Dog licked at the bed all night, leaving a big puddle. Why am I so confused?

So, I just woke up (3 a.m. EST) to a huge wet spot on the bed. My 1-year-old mutt was lying next to me, where he usually sleeps, licking the sheet. He must have woken up in the middle of the night and started licking, or maybe he was licking up a massive drool puddle. The spot is about 12 inches in diameter and soaked through a quilt, a sheet, and two mattress covers, down to the mattress itself. It smells like chicken soup, so I know he didn’t puke or pee the bed.

I took him outside to pee, gave him a small drink of water a bit ago, and now he’s passed out next to me on the couch. I think I snapped him out of whatever he was doing when I woke up.

I’m baffled as to why this happened. He didn’t get into anything unusual, and there was no food on the bed to prompt this behavior. He doesn’t compulsively lick things and doesn’t have any known psychological conditions other than some separation anxiety. This has never happened before, and I’m completely stumped.

If anyone has experienced something similar, I’d love to hear about it. I’m wondering if I should call the vet.

Sorry for the long message, but it’s 4 a.m. now, and I’m just worried about my pup. Thanks!

Dogs find it soothing to lick objects, which is why Kongs are so well-liked.

The same repetitive licking, licking, licking is what my dog does. Her eyes are closed, as though she’s being rocked to sleep while hanging on a hammock.

There’s no need to take him to the vet unless the area he licks is red or hair-losing.

Every dog that has ever visited our man cave has liked to lick our old, bockety suede couch till it bleeds. Not the velvety chair, not the tweed-like couch, not any of the house’s furniture, not even their own beds—just that damn suede. Luckily, it’s a deep shade of brown! Strangers…

Switch to something he can’t resist, like a KOng with peanut butter inside or a raw soup bone.

In the event that the licking is a habit, it may take up to 10 days for him to stop using bitter spray on the affected area. The spray wears off, so you have to keep applying it again. Cross your fingers that he finds it offensive!

I want to break the habit, may I divert to a treat? He performs it numerous times a day, almost indiscreetly. He is crated during periods when we are away from home. I suppose I would have to use the spray in such a scenario. Thank you; I’ll try that out.

Self harm licking is usually either allergies or a compulsive disorder. If you haven’t had him checked for allergies, talk to the vet.

Is licking a typical Pug characteristic? My pug/chihuahua mix is constantly licking.

It is, indeed. Likewise, chopping up foam. Although it doesn’t happen frequently enough to be concerning, my pug mix started doing it when he was a little older.