Excess Grooming In Dogs: How To Prevent And Treat It
It is, of course, completely normal for your dog to wash different parts of his body and should be welcomed. As they say, however, everything must be done in the right measure. For this reason, we explain what you need to know to prevent and treat excess grooming in dogs.
Distinguish normal from exaggeration
Licking is a habitual practice that dogs use not only for hygiene, but also to relax and get in touch with other animals.
However, if you notice that your dog spends a lot of time on his own grooming, or that of another pet, beware, as this is probably a sign that something is wrong.
In addition, it is important that you learn to distinguish habitual cleaning behavior from excessive licking, which can be accompanied by small bites and can even turn into stereotypical behavior.
Why do dogs groom themselves too much
Among the reasons for excessive cleaning in dogs we can point out causes of both physical and emotional nature. Among these we find the following:
- Itching caused by skin diseases, allergies or the presence of external parasites.
- Pain or irritation due to various bone conditions.
- Compulsive disorder.
- Anxiety.
Finding out what is the cause of this boundless “love” for hygiene is essential to help your four-legged friend solve the underlying problem and thus avoid skin injuries or hair loss.
Do not hesitate and consult your veterinarian, in order to determine precisely what is causing this behavior in your pet and thus allow him to receive the appropriate treatment.
In some cases, then, it will be necessary to resort to a specialist in animal behavior, who will perform a neurological evaluation and prescribe a specific treatment.
Avoid excessive grooming in dogs
Some of the steps you can take to prevent dogs from persistently bathing are as follows:
- Keep them free from fleas and other external parasites, using the method suggested by the veterinarian.
- Use suitable products for the bathroom.
- Prevent them from coming into contact with toxic substances.
- Be careful if certain foods they ingest do not cause them some food allergy.
- Offer them an adequate diet and make sure they follow a daily exercise routine so that they are not overweight and, in this way, prevent the onset of bone disease.
Other measures to avoid over-cleaning
When the causes that cause this problem in dogs are of an emotional nature, licking occurs mainly on the paws. In addition, it repeats itself in the same way at different times of the day and can become obsessive.
The main reason for this manifestation, in general, is anxiety, which arises from boredom and lack of exercise. To avoid it, we can take some measures, such as giving them due attention (cuddle them, play, walk enough, give them toys, etc.).
Another effective measure is to employ positive reinforcement: we ignore excessive licking and reward the dogs’ “normal” behaviors. And in no way should punishments be used to try to make dogs abandon the habit of repeatedly licking.
We don’t even have to spoil them, much less humanize them (dress them up, dye their fur, organize birthday parties, etc.). These behaviors can lead to emotional problems in pets that can lead to behaviors such as excessive cleaning.
