totally NBR: ugh my dog won't stop licking

Chandley · January 2012

y'all it is getting out of control.

he is constantly licking his back right foot. i checked it out and it is fine, so cut/infection. he is on a super restricted diet thanks to his stomach so it shouldn't be a food allergy (same food for the past year). how on earth do i get him to stop licking his foot? the smacking is kinda grossing me out - and i don't want him to lick it raw. (ew).

is there something safe i can put or smear or spray on his foot to make him stop and that tastes gross to him but won't harm him? how do i get him to stop???

carlinlp · January 2012

Our dog used to do that *constantly* and it drove me up the wall crazy. I read on a friends blog that licking feet sometimes means they are lonely. Not long after that we got a 2nd dog and sure enough, no more feet licking. Weird, but true.

jml5q · January 2012

don't you have a Boston? Ours does that all the time and it drives me crazy too, usually because he does it on the couch and leaves a wet spot. Maybe its the bread??

Leigha12 · January 2012

Could be a sign of contact allergies. My pup gets like this when cedar gets bad. Benadryl typically helps.

MrsMillerTime · January 2012

Our dog does that when his nails get too long...they're either too long and he's trying to bite them off and/or he's cleaning all the crap out that gets stuck under them.

angelaggie · January 2012

You can put gold bond powder on it. Dogs hate the taste and it will help keep from getting a hot spot. My parents have to do it to their corgi. That dog has some obsession with her foot.

Taytee · January 2012

I used to have a dog that would do that constantly! I have no advice but I know how irritating it can be. He was allowed on the couch where watched TV and when he wouldn't stop, I'd rather go read in my room than hear that sound.

mrs.wildman · January 2012

jml5q:
don't you have a Boston? Ours does that all the time and it drives me crazy too, usually because he does it on the couch and leaves a wet spot. Maybe its the bread??

My dogs do this too, in addition to licking their feet, they like to groom each othe - specifically lick each other's ears. Grosses me out to no end. Especially when they're on the couch or under my covers on the bed. I can't tell you how many times I got into bed and there was a wet spot that I thought was pee and I strip the sheets to discover that it's just dog spit (equally gross). BLECH.

NoeliaV · January 2012

Have you tried bitter apple/lime?
We have a liquid band-aid spray for our pup that we got from PetSmart (yellow label; don't remember brand) that tastes so nasty. I spray it on her bed when she's chewing it and won't listen to "leave it." Works better than the bitter apple, actually...