by Kathy
ORIGINAL MESSAGE:My Max, 6 months old, is constantly licking "himself",(if you know what I mean). Has anyone else experienced this and if so, what did you do to stop it?
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Constant Licking????
by Kathy
ORIGINAL MESSAGE:
My Max, 6 months old, is constantly licking "himself",(if you know what I mean). Has anyone else experienced this and if so, what did you do to stop it?
DISCUSSION:
Katie...Cubbie has been licking himself for years. He is 8 1/2 yrs old. Sometimes he will lick his front legs until they're soak and wet. I could never figure out why. I think he will probably be a licker to the day he goes to Rainbow Bridge.
Felicia & Cubbie
Kathy: Pete is a licker too. Ty does not lick himself. Some people say it has to do with allergies. I'm not sure. Pete was raised from the day I brought him home with two cats inside the house and my Hubsand thinks it has something to do with Pete watching the cats and learning to clean himself like a cat. I'm not sure what the cause is. He sometimes seem to take it in spells.
Belle
My Diesel is just like Felicia's Cubbie. Probably licking til his last days. He loves not only to lick himself but me. He gives me a great feet washing when I let him. He licks himself "there" a lot as well - esp. after urinating - i think he's cleaning himself - he also licks there when he's happy and excited from playing - another "clean-up" is what I think - but not sure about that one. He has absolutely no urine stains on his fur down there - so I don't mind at all that he licks - i'm just amazed soemtimes how he can go on licking his paws forever - doesn't he get dehydrated??? ha ha
betty & turbo & diesel
Kathy, that's a dog thing. They just do it. It's been the topic of a lot of good jokes 
. BUT, if Max seems obsessed, you might want to check with the vet. Could be an infection or irritation of some sort. In the meantime, look the other way or train him to go to the bathroom to do it, where if it's too often, he's sure to go blind...
Marie
Kathy... is he neutered? If not, that might solve the problem.
Judy
It could also be related to separation anxiety or boredom. Noah used to lick one front paw excessively. I had to be very consistent and say, "no lick" every time I saw him do it and spray his paw with bitter apple spray because it would turn his fur brown from the constant moisture. Happily, I have broken him of the habit. He now has four little white paws and spends his time licking us-well, they have to lick something-
April B
Thanks for the quick responses - Max does lick my feet alot as well, didn't think about the two being related. I guess I am just watching his every move. I'll ask my vet also and let you all know what she said. And Judy, no, he is has not been neutered yet.
KATHY & Max
Felicia,My dog licks her paws too. It was very funny, the other night it looked as if Peaches had fallen asleep licking her paws. It was so cute.
Ann
It's just a dog thing ! execcive licking , pulling and chewing of the paws however is probaly a " fungus" and needs attention!
oly
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