Dog developing a 'licking' habit?!

Lynxette

I have never known a dog do this before - Any advice would be much appreciated!

We have a 15 month old lurcher x collie b!tch who has developed a strange habit of licking anything. I came home to other day to find her licking the newspaper (she had managed to lick a hole almost right the way through it - Obviously been at it a while!) and as we speak I can hear her licking her plastic dog bed. Other interesting 'licks' have been the carpet (a regular favourite, slowing making her way from one wall to another, much like a cow grazing!) the side of the gas fire, the sofa, the wicker chairs in the conversatory... The list goes on!

This habit has only recently developed seriously in the last fortnight or so - We were told by previous owners that she was due in season in march, although we've had no sign of it - She is not yet spayed.

(Change of place! We're now under the nesting tables, licking the WALL???!!!!!)

In the last few days she has also almost totally gone off her food - She's down to eating about 1/2 her normal meal every sitting (twice a day)

Does anyone have any ideas?!

frugallass

it could be any number of things but I would take doggy to the vet so they can check all the usuals and rule some things out.

Have you tried distracting doggy with something else to chew on, our westie has one of those kong toys and you can squirt stuff inside it (something your dog will like), doggy will concentrate on that rather than the furniture.

Is she left home alone? She might be lonely or bored, try leaving the radio on and rotate toys on a daily basis for a bit of variation.

Lynxette

frugallass wrote: »

it could be any number of things but I would take doggy to the vet so they can check all the usuals and rule some things out.

Have you tried distracting doggy with something else to chew on, our westie has one of those kong toys and you can squirt stuff inside it (something your dog will like), doggy will concentrate on that rather than the furniture.

Is she left home alone? She might be lonely or bored, try leaving the radio on and rotate toys on a daily basis for a bit of variation.

As guilty as I do feel, we cannot afford vets fees - We don't fall within any PDSA catchment areas either.

She's not easily distracted at all - We have various treats and toys for her, but no matter what we try, she either rips it up within a few days (in some cases hours!) or looses interest.

She is left home alone, but we have a whole separate other set of problems with that - It seems that the licking most often occurs when we are home. (My neighbour says she howls literally non-stop from about 3 minutes after we shut the door until she hears a car pull up! Can only do one thing with a mouth at one time. xD)

pboae

She sounds like a very anxious and insecure dog. Lots of dogs lick as a comfort thing, but she is doing it to excess. She's obviously suffering terrible seperation anxiety too. It's also possible she is having a phantom pregnancy, or has a deficiency of some sort and that is making her crave things to lick.

Really, she needs to see a vet. If she is licking plastic and carpet to that extent, she is going to end up with a blockage. It's worrying that she is off her food already.

How do you plan to manage long term if you can't afford vet fees? What steps have you taken to address her seperation anxiety?

I appreciate that this probably isn't what you want to hear, but I guess she hasn't been with you so long if she's not had a season yet. Maybe you need to think about whether you are the best home for her.

Lynxette

My pay rise comes in next month, and I already have the money earmarked to get her some pet insurance - It's just the wait till this month is up now!

We were always aware that she was an anxious dog; She is ex-rescue, and we were warned of this. My mother is retired through illness and so is home most of the day every day to keep her company, but refuses to have 'her life lead by not being able to leave the dog alone', and will go out two or three times a week to go to the shops or whatever. Other than this, she has regular company at home so I am not concerned about this particularly.

We are trying various methods to tackle her anxiety, but as yet nothing appears to be working (although we have discovered that if she is left the run of the house alone instead of being confined to one room, she destroys nothing and merely howls. Little steps are still good steps)

frugallass

well as long as she is getting lots of exercise and stimulation and has a healthy diet then I wouldn't worry too much - are you feeding her the same as the previous owners?

Maybe she has some mineral deficiency (my dog sometimes chews the ends of cables and zips).

Why not try ringing the vet - if they tell you to bring her in just say that you work full-time and have a long commute every day

Lynxette

She is walked at least 4 times a day - Twice by my father and we share the other 2 walks depending on how mother is feeling! No worries there!

We have been attempting to feed her on the rescue homes 'recommended' feeding (Tesco Value dry biscuits mixed with meat in gravy dog food) Normally she is happy with this but often goes off food for a day or two, seeming to thrive on variety and sulking when she doesn't get it! Not too concerned at the moment - As long as she eats something I'll been a little happier.

Good idea about the vets - May try it!

pboae

If you ring the vet, it will be classed as a pre-existing condition and you won't be able to claim for it later.

Really, the only thing you can do right now is physically stop her from licking when you are there. I know you say you have tried to distract her before, but there must be something. Just giving her a toy or chew probably won't be sufficient, she'll want you attention as well, so maybe a game of tug, or do some training with her. Would you Mum be willing to help you with this? As with any behaviour, the more consistent you can be, the more effective the training will be.

Have you tried clicker training at all? That's a great way to teach them games to help keep them entertained.

Worse case scenario, you could muzzle her for a while, a basket muzzle will stop the licking, but if you don't find something else to occupy her with she will just find an alternative comfort behaviour, and it could be something even more difficult to break. Obviously, she should never be left muzzled unattended, but as you say she doesn't do it while you are out that shouldn't be a problem.

But really, you need to get to the bottom of what is causing her anxiety, or you will be left dealing with one displacement activity after another.

Lynxette

Thankyou, Pboae; Your advice is really welcome!

We do feel that slowly, we are cracking the anxiety. She is far more secure now that she has ever been - She no longer howls the house down at night, and is happy to be alone and not on your lap (a lurcher x collie does NOT make a good lap dog!) all the time!

We have looked into training but have very little idea where to start - It also doesn't help that my father doesn't beleive that dogs should be trained and should be allowed to 'behave naturally', and thus any outdoor training we attempt to do (Such as walking to heel or recall) isn't supported on his walks!

quidsin

Just done a search, these may help!!! http://www.advicedogtraining.com/dog-training/article.php?id=54
From what you've said if she's due a season and has just started licking it may be her motherly instincts kicking in and wanting everything clean.

Nicifer_noonoo

I know nothing about dogs, and this could be totally irrelevant but...

could she be thirsty? Just a thought