Why is my dog constantly licking?

Some licking/preening is normal. Excessive licking of paws often is a sign of allergies. If your dog is licking a lot, there could be a medical reason. If he's licking a specific area, check it out for irritation (he may be communicating in that way about paws, anus, etc.) Other reasons include: something hurts, he's nauseated, hungry or dehydrated, has dental issues, obsessive complusive disorder, cognitive dysfunction or neurological problem.

To help pinpoint the source, consider: When did it start? When does it happen? How long does it go on? Can you easily distract/stop the behavior? If you stop it, does he go right back to licking? Has there been a change in the dog’s environment?

There's a variety of reasons why your dog might be licking. Is it a specific area, such as his paws or another body part? If so, do a thorough check of the area to make sure there aren't any cuts or injuries. Many dogs will lick their paws if they're dirty, so be sure to clean them whenever you come in from a walk if that's the case. Oftentimes, a dog that is licking is either stressed, afraid, or simply bored. If you think your dog is stressed or scared, work on identifying the cause and removing it. If you think that your dog is bored, try giving him a rawhide or rawhide alternative. Just be sure that the bone is larger than the width of your dog's mouth and that he only chews it under your supervision.