Karie Anne Johnson, veterinarian and co-owner of VIP Vet Visit, told Insider that both dogs and cats will sometimes over-groom for due to stress or anxiety.
"Over-grooming is what's known as a displacement behavior — they don't know what else to do to deal with stress, so they groom to calm themselves down," said Johnson.
Johnson explained that dogs typically lick or chew on their front legs and cats will often pluck fur from their abdomen.
Over-grooming can cause skin infections due to irritation. After consulting with a vet to rule out any medical problems, you may consider buying a licking mat that will help redirect some of your pet's urge to groom themselves.