Dogs lick their privates for normal cleaning (grooming) or due to irritation, which can signal underlying issues like UTIs, allergies, yeast infections, impacted anal glands, skin problems, or even stress/behavioral problems. While occasional licking is normal self-hygiene, frequent, frantic, or excessive licking indicates a health concern that needs a vet visit, especially if accompanied by redness, odor, scooting, or changes in urination/defecation.
Is licking private parts ever acceptable? In the dog world, a moderate amount of licking is part of normal grooming behavior. For example, a male or female dog may lick the genital area after urinating to clean the area. When this is the case, licking is only related to elimination and is not persistent.
Your dog may obsessively lick their private parts due to discomfort caused by urinary tract infections or an infection to their reproductive organs, such as vaginitis or pyometra.
Allergies. Food or environmental allergies can cause rashes and irritation, and your dog will feel this even more in the genital area. Licking can be an attempt to soothe the inflamed skin. Avoiding the allergen will prevent the problem, but if it can't be avoided, medication can provide relief.
A swollen vagina with whining and licking often indicates infection or inflammation, such as a urinary tract infection or vaginitis.
Dogs say "I love you" through actions like leaning on you, making soft eye contact (releasing oxytocin), following you around, bringing you toys, licking, gentle tail wags, and cuddling, all signs of trust, affection, and bonding that show they feel safe and happy in your presence.
Dogs can typically express their anal glands themselves, but if they can't, it can mean that the smelly fluid inside is built up to the point of discomfort. Aside from the anal glands, anal licking can also be caused from issues in and around your dog's butt.
While a small amount of smegma is normal, an increase in discharge, especially if it is thick, yellow, green, or has a foul odor, can be a sign of infection. Monitoring any changes in the appearance or smell of the discharge to help identify potential issues.
Excessive Licking of the Urinary Opening
Dogs do not only lick themselves to clean their bodies; they also lick to soothe pain and irritation. If you notice that your dog has become much more focused on licking themselves around the urinary opening, they may be experiencing pain from a UTI.
Licking is a natural part of the male dog's behavior. Female dogs will lick their vulva quite vigorously sometimes as they derive pleasure from this activity.
Symptoms of Dog Skin Yeast Infections
Dogs may lick a specific area on their body if they feel pain, irritation, or an infection. Allergies, skin conditions, or even joint discomfort can trigger obsessive licking. If you notice redness, swelling, or hair loss, it's best not to ignore it.
Open Pyometra: In this form, the cervix remains open, allowing pus and infected vaginal discharge to drain from the dog's vulva. You might notice a foul-smelling, bloody, or yellowish discharge on your dog's bedding or fur. While the drainage is unpleasant, it can be a clear warning sign that something is wrong.
Here are five effective home remedies for itchy pet skin.
Overview of Genital Licking in Dogs. Dogs like to keep themselves clean. In addition to cleaning their legs and body, both male and female dogs will also lick their genital areas to remove dirt, discharge, or debris. Excessive licking in this area may indicate a medical problem and be a cause for concern.
Anxiety and Stress: Just like humans might nervously tap their feet or bite their nails, dogs can develop excessive licking as a coping mechanism for stress or anxiety. This could be triggered by separation anxiety, loud noises, changes in their environment, or even boredom.
Puppy vaginitis usually resolves on its own after the first heat cycle. Common signs include vulvar discharge, excessive licking, and frequent urination. Treatment may involve hygiene maintenance, antibiotics, or surgery, depending on the underlying cause.
The most common symptoms of a UTI in dogs include frequent urination, straining to urinate, blood in the urine, foul smelling urine, and urinating in inappropriate locations. Other signs may include lethargy, loss of appetite, licking at the penile or vaginal area, and a fever.
Why PetTest - Our UTI Strips are specially formulated for accurate and early detection of a UTI in your dog or cat. They give you accurate results at home, fast, using urine test strips for infection detection. Then see your vet to treat early and help prevent health complications.
The first signs of Cushing's disease in dogs often involve increased thirst (polydipsia), frequent urination (polyuria), increased appetite (polyphagia), and lethargy, alongside a developing pot-belly, thinning skin, hair loss (especially on the body/flanks), and excessive panting, requiring a vet visit for diagnosis.
Signs a dog needs their anal glands expressed include scooting their rear on the ground, excessive licking/biting at their hind end, a foul, fishy odor, straining or pain when pooping, swelling/redness around the anus, and chasing their tail due to discomfort, all indicating irritation from full or impacted glands that need emptying.
All natural dog odors are most prominent near the ears and from the paw pads. Dogs naturally produce secretions, the function of which is to produce scents allowing for individual animal recognition by dogs and other species in the scent-marking of territory.
Dogs that may be more at risk of anal gland conditions include:
To treat anal gland issues, your veterinarian might recommend lifestyle changes, such as a fiber-rich diet. They might also be able to manually perform anal gland expression to release built-up fluid. If the dog's anal glands have abscesses, surgery might be the best course of treatment.
Fibre is your dog's best friend when supporting healthy digestion, bowel function and poops. High fibre foods such as sweet potato, apple and broccoli create firm poops which will naturally express the anal glands.