Dogs Licking Metal

[Gemba100]

Can anybody tell me why 2 of my 3 dogs lick the metal on their kennel runs? They are brother and sister (Labradors) and constantly lick the metal in their kennel - which means they foam at the mouth and get a really wet chest. I have tried putting mustard on the area they lick, to try and prevent them doing this, however they just lick it off!

I have also put toys for them to play with in the past - just incase it is a bordom thing, but they just wreck the toys and then go back to licking the metal.

Its obviously not harmed them, as they have done this for years - and approached my vet about it, but he doesnt have an answer or offered any suggestions.

Any suggestions or answers as to why they are so attracted to this, would help!

P.s. Their mother doesnt have any urge to lick metal!

[rd14962]

Now, unless my memory serves me wrong, this is probably a defeciency of iron in their diet, as I had this with a dog years ago. if they are fed on dried food give them a portion (about half a kilo) of ox liver (raw) once a week. If they are on canned food try the liver recipes they do.

A big juicy marrowbone should stop them destroying toys and licking metal.

Regards

Rupert

[Gemba100]

Thanks Rupert, I'll give it a try!

[Lonnie]

rd is certainly on the right track, have a look at this link, its a Q&A on the problems of dogs licking various things, including metal. www.vetinfo.com/dlick.html

[drgnrdr]

When I first read this I thought they might have Sep. anxiety being in a kennel, but there's not enough info to really draw that conclusion, so I'll have to go on what's here: Hope you can pull this up

http://www.usask.ca/wcvm/herdmed/applied-ethology/behaviourproblems/picabeh.html

Pica is a known problem.

Just because your dog has others to play with, most dogs will NOT play till they are exhausted, they wrestle, run, stop, wrestle, stop, run, stop, wrestle, stop they don't get their heart rate up in an aerobic workout, so they don't get "exhausted", this is a throw back IMHO of when they had to defend themselves and if they were totally wasted and no energy, they would be at risk, so they don't do that unless WE make them exercise.