My Dog is Licking Everything and Throwing Up – Top 3 Reasons Why

Here are the most common reasons for dogs that throw up and lick everything around them.

1. Signs of gastrointestinal distress

Your dog could be throwing up because he is suffering from one of many health conditions that affect the gastrointestinal system. It could be something mild like a stomach upset or something more serious such as an intestinal blockage or inflammation. Excessive licking could be a normal reaction to the discomfort and pain from feeling sick. Licking could help calm a dog down by releasing endorphins and dopamine in the dog’s body.

2. Licking something toxic

Your dog might be throwing up as a result of licking something “toxic” from the floor or carpet. This could be things like crumbs of leftover foods (high in fat or sodium) or chemicals like household cleaner products. Throwing up might be a consequence to ingesting something that doesn’t settle well in a dog’s stomach. Your dog won’t know any better and may continue licking because of an interesting scent or taste.

3. Dog is feeling nauseous

Vomiting and excessive licking are common symptoms of canine nausea. Other common symptoms include excessive drooling, excessive chewing, dehydration, and dry heaving. Nausea can be caused by a number of factors including dietary changes and medication intake.

While licking is a normal habit for dogs, it would be of concern if the dog starts to lick everything around him and follows that up with bouts of vomiting. We recommend calling the vet as this may be a sign of an underlying health condition or disease.