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Barnaby, my now 14-year old shih tzu, started the oddest habit about two months ago... obsessively licking my legs.... and sometimes my arms.
He mostly does this when we play with his toys in the afternoon. He'll chase his toys for about two minutes, and then abruptly switch gears and start licking my legs (first one, then the other) from lower thigh to ankle. He also wants to lick my feet, but no can do (ticklish! also, they could be dirty, i can't have him licking dirt... for the love!). He will continue for as long as I will let him... or for a long, long time.
I wondered at first if he was licking me for the salt b/c he's on a special, bland food b/c of his ulcer/kidney issues. However, the vet specialist says no to this theory.
The vet tech says this might be early signs of dementia, but he seems absolutely mentally normal in every other way.
(Sidenote: The vet tech told me his parents have a senior cat who has recently started waking them in the middle of the night by licking their ears. I guess I should count myself lucky by this standard!)
So, what say you, dog board-ers? Anybody else have a dog with a serious oral attachment to their legs?
Cannot say. I've never had a dog change behaviors like that late in life. He could be missing something in his diet, like you mentioned, becasue of his kidney problems. If it is dementia at least that is harmless enough and he's not aggressive.
he's always licked my face in the morning, gentle, sweet kisses more than real licking.
but this new licking of the legs in the afternoon is some dedicated, focused licking, let me tell you. in fact, he just did it again when we sat down to play... and this is is funny: when i try to redirect him back to his toys, he growls at me! not growling like aggressive growling, but his growl-talk. like: what is your problem, woman?! let me at those legs!
he's always licked my face in the morning, gentle, sweet kisses more than real licking.
but this new licking of the legs in the afternoon is some dedicated, focused licking, let me tell you. in fact, he just did it again when we sat down to play... and this is is funny: when i try to redirect him back to his toys, he growls at me! not growling like aggressive growling, but his growl-talk. like: what is your problem, woman?! let me at those legs!
i haven't ever seen anything like it.
Ah, didn't realize you were one of us gals. In that case, just consider it an exfoliating treatment from your best bud. A pet-i-cure.
lifelong -- i get that a lot... my screen name can be confusing...
i like it! it actually does feel a little like an exfoliating treatment. now if only i could teach him how to use his little paws to apply the moisturizer that should come next.
my dog likes to lick jeans for some reason and arms and she will kee going to u more or tell her to stop, and my other dog has a need to lick ur ears, it doesnt matte if its human, dog cat. she just wants at ur ears and wont stop
Have you had any circulation problems in your legs recently? Perhaps Barnaby has noticed something different about your legs?...
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