16
Apr
In most cases dogs licking each others ears is a healthy and natural behavior that should not ring any alarms. But sometimes licking is a symptom of a more serious problem.
Amy Pike DVM of Veterinary Behavior Consultants in.
Why do puppies lick peoples ears. That being said the more that your dog licks your ears the more likely it is that you may get an ear infection. Dogs may lick away the ear wax which helps clean your ears out but remember that ear wax plays the important role of protecting the insides of your ears from bacteria and other dangerous particles. While it is not uncommon for a dog to love to lick your ears some still are not sure what it is that they love and why they do it.
One explanation is that it is a sign of affection. Nuzzling licking and even nibbling on the ears of another pack member in this case you can be a means to show that your pup is comfortable with you. The most common reason a dog may lick their humans ears is as a sign of affection.
Back when dogs lived in packs in the wild they would lick the ears of their packmates to show that they accepted the other as a part of their pack. 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. There are two primary reasons your dog licks your ears.
The first and most common reason is that they like the taste. Sounds gross but some dogs love the taste of earwax. The second reason is that theyre grooming you.
Perhaps you have noticed two dogs seemingly relaxed licking each others ears. However in some instances one dog may develop an ear infection due to continual moisture in the ear. Amy Pike DVM of Veterinary Behavior Consultants in.
Yeast infections which are primarily caused by an allergytend to begin either in a dogs ears or in their paws. If you notice this type of licking in addition to other symptoms like sores redness or a slimy often smelly discharge have your dog checked out by the vet right away. Its why many people call them kisses Dogs show affection by licking people and sometimes even other dogs.
Licking is a natural action for dogs. They learned it from the grooming and affection given to them as puppies by their mothers. 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. But sometimes licking is a symptom of a more serious problem.
If your dog is licking themselves you or objects excessively to the point that it seems like a self-stimulatory behavior this. 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. Bitches lick their pups to communicate affection and to provide necessary care. Licking can also be used to express a wider range of emotions in dogs.
However the answer to why dogs lick is not as simple as people may think rather there are multiple meanings that can be attributed to one of the most instinctive gestures of mans best friend. Maria Grazia Calore veterinary surgeon and expert in pet behaviour explains. When dogs lick other dogs.
Their aims and messages. Why Do Dogs Lick Your Face. The common dog face licking behavior has evolved from the wolf puppy behavior of licking the mouths of adult dogs to prompt the regurgitation of partially digested food.
This is how puppies transition from suckling their mothers milk to eating partially digested food to more solid food. This Stacker slideshow offers a list of 51 questions and answers for pet lovers about common dog questions. These include things like answers on why dogs lick people.