Why Is My Dog Licking The Floor And Coughing? 9 Clear Reasons

A situation in which your dog keeps licking the floor and coughing can cause a great deal of concern. Once you note this behavior, you will want to know the reason behind it, and how it can be resolved. This article has the answers.

Why is my dog licking the floor and coughing? It may be due to acid reflux, sore throat, a foreign object stuck in its throat or stomach upset. It could also be due to neurological problems such as OCD and dementia, or due to behavioral issues such as anxiety, stress or boredom.

Much depends on whether the dog is only licking the floor and coughing once in a while, or if it is happening throughout.

The exact manner in which the dog does the licking can also be helpful in understanding the cause behind it.

For instance, a case in which you find the dog frantically licking floor and coughing would have different implications. It would be different from one in which the dog doesn’t lick the floor frantically.

Sometimes, what you may observe is panting, rather than coughing in the strictest sense. You therefore find the dog licking floor and panting (rather than coughing).

In that context, panting is easily mistaken for coughing, especially if it is very loud.

In other cases, people mistake gagging for coughing. So you find that the dog keeps gagging and licking. But the gagging is mistaken for ‘coughing’.

All in all though, in answering the why is my dog licking and coughing question, we always start by looking at possibilities like acid reflux, sore throat, stuck foreign objects and stomach upset.

Then we look at other possibilities like Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), dementia, as well as anxiety, stress and boredom.

Why Would A Dog Keep Licking The Floor?

In answering the why is my dog licking the floor and coughing question, we have to start by asking ourselves, why would a dog keep licking the floor in the first place.

That is because the why is my dog licking the floor and coughing question has two components. First is the licking component. And second is the coughing component.

Often, the coughing is simply as a result of the licking. If a dog licks a floor on which there are dust particles, it is bound to cough. So you find that the coughing is due to the licking.

That is why in answering the why is my dog licking the floor and coughing question, we need to separate the two aspects. That we do by first asking, why would a dog keep licking the floor (which then often causes it to cough)?

Now there are several possible reasons for dog licking the floor.

Sometimes, a dog will lick the floor in search of relief. For instance, if a dog has acid reflux, it may lick the floor in search of relief.

A dog with a sore throat may similarly lick the floor in search of relief from the discomfort. You therefore find that the dog won’t stop licking the floor, due to the sore throat discomfort it is experiencing.

Even a dog with a foreign object stuck in its throat may end up licking and coughing. You often find a dog licking everything and coughing because it has a foreign object in its throat.

Obsessive compulsive disorder, dementia as well as boredom, anxiety and stress are other possible reasons for dog licking floor and hacking (or coughing).

Why Would A Dog Keep Licking The Floor And Coughing?

In the previous section, we looked at reasons why a dog would keep licking the floor.

Now we need to go further, and find out why a dog would keep licking the floor and coughing.

This is relevant to anyone with the why is my dog licking the floor and coughing question.

So, why would a dog keep licking the floor and coughing?

A dog may keep licking the floor and coughing because it has acid reflux.

Further, a dog may keep licking the floor and coughing because it has a sore throat.

In other cases, a dog may keep licking the floor and coughing because it has a foreign object stuck in its throat.

For some cases of dog licking floor upset stomach is the underlying reason.

It is also not uncommon for a dog that has anxiety, stress, boredom or another behavioral issue to keep on licking the floor. Once it licks the floor, it ends up ingesting dust particles (irritants), which then cause it to cough.

In a similar manner, a dog with neurological problems such as obsessive compulsive disorder or dementia may constantly lick the floor. When it does so, it laps up dust particles, and those then cause it to cough.

Thus behind the dogs and floor licking behavior (which in turn causes coughing), there are many possible explanations.

The whole thing is akin to asking, why is my dog licking dust? There are so many possible reasons…

But if my dog wont stop licking the floor and is coughing, I would think in terms of the reasons outlined above mostly.

These will also keep on coming up, while answering the why is my dog licking the floor and coughing question.

Why Is My Dog Licking The Floor And Coughing?

Often, the dog that is licking the floor and coughing turns out to be having acid reflux.

Thus in answering the why is my dog licking the floor and coughing, this would be one possibility to look into.

The dog that is licking the floor and coughing may also be having a sore throat.

Therefore in answering the why is my dog licking the floor and coughing question, this is a possibility too.

Further still, the dog that is licking the floor and coughing may be having a foreign object stuck in its throat.

You can’t overlook this possibility, in answering the why is my dog licking the floor and coughing question.

Stomach upset can also cause a dog to lick the floor (as it seeks to vomit). The floor licking then causes the dog to cough.

Therefore in exploring the why is my dog licking the floor and coughing subject, this is another possibility.

