Senior Dog Comfort & Care

Constant and repetitive licking can be a symptom of medical issues like pain or allergies. But it can also indicate stress and anxiety! Some anxious dogs will lick themselves so much that they cause open wounds. Paws tend to be the main licking target, considering they’re so easily accessible for your dog. But you may notice that they want to have a lick fest with your hands, face, or even another furry family member.

If your dog licks obsessively due to anxiety or stress, you’ll want to address the underlying cause first. You may need to consider wrapping your dog’s paws or legs with vet wrap or have them wear a cone or shirt so they can’t lick themselves raw. If their licking is more of a habit rather than a displacement behavior for stress, simply interrupt and redirect their licking to something more appropriate than themselves (or you) — a licking mat is perfect for this!