Does anyone know why dogs lick carpet?

My 7 year old GSD will occasionally lick our carpet and start to tear it up. She will swallow shredded pieces that she rips up. She then throws it up or poops it out.I have had to pull strings of carpet out of her butt in the past.

I am concerned because she may get "bound up" and need sugery to remove it. My husband said some carpet is treated with formaldahyde, which I imagine could kill her.

Last night she was walking around licking carpet in all the rooms. She was holding her head up and constantly licking,like she had carpet fibers stuck on the back of her throat. I made her sleep in my bedroom last night because it is hardwood floor.She was up pacing all night and licking her bed.

What's up with this odd behavior?

I have one who does this occasionally, along with some air-licking. I posted here and heard about connections to vaccinosis as well as possible OCD, and also found online (when it's a new behavior) several references to nausea or dental problems.

I took mine to the vet. I ruled out OCD; he's well-exercised, lots going on, and just doesn't do it in that kind of frantic or over-focused way. She mentioned nausea as a trigger in other dog patients, and I actually did try some anti-nausea medication with him. He is in line for dental work anyway, in the next month or two. He's a pre-owned senior who came to me needing teeth extracted (which were done) and a thorough dental exam and cleaning (will be done soon).

His outcome was inconclusive, and yours is worse. I am mentioning him here because the nausea thing sounds much more applicable to your dog, who is restless and pacing, etc. I'd probably do what you did (keep her on hardwood floors) and make a vet appointment. Like me, you probably don't have a dog who is suddenly bored and developing an OCD. So I'd probably call today if you see gagging, retching, no food interest, etc. I'd probably want a physical done and, if nothing was apparent, I'd probably ask about nausea and dental problems.

Thanks,Connie. I thought it might be OCB, but wondered why it was just once in a while instead of an ongoing issue.And your right, there is always alot going on.I don't know how she could possibly be bored.

Could be nausea, I have been feeding a few different foods...venison and hog maul. I noticed last night she was excessively eating grass. What do you think about me giving her some nausea medication or some real pumpkin?

 Quote: lisa harrison

Thanks,Connie. I thought it might be OCB, but wondered why it was just once in a while instead of an ongoing issue.And your right, there is always alot going on.I don't know how she could possibly be bored.

Could be nausea, I have been feeding a few different foods...venison and hog maul. I noticed last night she was excessively eating grass. What do you think about me giving her some nausea medication or some real pumpkin?

Well, pumpkin helps with pooping issues, but I don't know about nausea. And I'd be reluctant to give antacid-action meds to a dog on raw. Do you have something that has no antacid action?

I'd probably give a bland small meal of a safe old (known) food tonight and see what happens.

Is antacid the the same as Famotidine tablets? What reaction would an antacid have on a raw fed dog?

I fed salmon, yogurt and Sojos Europa tonight, so they have eaten that before. (Probably not very bland, though)

Like Pepcid? Yes, that's an antacid.

It's a histamine H2-receptor antagonist, which means it's one of the drugs that inhibit the activity of certain cells that produce acid.

A dog has very caustic stomach acid, which does at least two things the dog enjoys benefits from as he digests the food he was designed to eat: it is loaded with enzymes that work on the processing of the bones and meat, and it is part of the protection package that canids have against food pathogens. They have a short fast system, which doesn't give pathogens much time to colonize, unlike our looooong winding ones, and they have very those very caustic stomach acids that help to kill off salmonella, etc..

I don't know how long the interference with acid production lasts. If I did know, then I could maybe say that you might give the antacid and no raw for a day. But I don't know.

Anyway, I was thinking of the kind of nausea from eating certain grasses or maybe dumpster-diving.

Has she been eating anything weird?

How is she doing, BTW?

She has not eaten anything weird, that I know of, my dogs can be sneaky when they want to get into something. I did not know that about the antacid. That's good info to keep in my archives.

She is back to her old self today, she seems to be feeling fine.No grass eating either and she had a nice firm stool last night.

(How pathetic is that when I know the bowel movements of my 4 dogs as well as the bowel movements of grooming clients dogs.I know their movements better than their owners.)

Interesting question. 2 of our 3 dogs licked carpet. One a Mal (4 year old male) and the other a Daschund (10 year old female), the 3rd being a Daschund (2 year old male) does not exhibit the behavior at this time. I just chalked it up to some kind of learned habit more than anything else. Although it only consisted of licking, no carpet tearing or eating. I generally would just tell them to stop it and that would take care of it, until the next time, LOL. I noticed the Mal had more of a habit for doing it than the Daschund. The Daschund used to chew/bite her nails until I started her on a kong stuffed with treats (that was years ago, she passed the week after Christmas 2008). Fortunately for me my Mal pacifies himself with a Kong or Tanzanian Ball and for the most part is not destructive. Except for those times when he pawed the door knob trying to open it. Scratched some paint and minor damage only. Anyway, just wanted to pipe in about the carpet licking. :smiles:

 Quote: lisa harrison

(How pathetic is that when I know the bowel movements of my 4 dogs as well as the bowel movements of grooming clients dogs.I know their movements better than their owners.)

I think lots of us here are poo watchers!!
It seems silly but it is one of the easiest ways to track the internal healthy of your dog.

Roxie will start in on a carpet when frustrated for a number of reasons, ie the other dog is getting more attention, sexual frustration, in the house too long etc. a quick correction and redirection stops it