My new dog licks and eats everything. What's her deal?

mooman · #1 08/21/14, 08:52 PM

Got a year old boxer/pointer mix from the pound. Dropped off by owner who even left heart worm meds so I don't think she was ever starving. From least weird to most weird she has eaten/ licked: blueberries, broccoli, wild mushrooms, a bag of onions, dried up dead bugs, toads, latex paint, drywall compound, the entire wood stove and hearth and a fist size piece of coral rock (souvenir from my honeymoon). The toads she lick make her instantly foamy and hacky but she keeps going back.

We have her on store brand puppy food. Does she have some sort of mineral deficiency she is trying to self medicate? Should I try that dinovite stuff ( always assumed it was snake oil). Do they make vitamins for dogs? It's not a deal breaker but who the hell would have thought I would have to keep a piece of bleached coral out of my dogs reach?

Micknleb · #2 08/21/14, 09:30 PM

Maybe she's just nervous. She had one person who may have taken care of her, then went to a pound, and then to your place. She might still be freaked out. One thing I have learned about animals is that they like things to be predictable. How long have you had her? If not long, she may just need some stability for a while. Good luck, though.

kalmara · #3 08/22/14, 01:40 AM

try giving her raw food, meat and bones, green tripe. Chicken/rabbit/lamb/goat is all good.

Alice In TX/MO · #4 08/22/14, 07:02 AM

Store dog food is junk. Go to Tractor Supply and get Taste of the Wild, NO GRAIN, dog food.

Or, feed her raw food.

Get her some training, too, so she has something to think about other than anxiety and compulsive behavior.

Vosey · #5 08/22/14, 08:15 AM

The licking sounds like anxious behavior. Just because she had an owner doesn't mean that she wasn't neglected, may not have been fed regularly or had much mental/physical stimulation.

We have 2 Bassets who eat anything and everything (they were strays) and a 3rd who is very picky about eating but licks windows and furniture etc.

V-NH · #6 08/22/14, 10:30 AM

I find Taste of the Wild to be way too expensive, so I found a happy medium. I feed my dog Diamond All Naturals which has no wheat, corn, or soy. It is about $32 per bag and a bag lasts a month for my dog. He's a very healthy young coonhound.

My dog licks everything too. He's done that ever since he was a little puppy and we brought him home, so I decided that it is just part of his personality. When he comes to greet you, the tongue comes out right away. He also licks the floor and rugs all the time. Recently I wanted to test and see at what point he would stop licking so I put my hand out and let him lick it. Ten minutes later he was still licking my hand with no sign of stopping. Some dogs just like to lick.

winemaker · #7 08/22/14, 10:41 AM

Our boxer is a licking fool! She is 6 years old now, the only way to stop her is plenty of exercise. When she is excited she licks, nervous, or scared, she licks. We got her when she was 6 months old, she wasnt abused or neglected but didnt get any exercise and she ransacked her old owners house. Wall paper, paneling, dry wall, it was no match for her. We brought her home and ran her 3 times a day in the hay fields with a 100 ft rope for a leash. It took about a month to trust her off the leash. Since then she has never had a leash on and runs constantly now. If it's raining and she doesnt get to run, the licking gets worse.

halfpint · #8 08/22/14, 05:19 PM

I was hoping our puppy would outgrow her licking, but after reading this post figure she won't. Her mother never licks us, but she was about 9 months old when we got her.

sdnapier · #9 08/22/14, 09:08 PM

I have friends who swear by the Thunder Shirt…might be worth a try.

Vosey · #10 08/22/14, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by V-NH

I find Taste of the Wild to be way too expensive, so I found a happy medium. I feed my dog Diamond All Naturals which has no wheat, corn, or soy. It is about $32 per bag and a bag lasts a month for my dog. He's a very healthy young coonhound.

My dog licks everything too. He's done that ever since he was a little puppy and we brought him home, so I decided that it is just part of his personality. When he comes to greet you, the tongue comes out right away. He also licks the floor and rugs all the time. Recently I wanted to test and see at what point he would stop licking so I put my hand out and let him lick it. Ten minutes later he was still licking my hand with no sign of stopping. Some dogs just like to lick.

We also feed Diamond. I have a friend who feeds Taste of the Wild, I almost croaked at the price. Maybe with one little dog.

checkitnice · #11 08/23/14, 12:24 PM

Have you tried salting his food? A few shakes of mineral salt from the bulk store on every meal really helped our golden with mouthing everything.

We feed the 4Health brand from TSC and have had really good luck with it.

mooman · #12 08/23/14, 03:30 PM

I run with her cross country about 2 miles a day, and I'm a bit of an obedience nazi when it comes to my dogs. It doesn't seem anxious it's seems purposeful. So I don't think it's any of those things. She'll stop if I correct her but 10 minutes later will be back at it. I'll try bumping up the quality of the dog food. if that doesn't work going to try some minerals mixed in. Many of the weird things she goes after seem to me to be mineral rich (drywall, limestone rock, ashes). Thanks all

secuono · #13 08/23/14, 03:48 PM

Some dogs just love/habit of licking and eating anything in sight. Our bulldog is a glutton, but she doesn't eat poisonous toads and has some common sense to her. Some dogs have none and are the type you have to save $$ for emergency vet visits.

eggman · #14 08/23/14, 07:27 PM

I had this problem with eating everything in sight, it was like he had never been fed. Went to the vet , turns out he has a thyroid problem. Would not hurt to have it checked.