Constant Grooming?

[trackermom]

Gracie has taken to constantly grooming herself, and I have no problem with a clean dog believe me, but her licking seems excessive to me. Then today when I got home from work I had nice little hairballs all over the floor to clean up. Does anyone have ideas as to why she might be licking and what I should do to curb her. I do not see a rash or irritation, and it is not in one consistent place?

[Patty1231]

If there are a lot of little furballs, maybe she's just itchy from shedding and needs brushed more often? Just a guess.

[trackermom]

I'd hope not as brushing her each evening is part of our routine

[Judi W]

It does sound a bit neurotic to me also, but other than diverting, maybe giving her "that's enough" I've no good ideas. My concern is that it could easily turn into a granuloma thing if she ever has reason to concentrate on a single spot.

[greywolff]

it could be just a case of dry skin have you tried HyLite or fish oil capsules ?

[trackermom]

She gets Salmon oil on a weekly basis and does not "appear" to have any dry skin. Thanks for the suggestion though. I'm thinking with her right now that this may be more phychological then anything, she has acouple of other obsessive complusive tendencies as well, which include circling and barking at nothing. I think she may just be going senile? But I still don't know how to stop the licking as I tell her "that's enough" when I hear her doing it, but I can't very well do that while i'm not home.

[Judi W]

I suspect psyc also as grooming like a cat is not the way dogs respond to an itch. They might polish their toes or forelegs but that is about it.