Why Do Dogs Lick Floor Tiles?
Pet behavior can be difficult to decode, and worrisome to an owner. There are multiple reasons dogs may lick floor tiles. Use situational clues and your insight into your pup's personality to determine what's causing the behavior. If you think licking signifies of an underlying physical condition, see your vet.
Diet Deficiency
Sometimes, dogs lick floor tiles when they have a particular nutrient deficiency in their diet. If your floor tiles are clay, brick or even cement, they may be attractive to your pet because they smell like minerals missing from your pet's diet. Sometimes, dogs with anemia, cancer or other diseases that cause gastrointestinal discomfort like to lick these tiles. (ref 3) If your pet only licks these tiles and not other floor surfaces, investigate his health with your vet.
Underlying Anxiety
Dogs who don't discriminate between wood floor and tiles floors often lick out of anxiety. Frequent licking of paws, furniture and other objects can be a sign of insecurity or stress. Telling your pet to "stop it" or physically restraining him won't help here. If you think your pet's anxious, talk to your vet about behavioral medicine. Boost pup's confidence by giving him commands such as "lie down" to distract him, then rewarding obedience with treats.
Nausea
Compulsive licking may be a sign of nausea or other stomach upset. If your pet is licking everything in sight, drooling, and seems less responsive than usual, nausea is probably to blame. Nausea often passes, but may be a sign your dog ate something he wasn't supposed to — like chocolate. Look around the house for clues your pet ate something bad for him.
Food-Seeking
Some dogs look to lick floor tiles in the hopes of ingesting a crumb or two of your meal. If you have small kids that drop food on your floor tiles, your pup may learn to lick for snacks. If your pet licks floor tiles in the kitchen but not other rooms, he's probably learned that he may uncover food by doing so. Ban your pup from the kitchen while you cook to cut down on this licking.
By Elton Dunn
References
The Washington Post: Dog's Obsessive Licking of Tile Floor Might Indicate a Diet Deficiency
TODAY Pets & Animals: Help, My Dog Won't Stop Licking Everything!
Veterinary Medicine: Help! My Dog Licks Everything
About the Author
A successful website writer since 1998, Elton Dunn has demonstrated experience with technology, information retrieval, usability and user experience, social media, cloud computing, and small business needs. Dunn holds a degree from UCSF and formerly worked as professional chef. Dunn has ghostwritten thousands of blog posts, newsletter articles, website copy, press releases and product descriptions. He specializes in developing informational articles on topics including food, nutrition, fitness, health and pets.