She has also recently branched out into the field of medical communications, doing freelance work as a medical editor and writer. She has experience working as a small animal veterinarian in general practice, where she has treated many dogs, cats, rabbits, and rodents. Diana Hasler graduated with distinction from the University of Edinburgh Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies in 2018. If no obvious cause of excessive licking is detected, the vet may wish to do a pain relief medication trial with drugs such as tramadol or gabapentin, or they may recommend referral for more advanced imaging techniques such as MRI or CT.ĭr. Their vet will obtain a thorough clinical history and perform a physical examination to look for evidence of injuries, infection, orthopedic issues, skin conditions, neurological disorders, systemic diseases, and possible behavioral problems.ĭepending on these findings, they may perform diagnostic tests such as blood and urine tests, skin investigations, and imaging such as X-rays. The first step is to determine whether the dog has any underlying medical conditions. While it may require you to learn how to calm a dog down, because there are numerous causes of excessive licking in dogs, there is a wide range of potential management and treatment approaches. In order to stop a dog from licking excessively, the root cause must first be identified. In addition to anxiety in dogs (including separation anxiety), other behavioral conditions can cause excessive licking or other repetitive behaviors in dogs, including canine compulsive disorder (also sometimes referred to as OCD in dogs, which is similar to OCD in humans), canine dysfunctional behavior (similar to autism spectrum disorder in humans - see our guide to ' can dogs be autistic?' for more information - and canine cognitive disorder, or “doggie dementia." Diagnosing excessive licking in dogs If this behavior isn’t addressed promptly, this licking can lead to medical issues like inflamed or infected skin and acral lick dermatitis. When dogs become anxious, bored, or stressed, they may perform repetitive behaviors such as licking to calm themselves down or entertain themselves. Yes-excessive licking can be indicative of anxiety in dogs. (Image credit: Getty Images) Is excessive licking a sign of anxiety in dogs?
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