Guest Fluffy Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 I just caught a sleepy Badger curled up on the beanbag and repeatedly licking one hock. I hadn't been paying attention to him, and when in the back of my mind I realized that the licking noise had been going on for an awfully long time, I turned around to check him and found he had licked his hock raw! This isn't the first time he's done this, always on a leg but in different legs and different spots. It only seems to happen around bedtime, and he doesn't seem to be doing it out of any need to sooth his skin or scratch an itch so much as...trance? Comfort? It's like he's in the licking zone, mindlessly doing it, and not realizing that he's doing any damage. When I notice and stop him, he's always willing to be redirected, and once I snap him out of it he seems to forget that he was licking the area at all. The areas he licked open have never been too serious, and always healed without incident after a few days. My first thought is that this doesn't seem like allergies. I've seen him itch, and it usually involves teeth and furious licking, not this calm, trance-y half-hour repetitive motion. He's also on Taste of the Wild, which is grain free, for what that's worth in ruling out food allergies. But heck, he's my first dog and I don't know ** is going on half the time, so all opinions are welcome. Does this seem likely to be allergy licking? Just a self-soothing habit he's taking a bit too far? Or something else entirely? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarabz Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 Ooh! So glad you asked this! I've been noticing Bella starting to do the same thing - not to the point of licking an area raw, but if I interrupt her, she'll kind of roll her eyes up at me, tongue still hanging out with sort of a "what, mom?" look? Gotta get a picture of that one day! Quote Dave (GLS DeviousDavid) - 6/27/18 Gracie (AMF Saying Grace) - 10/21/12 Bella (KT Britta) - 4/29/05 to 2/13/20 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KF_in_Georgia Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 (edited) It could be allergies that make the licking start, but it will feel more soothing the longer it goes on. (As I type this, Sam is licking away.) Check the pollen count in your area, because he might be picking up enough pollen to make his feet itch. I try to listen for excessive licking. Sometimes the dog is half asleep and is licking the bedding instead of him-/herself. (Nothing like moving your foot into a cold, soggy spot on your mattress. Yuck.) If I interrupt the licking it usually stops. (And I've done nothing to interrupt Sam, and he's already stopped.) Edited October 5, 2010 by KF_in_Georgia Quote Kathy and Q (CRT Qadeer from Fuzzy's Cannon and CRT Bonnie) and Jane (WW's Aunt Jane from Trent Lee and Aunt M); photos to come. Missing Silver (5.19.2005-10.27.2016), Tigger (4.5.2007-3.18.2016), darling Sam (5.10.2000-8.8.2013), Jacey-Kasey (5.19.2003-8.22.2011), and Oreo (1997-3.30.2006) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ChasesMum Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 Chase did that too. I would call her name, she would stop, all would go back to sleep. weird. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Energy11 Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 Curfew does that to his front legs... Has one licked raw, and takes off any bandages. I, too, have to interrupt him, and he stops. ODD! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hawthorn Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 I have one who does that; not to the point of licking herself raw, but she does lick in one spot and half closes her eyes and looks like she's in a trance. When I googled it, I read that licking causes the brain to release endorphins which make them feel good. I'm sure it could also be caused by an underlying skin disease in some cases, but I think in others it's just a relaxing activity. Quote When a relationship of love is disrupted, the relationship does not cease. The love continues; therefore, the relationship continues. The work of grief is to reconcile and redeem life to a different love relationship. ~ W Scott Lineberry Always Greyhounds Home Boarding and Greyhounds With Love House Sitting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest IrskasMom Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 (edited) He did that just last Night ....endless. I said No Morty and he was done.My little Oddball Edited October 5, 2010 by IrskasMom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MP_the4pack Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 Jade does it. Drives me nuts. Luckily for her though because I'll finally yell at her to stop. I call her my border collie in a greyhound suit. My ADHD dog and my OCD dog. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mychip1 Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 Google some information on Dr. Dodman. He does a lot of work on OCD and licking. Interesting stuff... Quote Robin, EZ (Tribal Track), JJ (What a Story), Dustin (E's Full House) and our beautiful Jack (Mana Black Jack) and Lily (Chip's Little Miss Lily) both at the BridgeThe WFUBCC honors our beautiful friends at the bridge. Godspeed sweet angels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Diadado Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 My dog has started licking between his toes on one front paw. Luckily he doesn't do it all time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Spencers_Greyt Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 (edited) Spencer does that tranced-out licking thing too. He likes to tuck his nose under his leg and lick his chest. He keeps his eyes closed and does it for a long time until I call his name then he stops. It definitely not allergies. I think it's a comfort thing like sucking on a pacifier. ETA: I do want to mention that Spencer doesn't make lick sores and the area is not raw. He just does this a couple times a week. Edited October 5, 2010 by Spencers_Greyt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Fluffy Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 Hmm. If it's a comfort/endorphins thing, I'll just have to try to be more vigilant about catching him before he does himself damage. Gotta remember to check out the leg he did last night when I get home from work today... