Overgrooming in dogs is a behaviour where they groom themselves excessively, to the point where it can lead to secondary skin problems or other health issues. This behaviour can be caused by both medical and behavioural issues. While this condition is rarely life-threatening, it’s important to address it quickly to prevent complications.

Overgrooming is not as common in dogs compared to cats. We tend to see dogs scratching or biting more than licking themselves excessively, with the exception of their paws. It’s important to differentiate overgrooming (which is self-inflicted) from spontaneous hair loss, which is often caused by hormonal diseases and other medical issues.

What to do

What to do if your dog is overgrooming

Self-grooming is a natural and safe behaviour that dogs perform to keep themselves clean. However, this behaviour can become excessive and lead to skin problems or other health issues. Licking or biting themselves for longer than 5 minutes at a time and more than a few times a day can be considered abnormal.

If you suspect your dog is overgrooming, we recommend:

• Monitoring them at home for any other symptoms, such as reduced appetite or diarrhoea.
• Checking their skin and fur where they are licking for anything abnormal, such as red areas of skin or sores.
• Checking all other pets in the home for similar issues; this might indicate something infectious.
• Speaking to a vet as soon as possible.

Identifying the cause of your dog’s overgrooming can be challenging, and this behaviour can quickly become obsessive, leading to serious skin issues. If you notice any signs of overgrooming, it’s important to consult a vet promptly.

Joii vets are available 24/7 to provide expert advice

Causes

Most common causes of overgrooming in dogs

Medical causes are usually in response to pain or itching and they include:

• Parasites: such as fleas, ringworm, mites or other parasites that cause itching.
• Allergies: can be due to fleas, food or environmental allergens.
• Foreign objects: stuck in the paw, such as a grass seed.
• Nausea: may also see drooling or lip-smacking.
• Pain: can be acute, such as a wound or nail problem or chronic, such as arthritis.

Behavioural causes include

• Stress and anxiety: often caused by a change in the routine or environment, such as moving home, new pets or frequent loud noises.
• Boredom: not enough physical and mental stimulation

When to worry

When to worry about overgrooming in dogs

Seek help from a vet in practice if:

• Your dog is constantly grooming themselves, leading to bald areas or widespread skin lesions.
• Your dog is overgrooming and ill, such as vomiting or not eating.
• Your dog is losing weight.

Speak to one of our Joii vets if

• You have any questions about preventing overgrooming in dogs.
• You would like a referral to our in-app behaviourist.

Prevention

Tips on how to prevent your dog from overgrooming

There are many ways to help prevent overgrooming in dogs, addressing both medical and behavioural causes.

Medical

• Ensure your dog has regular check-ups with a vet, at least once a year. Your vet will be able to check their teeth, joints and many other body systems for abnormalities.
• Keep your dog up to date with their yearly vaccinations.
• Use regular vet-recommended parasite control that prevents fleas and other parasites.
• Feed a balanced diet and keep your dog in a healthy body condition. Obesity is a very serious condition.
• Avoid sudden diet changes and access to toxins or human food.
• Get their nails trimmed regularly if they don’t wear down naturally.
• Check their skin and paws for foreign objects when they come inside from a walk.

Behavioural

• Keep a consistent routine for your dog. This includes feeding and walking at the same time every day. Avoid sudden changes where possible.
• Provide adequate stimulation, both mental and physical. This includes regular walks, sniffing activities, using puzzle toys, hiding treats for them to find, and teaching new tricks and training.

Make sure your dog has the key resources they need to prevent stress:

• Constant access to fresh water and adequate nutrition for their life stage.
• A safe space in the house that they can rest and hide in if needed.
• Make sure these resources are easily accessible, especially for elderly or unwell dogs who may not be able to walk as far or struggle with stairs.

Diagnosis

How to know if your dog is overgrooming

It may not always be obvious that your dog is licking themselves excessively; they may do it at night or when they are alone. The most commonly affected areas for overgrooming in dogs tend to be the paws and legs.

Other signs to look out for include:

• Pink, red or orange stains on the skin from the saliva
• Short, stubby or broken hairs on their body
• Bald patches or areas of hair thinning
• Patches of redness or sores on the skin
• Restlessness and stopping playing or eating to lick/chew the skin
• Moaning when licking or chewing their skin
• A small lump between their toes, called an interdigital cyst, is often a sign of allergies. This is a common cause of excessive paw licking.

A raised and thickened patch of skin called a “lick granuloma” can result from excessive licking. This is usually seen on the front legs and it’s a compulsive disorder that can be very tricky to treat.

Home treatment

How to help at home if your dog is overgrooming

It’s important to get a physical exam with your vet to check for medical problems first. If these have been ruled out, it’s important to adapt to help them as much as possible at home.

How to approach overgrooming at home initially:

1. Rule out underlying medical causes with your vet. Then discuss referral to a behaviourist if appropriate.
2. Use a buster collar or pet medical suit to prevent self-trauma until the underlying problem has been diagnosed.
3. Make sure all pets in the home are up to date with parasite control.
4. Use natural calming methods in the home, such as pheromone diffusers and calming supplements.
5. Follow the tips in the prevention section.

Vet treatment

Vet treatment for overgrooming in dogs

The vet treatment for overgrooming in dogs depends on the underlying issue. Recommended treatments may include:

• Parasite control
• Pain relief
• Antibiotics, if skin is infected
• Anti-itch medication, if allergies are suspected
• Prescription anxiety medication

Your vet might also recommend certain tests if the underlying condition is not obvious on a physical exam:

• Blood and urine tests
• Skin tests: scrapes, hairplucks or biopsy
• Food trial

Once medical conditions have been investigated, the next step is to address behavioural causes. Depending on the severity of the problem, your vet may recommend speaking with a behavioural specialist to help identify underlying causes. They will create a specific plan for your dog’s individual needs.

Behaviour specialists

• Referral to a behavioural specialist is always beneficial, especially if aggression is involved.
• When looking for a behaviourist, check their accreditations. It is important to find someone suitably qualified who uses ethical and up-to-date techniques.
• Your vet will usually be able to help find a suitable behaviourist, as some only work by referral. See the following organisations for more information about behaviour specialists:

ABTC (Animal Behaviour and Training Council) is a regulatory body that sets and maintains standards for the profession and has a national register for appropriately qualified animal trainers and behaviourists.

CCAB (Certified Clinical Animal Behaviourist) – an accreditation scheme by the ASAB ( association for the study of animal behaviour).

FAB (Fellowship of Animal Behaviour Clinicians) has a list of certified members and promotes high ethical standards and up-to-date techniques.

APBC (Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors) is a network of experienced and qualified counsellors.

Risk

Are some dogs more at risk of overgrooming than others?

Any age or breed of dog can develop overgrooming. Some breeds may be prone to certain causes, such as allergies and stress.