07
Sep
Pike although she adds that. Ear-licking means that a dog really cares about another dog.
Dogs can sense the aura of other dogs and can easily assess whether their new friend is a leader or not.
Why do puppies lick other dogs ears. Why do dogs lick other dogs ears. Dogs lick other dogs ears for reasons such as its a form of greeting liking earwax being submissive grooming showing affection or having a compulsive disorder. It could also be that theyre being anxious bonding with the others or the other dog has an ear infection.
A dog licking another dogs ears is basically the only chance theyve got of having a freshen up in that area. In some ways similar to when monkeys perform a communal and reciprocal picking through of their fur to remove dirt and parasites dogs lick each others ears as a grooming favor. Youd help your friend out in the same way wouldnt you.
In most cases dogs licking each others ears is a healthy and natural behavior that should not ring any alarms. Sometimes however licking can indicate an underlying medical issue be it with the dog being licked or the one doing the licking. Bacterial or fungal infections like a yeast infection can cause a dog to scratch at her own ears.
Remember one of the reasons dogs lick each others ears is because licking is soothing for them. Sure they can lick their paw or legs to get the same soothing effect but theyve developed a habit of licking the ears of your other dog. When a dog develops a habit its hard to break it.
Why does my dog lick other dogs ears. Apart from face and eye-licking a pet owner might see a dog licking another dogs ears. This could be either the top of the ears or inside the years.
Ear-licking is one of the most prominent ways dogs can show affection to other dogs. Ear-licking means that a dog really cares about another dog. A dog cant lick its own ears so other dogs will often lick their ears for them.
The reason why your dog licks your other dogs ears could be that it is helping your other dog to groom itself. This would be more likely if your other dog also returns the favor and if your dog also licks your other dog in other areas such as its back. I can tell you that almost every time when I have seen a two dog household where one dog wants to lick the other dogs ears obsessively it is because there is some type of medical issue with the other dogs ears.
Usually the problem is some type of infection as opposed to ear mites. Ear Infection If one dog is obsessively licking another dogs ear it can lead to ear infection over time. The constant licking keeps the ear canal moist which makes it an easy breeding ground for bacteria.
Its important to keep an eye on your dogs ear if another dog is obsessively licking it. When a dog licks another dogs ears it may be simply an act of grooming. Two dogs who live side by side and consider each other part of one pack will feel comfortable grooming each other.
Since a dog cannot lick his own ears to clean them another in his pack will do so. Why Its an Unhealthy Habit. Amy Pike DVM of Veterinary Behavior Consultations in St.
Louis Mo both dogs could potentially be at risk. If the dog being licked has an ear infection and is being treated with topical medication it could cause the dog doing the licking to get an upset stomach due to ingestion of the medication says Dr. Pike although she adds that.
Your dog may lick your ears as a way to show that they respect you as a valued and high-ranking member of their family unit. This is especially likely to be the case if you see other classic submissive behaviors such as crouching down low exposing their soft belly and tucking their tail. A Sense of Comfort and Security.
In the wild dogs ears attract various insects because of the dark warm and moist environment. Dogs also have a powerful sense of smell and hearing much stronger than that of humans. This means they can smellhear the insects and lick the ears to clean them.
Its like a you scratch my back I scratch your back type of behavior. Your Dog is Licking Ears Because Dogs Can Be Gross Sometimes however ear licking goes back to another innate dog behavior. Being a little bit disgusting sometimes.
Some dogs develop a penchant for the taste of ear wax. Who needs a peanut butter filled Kong when your kitty friend has an ear canal full of wax. The main reason why pugs lick other dogs ears is the same reason why many other breeds do the same.
As a mark of affection. This may sound strange and downright unpleasant to humans but for dogs the desire to lick is hard-wired into their DNA. During introductions some dogs take the initiative to lick the other dogs eyes ears and face as a sign of respect and deference.
Dogs can sense the aura of other dogs and can easily assess whether their new friend is a leader or not. Dogs lick themselves in order to groom their hair but they cant reach places like their eyes ears and face. For this reason dogs lick each others faces to help each other.
The licking behavior is more likely if the other dog also licks your dogs eyes and your dog is obliged to return the favor.