Neurological issues, such as obsessive compulsive disorder and dementia may make a dog to lick the floor and cough.

These too are worth considering in answering the why is my dog licking the floor and coughing question.

Behavioral issues, such as stress, anxiety and boredom are also known to make dogs lick the floor and cough.

You thus can’t ignore those, while answering the why is my dog licking the floor and coughing question.

We will now proceed to look at each of these possibilities in turn.

Acid Reflux As A Possible Reason For Dog Licking The Floor And Coughing

Acid reflux occurs when stomach contents (which are acidic in nature) flow back up the esophagus.

Because of the acidic nature of the stomach contents, there is a bit of burning. Thus the dog experiences a very uncomfortable sensation.

In search of relief from that sensation, the dog may start licking the floor. It is a part of the dog ‘doing anything’ to get relief from the discomfort.

Often, the acid reflux starts suddenly. Then the dog starts to lick the floor and cough suddenly. And that then causes you to wonder, why is my dog licking the floor all of a sudden?

If the dog can’t access the floor directly, it will simply lick on the carpet. Then it will start coughing. You are then left wondering, why is my dog licking the carpet and coughing?

Or if it has access to both the carpet and the floor, it will keep on licking on both. That then leads to the question, why does my dog keep licking the floor and carpet?

Or why does my dog constantly lick the floor and carpet?

Here, you actually often find the dog licking carpet frantically…

So the whole thing may be the dog’s way of ‘doing anything and everything’ to get relief from the acid reflux discomfort.

In answering the why is my dog licking the floor and coughing question, this is the first possibility we usually look into.

Sore Throat As A Possible Reason For Dog Licking The Floor And Coughing

Just like the acid reflux, a sore throat can cause a dog a great deal of discomfort.

Upon experiencing this sort of discomfort, the dog will do anything and everything to get relief.

That is how the dog ends up licking the floor, which in turn causes it to cough.

Then again, the sore throat in this case may, by itself, cause the dog to cough.

You therefore find that the coughing is not due to the dust particles that the dog is ingesting while licking. Rather, the cough is coming first.

In this case, the dog may actually lick everything – not just the floor – in search of relief.

That then becomes the basis for a question like, why is my dog coughing and licking everything?

Sometimes, the excess coughing turns into some sort of gagging.

Generally, if my dog keeps gagging and licking everything, this is a possibility I would consider. In other words, if my dog keeps licking everything and gagging, I would consider the possibility of it being due to a sore throat.

Thus the gagging may be as a result of excessive coughing.

All in all, while answering the why is my dog licking the floor and coughing question, there is always the possibility of it being due to a sore throat.

Stuck Foreign Object As A Possible Reason For Dog Licking The Floor And Coughing

If a dog has a foreign object stuck in its throat, it will experience a lot of discomfort.

That discomfort may then make the dog start licking the floor (as it seeks relief). And when the dog licks the floor, it may ingest dust particles/irritants, which then make it cough.

The presence of the foreign object itself can also make the dog cough.

Or the presence of the foreign object may cause the dog to dry heave. So you now find the dog licking and dry heaving. And that gets you wondering, why is my dog licking the floor and dry heaving?

On account of a foreign object stuck in the throat, the dog may actually start licking everything it encounters. This would be in search of relief. But it gets you wondering, why is my dog licking everything all of a sudden?

In other cases, the presence of the foreign object results in the dog hacking and licking floor incessantly.

You therefore find that the dog keeps licking floor and hacking, due to the foreign object in its throat.

Generally, with any case in which a dog keeps hacking and licking, this is a possibility worth looking into.

It can even lead to dog licking air and coughing.

But in most cases, you find that the dog won’t stop licking the floor, due to the presence of the foreign object stuck in its throat.

Now a foreign object stuck in a dog’s throat can be a serious issue. Therefore if the dog won’t stop licking floor on this account (and you truly establish this to be the cause), then urgent veterinary attention would be critical.

Stomach Upset As a Possible Reason For Dog Licking The Floor And Coughing

A dog with a stomach upset may lick the floor in search of relief from the discomfort that a stomach upset causes.

The dog may also be licking the floor in the hope that doing so will induce vomiting, which will in turn give relief.

Most cases of a dog frantically licking floor and eating grass are in an attempt to vomit.

Sometimes, the stomach upset takes place after eating. Thus if you were wondering, why does my dog lick the floor after eating, that may be the reason behind it.

Even cases in which you find the dog licking floor suddenly are often due to stomach upsets.

The dog licks the floor in a bid to vomit. But then, you also find the dog licking dust off floor, in the process. And this makes the dog cough.

In other cases, the dog keeps coughing and licking lips, all in an attempt to induce vomiting. Any case of dog licking lips coughing should typically be seen in this context.

