What this means
The first thing to separate is ordinary grooming from a change in behaviour. A dog may lick briefly after urinating, after a nap or after play, and that does not mean anything is wrong. It is different when the licking becomes constant, your dog stops playing or resting because of it, and you notice that the area looks red, is wet or smells different from usual.
Problems in the urinary tract are one of the more common reasons a dog keeps licking. Your dog may ask to go out more often, pass small amounts, strain while urinating, have accidents in the house or leave wet patches where it has been lying. Notice whether the urine looks cloudy, pink or bloody. All of this is information worth writing down and showing a vet.
On the other hand, not every bout of licking comes from the urine. Irritated skin, an allergic itch, parasites, discharge from the reproductive tract or swelling can make a dog lick just as persistently. It helps to know your dog's sex, whether a female has been spayed or a male neutered, and when the licking began. The cause cannot be guessed from the outside, so a vet needs to find it.
Possible causes
These are things that can cause this sign. It is not a diagnosis, and they are not equally likely for your dog.
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Ordinary grooming
A short lick after urinating or resting is normal dog behaviour. It becomes worth noticing when it goes on for long, keeps returning or makes your dog stop playing.
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Inflammation or infection of the urinary tract
An irritated urinary tract makes a dog urinate more often and lick the area around the opening. The urine may be cloudy or pink, and your dog may strain while urinating.
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Bladder stones and crystals
Stones or crystals irritate the bladder wall and the urethra. Your dog may pass small amounts often, the urine may contain blood and the licking returns. A stone can block the urethra, and that is an emergency.
About the condition: Bladder stones -
Urine leakage
When urine leaks without your dog meaning it to, the skin around the opening stays wet and sore, so your dog licks it. Your dog sometimes does not even notice the wet patches on its bed or the floor.
About the condition: Urinary incontinence -
Skin irritation or itch
An allergy, parasites or sore skin can itch in exactly that area. Then the licking may be about the itch rather than the urinary tract, and the skin may look red.
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Problems of the reproductive tract
Discharge, inflammation or swelling around the genitals makes a dog lick. In a female this may involve the womb or vagina, in a male the foreskin. The colour and amount of any discharge are useful to note.
What else to watch for
These observations help your vet build the picture faster. Note down what you saw and when.
- Whether your dog asks to go out more than usual and passes small amounts
- Whether the urine is cloudy, pink or bloody
- Whether your dog strains, whimpers or stands for a long time while urinating
- Whether there is discharge, swelling or redness around the genitals
- Whether wet patches appear on the bed or floor that your dog does not notice
- Whether your dog is drinking more than usual
When to book a routine visit
Book a visit if the licking lasts more than a few days, keeps coming back, or comes with frequent urinating, blood in the urine or discharge. If your dog cannot pass urine or is in severe pain, go straight away.
Related conditions
Conditions whose entries mention this sign. The list is somewhere to read on, not a way to reach a diagnosis.
- Bladder stones Kidneys and bladder Bladder stones are hard clumps of minerals that form in the urine and slowly grow inside the bladder. They irritate the bladder wall, causing inflammation and pain, and if one gets stuck in the urethra it can block the urinary tract. A dog that cannot pass urine is in a life-threatening situation and needs a vet immediately.
- Cystinuria Kidneys and bladder Cystinuria is an inherited metabolic disorder in which the kidneys fail to reclaim an amino acid called cystine, so it passes into the urine. Cystine dissolves poorly in urine, so it can form crystals and stones in the kidneys or bladder. A stone can get stuck and block the urinary tract, and a dog that cannot pass urine needs a vet immediately.
- Hyperuricosuria Kidneys and bladder Hyperuricosuria is a condition in which there is too much uric acid in the urine. This acid can crystallise and form stones in the bladder or kidneys, which irritate the urinary tract and can block it. A dog that cannot pass urine is in a life-threatening situation and needs a vet immediately.
- Urinary incontinence Kidneys and bladder Urinary incontinence is a condition in which a dog leaks urine without meaning to, sometimes without even noticing. It can be caused by a weak seal at the bladder outlet, urinary tract infections, stones, inborn defects of the urinary tract, nervous system disorders or other illnesses. It is not the dog's fault, and finding out why it is happening is a job for a vet.
- Reproductive problems General health This is an umbrella term for various conditions that make it hard for a female to conceive or carry a litter, or for a male to sire one. The causes vary: hormonal imbalances, infections, the structure of the reproductive organs or age. What is getting in the way for a particular dog is for a vet to work out.
Body systems: Kidneys and bladder General health