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BlueCrab Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 Trixie does this too. Sort of a boredom, la-la-land thing. Sometimes it'll be idly licking away on a limb, just as often it will be the surface where she's laying, whether it's the sofa or her "Trixie Chair" (a portable papasan chair). It doesn't seem to have any sort of impact on allergies or a particular spot that she's after...and it most often happens as she's falling asleep or while she's asleep. Often happens in the middle of the night. But the noise makes me nuts so a quick verbal correction gets the roll of the eyes and she stops. She definitley does it way more than any other breed of dog we've had, so perhaps it's another of those quirky greyhound things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowjay Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 Cody has done this forever, never to the point of licking himself raw. He'll lick his legs, his chest, his toes, his bed, pillows, the couch, the carpet... Quote Cody: (11/19/2000 - 1/7/2013): [CollateralDamage #92569] Cody's DogsterPretty: (11/1/1994 - 1/27/2007): [Bee's Prettyside #43811] Pretty's DogsterPinky: (4/25/2003 - 3/17/2014): [Wagtail Resolve #19753]Click here to learn how to find your hounds racing name, pedigree and racing history! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest AmazinGreyz Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 Ivan does the same thing. He'll start slowly licking a leg, but as soon as I say his name, he sanps out of it and quits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest kelli123 Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 My boy would lick and lick until his licker would get tired and couldn't lick any more and would finally stop. He would lick his bed the carpet his self, me the couch any thing his tongue would touch . It was non stop licking slobbing clucking slopping slurping annoying sound for ever it seemed like. Every thing he licked was soaking with this wonderful Slobber, It was great. He is no longer with us and i Wish i could here that awful slobbing noise I have no idea why he would do this i think it relaxed him in some sorta way . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ivon Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 Spud does this too, every fall, so I think it is allergies, Benadryl will stop it before it becomes a habit. Quote Ivon, Spud, Karma & Sasha Missing Darla (05-22-96 03-01-2010) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SIGreyLady Posted October 6, 2010 Share Posted October 6, 2010 Glad to hear this is common. Sterling does trance out licking the rug next to my bed and he does it to the couch . Quote Mimi- mom to Burdette (KB's Burdette), Sophie (LL's Stupid Is) and bridge babies Kelsey (Kelso's Logo), Sterling (Cold B Tiger), Fritz, Tasha, Chloe and Molly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ChasesMum Posted October 6, 2010 Share Posted October 6, 2010 My boy would lick and lick until his licker would get tired and couldn't lick any more and would finally stop. He would lick his bed the carpet his self, me the couch any thing his tongue would touch . It was non stop licking slobbing clucking slopping slurping annoying sound for ever it seemed like. Every thing he licked was soaking with this wonderful Slobber, It was great. He is no longer with us and i Wish i could here that awful slobbing noise I have no idea why he would do this i think it relaxed him in some sorta way . I kinda miss it too, I'd take the bad if only I could have her back..... but the noise drove me NUTS! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest TBSFlame Posted October 6, 2010 Share Posted October 6, 2010 All of mine do this from time to time. Sometimes its the sofa or their bed. I will let it continue for a time then I will call their name and snap them out of it. A greyhound thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaliforniaGreys Posted October 6, 2010 Share Posted October 6, 2010 Cody has done this forever, never to the point of licking himself raw. He'll lick his legs, his chest, his toes, his bed, pillows, the couch, the carpet... Same here Quote Missing my little Misty who took a huge piece of my heart with her on 5/2/09, and Ekko, on 6/28/12 For the sick, the lost, and the homeless Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greyhoundlady Posted October 6, 2010 Share Posted October 6, 2010 I guess I have one that is a member of the 'Licker Club'. My guy will lick his front leg, sometimes his back leg, and sometimes one of his paws. I hate to say it, but I think the paw tasting has to do with something he possibly stepped in - but I don't want to go there. The front leg thing seems like a comfort. He very slowly licks with his eyes half closed and a slurping sound comes forth. When I call his name, he stops. Like, "Ooops - I zoned out there for a bit." Both of mine are on TOTW, but they have been on other dog food and my guy has always done this. He also holds his chew (Greenie) between his front legs when he eats it, so I can almost guess he is reliving the tasty morsels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest RocketDog Posted October 7, 2010 Share Posted October 7, 2010 Cass is a licker, to the point where she's licked varnish/paint off furniture... and whenever anyone has a wound we have to keep HER away from it. She gets so fixated on licking, and she'll just keep going and going unless we tell her to quit it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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