When Licking Isn’t Just A Nervous “Behavior”

A study published in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior in 2012 investigated the relationship between excessive licking of surfaces (ELS) in dogs and gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. The researchers evaluated 19 dogs exhibiting ELS and found that 14 of them (74%) were diagnosed with specific GI diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease, delayed gastric emptying, chronic pancreatitis, gastric foreign bodies, and giardiasis. After treating these GI conditions, 9 of the 14 dogs (64%) showed complete resolution of the licking behavior, and one additional dog exhibited significant improvement.

That 2012 study (Journal of Veterinary Behavior) is a big deal in our world because it confirmed what many of us were already seeing:

• Dogs licking floors, walls, furniture

• Not bored… not attention-seeking

• Actually dealing with underlying GI issues

And when the gut was addressed… the licking stopped.

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Why the Gut Drives This Behavior

Let’s break this down in a way that makes sense in real life.

1. Nausea Drives Licking

Dogs don’t always vomit when they feel nauseous.

Instead, you’ll see:

• Licking floors, carpets, walls

• Eating grass

• Lip licking, drooling

• Seeking out weird textures

Licking increases saliva production, which can temporarily soothe nausea.

So when you see repetitive licking… think:
👉 “Is this dog trying to settle their stomach?”

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2. Acid & Reflux Create Discomfort

Dogs with:

• Acid buildup

• Reflux

• Empty stomach irritation

…often try to self-soothe.

That licking behavior can:

• Distract from discomfort

• Stimulate swallowing (which can buffer acid briefly)

This is why many dogs do this:

• Early morning

• Late at night

• Between meals

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3. Gut Inflammation Changes Behavior

Conditions like:

• Leaky gut

• Dysbiosis

• Food sensitivities

• Chronic inflammation

…don’t just affect digestion.

They affect the nervous system.

The gut and brain are directly connected through the vagus nerve.

So what happens?

• Inflammation in the gut → signals the brain

• Brain perceives discomfort → triggers repetitive behaviors

That can look like:

• Licking

• Pacing

• Restlessness

• “Anxiety” that doesn’t fully make sense

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4. Microbiome Imbalances Affect the Brain

Your dog’s gut bacteria help regulate:

• Neurotransmitters (like serotonin, GABA)

• Mood and stress response

• Inflammation levels

When the microbiome is off:

• The brain gets “noisy” signals

• Dogs can feel unsettled

• Repetitive behaviors increase

So again… what looks emotional may actually be biochemical

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5. Pain or Discomfort Gets Displaced

Dogs don’t always localize internal discomfort well.

So instead of:
“I have stomach pain”

You get:

• Licking surfaces

• Chewing random things

• Fixating on objects

It’s a displacement behavior — the body trying to process something it can’t directly fix.

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Why This Gets Misdiagnosed as Anxiety

Because on the surface, it looks behavioral.

And sometimes it is partly behavioral.

But here’s the problem:

If you only address:

• Anxiety

• Training

• “Leave it” commands

…you’re missing the root.

And the dog keeps licking.

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What I Look At First

When I see this pattern, I’m thinking:

• What is this dog eating?

• How processed is the diet?

• Any history of antibiotics or meds?

• Stool quality (even if “normal”)

• Timing of the licking episodes

• Other subtle signs (gas, burping, picky eating, etc.)

Because most of the time… there are breadcrumbs.

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What Actually Helps (At a High Level)

Without getting into full protocols, here’s where support usually starts:

Nutrition

• Fresh, less processed food

• Removing common irritants

• Supporting stomach acid balance

Gut Support

• Probiotics (strain matters)

• Prebiotics / fiber

• Gut lining support

Inflammation Reduction

• Functional mushrooms

• Omega support

• Targeted herbs

Nervous System Support

• Vagus nerve support

• Calming essential oils

• Bodywork, grounding

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The Bigger Picture

This is one of those moments where we have to stop asking:

👉 “How do I stop this behavior?”

…and start asking:

👉 “Why is my dog doing this in the first place?”

Because when you address the gut…

You’re not just fixing digestion.

You’re calming the nervous system
Reducing inflammation
Balancing brain chemistry

…and suddenly the “behavior” doesn’t need to exist anymore.

Let’s review your dog’s diet and if necessary do some microbiome testing!

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