And if you were wondering, why won’t my dog stop licking the floor and licking lips, then you need to know that it may be in a bid to induce vomiting. And this may ultimately be due to stomach upset.

Thus in exploring the why is my dog licking the floor and coughing subject, this is worth touching on.

OCD And Dementia As Possible Reasons For A Dog Licking The Floor And Coughing

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) can often make a dog keep on licking the floor incessantly. Then when the dog licks the floor, it takes up dust particles/irritants, which make it cough.

Dementia can also make a dog keep on licking the floor. Again, when the dog licks the floor, it draws up dust particles, which make it cough.

It may even be a case of the dog licking hardwood floor, or concrete floor. Here, the dog gets some sort of brain reward when it licks the floor. Therefore it keeps on doing it.

Dementia is more common in older dogs. Thus if you find a senior dog licking floor endlessly and mindlessly, this may be the reason for it.

But the resultant intense coughing may eventually cause the dog to gag. Then the question becomes, why is my dog gagging and licking endlessly?

Or because of the endless licking (and the resultant coughing), the dog may start to hack. That then gets you wondering, why is my dog licking the floor and hacking endlessly?

OCD may make a dog have a tendency to lick everything. This would be part of the Excessive Licking of Surfaces (ELS) complex. The licking and coughing may in turn graduate to dry heaving.

If a dog coughs too much, it may start dry heaving at some point. That then gets you wondering, my dog is dry heaving and licking everything, what may be the reason for it?

In OCD, the floor licking tends to be truly obsessive and compulsive. It often gets a dog owner wondering, my dog is licking the floor non stop, what may be the reason for it?

Even apparent gulping attacks with excessive licking can be due to OCD.

Boredom, Stress And Anxiety As Possible Reasons For Dog Licking The Floor And Coughing

If a dog is experiencing extreme boredom, stress or anxiety, it may resort to licking the floor.

When it licks the floor, it draws in dust. The dust then makes it start coughing. So you now have a dog licking the floor and coughing.

You may then find yourself frantically asking around, my dog all of a sudden started hacking type cough and licking, what may be the reason for it?

Yet proper investigation reveals that it is just boredom, stress of anxiety that drives the dog to start licking. The licking then causes the dog to draw in dust particles. And the dust particles make it cough terribly…

In exploring possible answers to the why is my dog licking the floor and coughing question, this is certainly another angle to consider.

My Dog Is Licking The Floor And Coughing – What To Do?

Upon discovering that your dog is licking the floor and coughing, the main concern is on what to do next.

Thus the underlying question is, what do I do if my dog keeps licking the floor and coughing?

Now the first thing is to figure out the possible reason for the dog licking the floor and coughing. Then put in place the appropriate remedial measures.

If the dog’s licking and coughing is due to acid reflux, the vet can prescribe the appropriate medications.

In case the dog’s licking is due to sore throat, there are medications that can provide relief too.

If the dog’s licking and coughing is due to a foreign object stuck in the throat, the vet may remove it, giving the dog the relief it needs.

Cases of dog licking and coughing that are due to stomach upsets are harder to address. Addressing them may entail figuring out which foods upset the dog’s stomach, and avoiding them…

There are also cases in which some medications can provide relief.

If the dog’s licking and coughing is due to OCD, there are appropriate medications. But if it is due to dementia, all you may be able to do is provide supportive care.

In case the dog’s licking and coughing is due to boredom, you can give the dog more stimulating activities.

And in case it is due to stress or anxiety, you can identify the aggravating factors, and remove them, to alleviate the floor licking behavior.

Final Verdict – Why Is My Dog Licking The Floor And Coughing

A dog may lick the floor and cough due to acid reflux. Sore throat and foreign objects stuck in a dog’s throat can also make it lick the floor and cough.

In those cases, the dog licks the floor in search of relief. But while licking the floor, it draws in dust and other irritants, which make it cough.

Stomach upsets can often also make the dog lick the floor. In this case the dog typically licks the floor while trying to induce vomiting.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and dementia are conditions that often make dogs lick the floor. Then when the dogs lick the floor, they draw in dust, which subsequently makes them cough.

Anxiety, boredom and stress too may make a dog to lick the floor, as it seeks ‘relief’. Here too, when the dog licks the floor, it draws in dust, which in turn makes it cough.

You first need to identify the exact reason why your dog is licking the floor and coughing. Then put in place the appropriate remedial measures, to resolve the problem or give the dog the relief it needs.

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Rajkumar Ravichandran

Welcome to Learn About Pet. My name is Rajkumar Ravichandran and I love all pets, travel, and amazing food. I write about my passion and personal experience caring for multiple pets in this blog! ❤️