Why does my dog keep licking the carpet? Should I be concerned?

Question

My dog is 3. We've always had hardwood floors, but now we're in an apartment with wall-to-wall carpet and she is constantly licking the carpet. Her scat has carpet fibers in it - weird dog?

Answer 1

Dogs use their tongues like fingers. She's simply exploring a new texture. The other reason could be if the prior residents in your apartment ate in the carpeted area there could be grease traces of food settled in it. I wouldn't want my dogs to have carpet fibers passing through their bodies. Weather it's a health issue or not it just sounds uncomfortable. Use training techniques to change this bad habit. Every time you see her licking the carpet you can tell her "no" or in combination use a training tool like a light mist water spray bottle. When in doubt call the vet.

Answer 2

Have you previously drop any food on the floor? Try carpet cleaner/shampoo the floor and your dog should stop licking. Remember now that you moved into an apartment that used to be rented out by others. Must have some scent of something on the carpet. So clean the carpet.

Answer 3

Not a weird dog, but dirty carpet. In some cases, carpets are so dirty that even after cleaning, there is food down in the carpet. It is normal for a dog to lick carpet if food is in the carpet. Have professional cleaners clean the rug. Tell your apartment manager the problem. The apartment complex should have to pay for the cleaning. If they refuse have it cleaned.

Answer 4

I can't give you an answer, but my dog has the same sort of issue but she only does this when she has an upset stomach. She generally will eat grass and then she throws up but lately she will lick herself, the couch, floor, blankets...whatever she can. The other week she actually ate the shoestrings out of 3-4 pairs of sneakers and then threw up. She doesn't do this too often but maybe 1-2 times a month. Did the vet mention changing her diet? Maybe there is something in the food she is eating that is not agreeing with her.

Answer 5

Maybe there is something in the carpet like a scent that only dogs can detect. Maybe you have some creepy crawlies all over the carpet and he's trying to get rid of em.. Truthfully its better that he licks the carpet instead of your behind..

Answer 6

There's something in the carpet, it may have a chemical or a smell that she hasn't ever smelt before. It may not be clean, because she's smelling something, and tasting something.
I'm sure she's eaten worse than carpet fibers before, I'd worry more about what she's smelling in the carpet than the fact she's smelling/licking the carpet.

Answer 7

i also have a dog that was doing that, she was chewing it and she is 14 years old now, she is NOT STUPID as some would say, it has mostly something to do with their lacking something in their systems, i dont know what, but i have been researching this kind of stuff on the internet, i just enter carpet chewing, or dog problems, or something of the nature i want to check on and i start getting answers. try it and ignore all the dum comments others have made, they make dum remarks because thats all they know, so you tell me " whos the dum or retarded ones " not your dog ! god bless

Answer 8

it's just a weird dog.. the dog is probably just bored and it has a simple mind and the carpet is new to it.. so it reminds her of something more natural for the dog to lick.. like another dog.. or maybe a lolipop

Answer 9

She could very well have a bad or sour stomach. When my dogs did that I would open their mouth and pour in some Philip's milk of magnesia. It worked every time. Our Vet said that for dogs this treatment would not cause any harm and is not going to cause excessive trips out side. Malox would have same affect.

Answer 10

She may be in heat and cleaning up the carpet after herself. My dog does it every time.