Dogs lick for all kinds of reasons. They use taste as a powerful method of interpreting the world around them. A tiny lick here and there helps them know where you have been, where they might be going, and other things, so they can interpret their situation.
Although this licking can be irritating sometimes, it is often a healthy behavior. Small licks are usual for a dog. Excessive licking of any kind frequently comes down to a lack of training, stress-related behavior, compulsive behavior, or some kind of health issue.
Sometimes, the location that they choose to lick can help you determine what is going on with them. We have a list of reasons that your dog might excessively lick the floor, the floorboards, and the walls, and when to take it seriously.
Why Does My Dog Lick the Floor?
Dogs have plenty of natural behaviors that are sometimes difficult for us to understand. One of these is their tendency to lick all over the place. If you have noticed this going on for a while and wondered why they might be doing it, there are several main reasons.
Why Dogs Lick the Floor
1. Hunting for Food
One of the most common reasons that dogs lick the floor throughout the day is to pick up the tastes left behind by dropped food. If you typically walk around and eat, you may drop crumbs while you go. Dogs are quick studies and will know to follow behind you, licking up your trail.
2. Funky Smells
A dog’s sense of smell is their greatest ally when it comes to interpreting the world. It tells them so many more things than our sense of smell does. It is difficult even to imagine what they can pick up just by sniffing around them.
The information that they can gather through smell is quickly enhanced when they add in taste. That is why you will often see your dog sniff something intently, only to follow up by licking it, no matter what it is. If they smell something different around your home, they will likely give it a good lick to help them figure it out.
Sudden Licking
When a dog begins to lick at the walls and floor suddenly, it can be a sign of an underlying issue instead of a normal behavior. If you notice them doing something intently for a long time, especially obsessively, it is a good idea to take them to see your veterinarian.
3. Gastrointestinal Disorder
Gastrointestinal problems are often associated with when dogs begin excessively licking the floors. Another sign can be when they rub their cheeks against the walls hard and for a long time. They might be trying to self-soothe because of nausea or gastrointestinal discomfort.
4. ELS (Excessive Licking of Surfaces)
Excessive licking of surfaces (ELS) is when a dog repeatedly licks floors, walls, furniture, or other surfaces more than they normally would for exploration. ELS has been associated with gastrointestinal disorders in some dogs, although anxiety, stress, compulsive disorders, and other medical conditions may also contribute to the behavior.
If your dog’s licking suddenly becomes excessive or happens frequently, it is important to take them to the veterinarian to help determine whether a medical or behavioral issue could be causing it. The underlying cause can range from mild to more serious conditions.
Potential GI abnormalities that could manifest in ELS include:
- Lymphoplasmacytic inflammation of the GI tract
- Constipation
- Chronic pancreatitis
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Giardiasis
- Gastric foreign body
ELS is often associated with discomfort, nausea, stress, or anxiety that the dog may be experiencing. Addressing the underlying cause is the best way to help them feel more comfortable, but until their signs begin to improve, you can also help keep them calm and relaxed.
How to Stop Dogs From Licking the Floor
Depending on the reason that your dog licks the floor, you might be able to prevent them from doing it. This is likely best for your home’s maintained health and cleanliness and the people who live in it.
Take Them to the Vet
Whenever you notice an abnormal change in your pet’s behavior, it is always best to start by taking them to the vet. It is almost always more effective to treat a health issue if you catch it sooner rather than later.
Perhaps your dog only licks the floor infrequently or follows behind you as you eat. You won’t have to worry about taking them to the vet in this case. If you notice excessive licking quite frequently, though, it is best to get them checked out.
Keep the Floor Clean
Your next option is to keep your floors clean if you have taken your dog to the vet and found out that they are in good health. Clean the floors with a pet-safe cleaner frequently to limit the number of things that your dog can smell, so they may be less likely to try to lick them.
Another way to limit your dog’s licking on the floor is to stop eating anywhere but at the table or in certain areas. Don’t eat while you walk around, or you could end up encouraging your dog to lick up the crumbs after you.
Distract Them
Some dogs lick the floor out of anxiety or boredom. Both of these can sometimes be helped by distracting them or limiting the thing that causes them anxiety.
If you notice that they get anxious when you leave for long periods, consider having someone come over and check on them in the middle of long workdays, or try to visit more often over your lunch break if you live close enough.
Is your dog bored and just needs a distraction? Each time you catch them licking the floor, give them a toy to play with and distract them from this behavior. Redirecting it each time may help your dog learn to focus their boredom toward their toys and other healthier things than the floor.
Exercise Them More Often
A bored dog is frequently in need of more exercise. If you have a high-energy dog, they will frequently take it out on you or the home by licking things or destroying them.
Exercise is an important part of managing most behavioral issues in pups. If you don’t take them out on walks, runs, hikes, and swims, or to the dog park enough, they may end up redirecting this energy into behaviors such as excessive licking or destructive behavior.
In Summary: Why Do Dogs Lick The Floor
Whether it is from boredom or a gastrointestinal disorder, licking the floor is a common behavior and can sometimes be curbed. Dogs can’t communicate with us verbally, even though they might try sometimes. Instead, their behaviors can provide clues about their health and how they feel. It is our job as their owners to help interpret these behaviors and keep them healthy.
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Featured Image By: avishag shuva, Shutterstock
Why Does My Dog Lick the Floor?
