Why does my dog keep sniffing & licking her belly?

Question

For the past 2days my dog has been sniffing & licking her belly more than usual(which is hardly anyway). I have checked her belly & there is no rash or anything that looks like its bothering her. Its just unusual behaviour for her. She is is in season & has been spayed. Any reason for this odd behaviour or is it just a silly thing?

Sorry, I mean she is NOT in season

Answer 1

Either a rash or allergy of some sort of maybe she has worms? is the belly swollen looking if so it could be worms.

Answer 2

Could be caused by a few things...

Is she drinking and urinating as normal? Any blood in her urine or pain when passing? Sometimes bladder pain can cause dogs to lick at their bellies.

Is she scooting her bottom along the ground? Any fishy smell about her? Her anal glands might be full and causing irritation.

Any sign of fleas or other visitors? The best way to check for fleas is to use a flea comb to brush around the neck and the base of the tail, then wipe the comb on a piece of damp white tissue. Any brown or red blobs are flea dirt.

Have you changed any household products eg floor cleaner? The other possibility is that it could be an allergy.

I'd probably get her along to the vet.

Answer 3

Sounds like she has allergies or possibly mites. Take her to the vet to have it checked out. To check for mites they'll do what's called a skin scraping and look at it under a microscope. Testing for allergies they can do either a blood test or a skin test. The skin test is similar to a human allergy test where they inject a small amount of different allergens to see if there's a reaction. The blood test is sent to a lab to check for sensitivity to different common allergies. Common dog allergies are fleas, dust, pollen, and food. If it is allergies it will only get worse with age. Some dogs will be put on an allergy vaccine for the rest of their life or may only have to take an antihistamine (Benadryl) when needed. Also try to bathe her once every two weeks with an oatmeal shampoo (found at any pet supply store). The oatmeal soothes the skin and alleviates any itching.

Not all vets do extensive allergy testing so they may have to refer you to an animal dermatologist. Hope this helps and good luck!

Answer 4

I have one thing to say don't listen to kirstkluy dogs do not lick and sniff to clean themselves......that is typical cat behaviour and definately wash ur dog more than 3 times a year a dog should be washed roughly every 3 weeks.........I would just keep an eye on ur dog over the next 2 days and if she keeps it up take her to your Vet. I am a vet nurse so hope this helps

Answer 5

It has to do with cleanliness. We have a shower/bath and clean our privates. Sniffing and licking for dogs is there way of keeping clean. This doesn't mean that you need to wash your dog. Let her be. Only bath her 3 to 4 times a year.

Answer 6

She might have picked up mites or brushed against poison oak or something. See a vet for proper diagnosis, or she could lick her belly raw from the irritation.

Answer 7

Maybe it would be best to take her to the vets.
When we first had my dog after a couple of months, she started doing the same thing, then she would even let us near her belly.
We thought she was pregnant. but it turned out to be a phantom pregnancy.
It when a female dog thinks its pregnant and even produces milk and everything.
Take her to the Vets to be on the safe side.

Answer 8

your dog is just wondering what is happening and thinks that something is wrong. don't worry it should wear of eventually. do not be to alarmed she might get a bit weirder though...

Answer 9

Take her to the vets for a check up.

Answer 10

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