One way for your pet to keep up with its hygiene is through licking, a natural habit of any animal, but there may be other reasons for your dog licking itself a lot at dawn, besides cleaning, such as itching, stress, anxiety or compulsiveness. The Paws of the House will explain the reasons why dogs lick themselves constantly, including during the night, and when this canine behavior can mean a problem for your pet's well-being and health. Get in touch!

Dog licking itself excessively, is it normal?

It is normal for some owners to complain that they can't sleep because they are bothered by the noise of their dog licking themselves in the early hours of the morning. Even though it is in the nature of the dog, a natural way for them to clean themselves, you need to be aware of animal behavior to understand whether or not this habit is harmful to their health.

This animal habit can be just boredom, when the dog is not stimulated to practice activities that occupy his time, but it can also be something more serious, such as worms, dermatitis or even emotional problems.

Dog licking itself: stress or boredom?

First of all, you need to be sure if your pet licks himself a lot because he is bored or because he is stressed. To find out this information, make some changes in your dog's routine for 1 week. Check it out:

• Start walking your dog daily

Walks use up the animal's stored energy and reduce the risk of developing depression and anxiety.

• Offer interactive toys for your pet

In addition to stimulating dogs' cognitive abilities, these toys are a great way to distract them.

• Play with your dog every day for 15 minutes

Your pets need daily attention, so it's important to take a few minutes out of your day to play with your pet.

• At bedtime, cuddle and soothe the animal

In addition to strengthening bonds, this will calm and relax your pet.

• Never fight with your dog if it is licking itself
See_also: Can cats eat chocolate?

Fighting with the dog during its licks is a negative reinforcement for the dog and besides causing additional stress, it can aggravate the situation.

These changes will allow your dog to occupy his time and relax more. If even after these changes he continues to lick himself constantly, it is recommended to take him to the vet to be examined.

Dog licking itself a lot may be OCD

Just like humans, dogs can also develop problems of psychological origin, such as obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), a disorder characterized by repetitive compulsive behaviors, such as the dog licking its paw endlessly. Some dogs may also compulsively chase their own tail or repeatedly scratch and bite objects. The diagnosis for OCD is usually eitherperformed by a canine behaviorist.

When this occurs, it may be a case of psychogenic dermatitis, a self-mutilation syndrome caused by behavioral disorders, such as compulsive behavior of licking and biting a certain area of the body.

The diagnosis is often more difficult for the veterinarian to reach, as the only physical symptoms are the sores on the skin. This habit may be related to emotional problems, such as canine anxiety, stress or depression.

In this case, the treatment involves both the behavioral aspects of the dog, such as finding and solving the origin of the canine behavior, as well as healing the lesions.

Dog licking itself may be worming

If your dog has the habit of licking his anus, he may have worms. This is because the presence of these parasites causes a strong discomfort in these regions, and to try to relieve it, it is common for the animal to try to scratch, drag his buttocks and try to lick.

It is worth remembering that worms also have some physical symptoms in the animal, such as diarrhea, vomiting, swollen belly, increased appetite and unexplained weight loss. The recommendation is to perform the deworming indicated by the veterinarian, to avoid the worm in the dog.

Dog licking itself could be an allergy

Dermatitis in dogs, an inflammation of the animal's skin, is another factor that causes a lot of discomfort and that can be accompanied by insistent itching and licking during the night. So if you notice that your dog is scratching a lot, in addition to licking, be alert because he may have an allergy.

The causes are variable, it may be because the dog ate something it shouldn't, some allergic reaction to products or even genetic, as is the case with canine atopic dermatitis, common in some breeds such as Dachshund and Shih tzu.

When you notice these signs, it is best to take your dog to the veterinarian to identify the source of the allergy and begin the treatment indicated by the veterinarian, which may include therapeutic baths, special diet, oral and local remedies.

Memes of dogs licking themselves at dawn take over the internet

Total silence, you're almost asleep when suddenly your dog decides to start licking himself in the middle of the night. Who never has, right?! This dog craze has taken the internet by storm and several funny videos are circulating around:

@madaebica I hate that noise 🤡 #humor #meme #pet ♬ original sound - mada e bica

While the dog meme is funny, never fail to observe your pet: too much licking behavior at night could mean a more serious problem that needs attention!