you need to pay attention, seek treatment and help him overcome whatever is motivating the behavior.

  1. The Pica Problem

    • When a dog regularly eats things other than food, he has a condition known as pica. Pica is generally a behavioral condition, and may be either a response to stress and anxiety or a plea for attention from humans. Talking to your veterinarian or an animal behaviorist can help you identify the cause of your dog's inappropriate eating habits, determining what triggers the behavior so that you can address the cause, and not the symptom. It could even be as simple as your dog not getting enough nutrition from his diet, motivating him to look for alternatives on his own.

    Obsessive Licking

    • Dogs who can't stop licking -- either themselves or anything else -- may also be suffering from behavioral problems. Their incessant, compulsive licking may be caused by boredom or stress, especially if the dog only engages in the behavior during stressful moments, like periods of separation anxiety. What starts out as a simple habit can develop into a full-blown obsessive-compulsion, causing your dog to engage in his licking around the clock as a form of self-comforting.

    Licking Himself

    • While most unusual dog behaviors merit a trip to the vet -- to rule out neurological or hormonal problems -- this is especially true of self-licking. If your dog's obsessive licking is targeted toward himself more than anything else, it could indicate any number of problems, like parasitic infection, dry skin, allergies or hormonal imbalance. If any of these are the case, he needs treatment for the cause, which can alleviate his motivation to lick himself so much.

    Adjusting and Learning

    • If your dog's behavior isn't motivated by any physical conditions and is strictly psychological, an animal behaviorist can help you find effective ways of eliminating his desire to eat and lick inappropriate things. If his behavior is motivated by obsessive-compulsion or anxiety, it may take consistent relaxing and calming rituals to help him settle down and not feel compelled to lick. Sometimes this is as simple as getting your dog more exercise and spending more playtime together, while at other times it may require advanced professional care, like massage.