Don’t panic thinking your dog has been marking its territory all over your house just yet if you’ve ever climbed into your bed after a hard day’s work to find a damp patch on your bed or blanket. Your dog could just be licking their blankets.
Licking is an instinctual urge in canines. However, some pet owners find their dog’s compulsive licking to be a little unsettling. Many pet owners are perplexed as to why their dog is engaging in such strange behavior.
There are a number of reasons your dog may be licking blankets, including boredom, anxiety, dietary concerns, various medical issues, mineral or vitamin deficiencies, or just habit. It’s a good idea to take your dog to the veterinarian if you’re concerned that they’re excessively licking their blankets.
Yes, dogs do lick blankets, but then dogs lick everything. Licking only becomes a problem when a person begins to lick something repetitively. You have no reason to worry, though. Find out why your dog enjoys licking your blanket by reading on. And what steps you can take to stop your dog’s odd behavior
What Causes Dogs To Lick Blankets?
A dog learns by taste and licks to comprehend its surroundings, much like newborn hoomans who seem to want to eat everything.
We frequently overlook the fact that all living things learn through taste in addition to their keen senses of hearing and smell. Remember, when we were young, humans used to eat everything!
Your adorable doggo is no different. Puppies are groomed and licked by their mother throughout their development as a sign of cleanliness and love. As the puppy develops, this learned behavior turns into an instinct, showing up later in life as the typical behavior of an adult dog.
While dogs naturally lick their lips from time to time, excessive licking and chewing should be examined by a doctor. The following are some typical causes of canine licky-lickiness and slobber:
The most reasonable explanation for a dog licking your blanket is that it simply finds it enjoyable to do so. Your bedding picks up the dead skin cells and odors you leave behind while you sleep, especially when a dog’s impressive olfactory receptors are involved.
When dogs lick, their bodies release endorphins, the “feel-good” hormone. Dogs are happy and content when these hormones are released. They might also be missing you when you are away, and licking your blanket with your heavy scent on it is a way of them coping with mild separation anxiety.
Dogs can smell a snack from a mile away and will focus on any leftover food that you may have dropped on your coverings, so if you had any cravings while curled up with your blanket or managed to get some food particles on it, beware.
Additionally, you can bet that your dog will find any sauce or flavored liquid that you’ve spilled.
While this is harmless, if your blanket has been gathering food scraps, you might want to dust it off. Any food-loving dog will happily lick your blanket for hours just for a tiny taste.
One of the most important signs of anxiety is obsessive behavior, and excessive licking is no exception.
Dogs are creatures of routine and comfort, and any change, no matter how small, can cause some stress or anxiety, even in the most adaptable canines. Have you recently moved, or have you made any changes to your dog’s lifestyle?
Additionally, the majority of dogs experience separation anxiety to varying degrees, especially when they are kept apart from you and you are gone for extended periods of time. If your dog is left alone during that time, you must give him engaging games and toys to keep his mind active.
In dogs, separation anxiety is a very common condition that needs to be managed. If unchecked, it can worsen into serious behavioral problems, which frequently lead to the dog being given up. A dog with severe separation anxiety is also miserable, constantly fearful of being left alone, and requires constant attention.
There are several vitamin deficiencies that can cause serious health issues in dogs. For instance, a lack of vitamin A can result in blindness, while a lack of vitamin D can result in skeletal abnormalities. Neurological issues can result from vitamin E deficiency, and the immune system can be weakened by vitamin C deficiency.
Fortunately, by feeding your dog a balanced diet that contains all the necessary vitamins and minerals, these deficiencies can be easily avoided. Consult your veterinarian about nutritional supplements if you’re unsure that your dog is receiving all the nutrients they require.
Poor digestion is a problem with many dog breeds. In this situation, excessive licking could be a sign of nausea or gastrointestinal discomfort in your dog.
Many dogs experience allergies to products made from corn, wheat, and soy. In spite of all of these issues, grains are frequently utilized as a filler in commercial dog food. If your pet consumes something to which it is allergic, you will likely notice that it licks itself excessively.
Home remedies will not alleviate an upset stomach significantly. Ask your veterinarian about an elimination diet if you think your pet may have allergies, and only feed natural, organic, non-GMO, and grain-free foods.
Excessive licking can also result in a bacterial or fungal infection, which is not good!
Endorphins, a naturally occurring painkiller, are released into your dog’s body as it licks its skin.
When your dog is ill, you must take it to the veterinarian. An untreated underlying condition in dogs may worsen and become either impossible or extremely difficult to treat. It’s crucial to keep an eye out for lumps, lesions, and cuts on your dog’s body.
Why Do Dogs Lick Blankets And Furniture?
When and what your dog licks can reveal his motivation and emotions. He can be hungry, sad, sick, happy, or nervous. When your dog excessively licks blankets, furniture, carpets, and beds.
Dogs have been given tongues to lick things. Licking is something that a loving dog would do quite frequently.
There are times when you discover a damp spot on your sofa, indicating that your dog likely licked the furniture while you were away. You might be wondering why he did that as he presents you with an innocent expression on his face.
Although licking is a characteristic of dogs, excessive or unusual licking raises questions and may indicate a deeper issue. This may indicate a medical or behavioral reason.
It would be helpful to think about what would make each of the various explanations for why your dog has been licking your blanket more likely. Getting your dog to stop performing the behavior should be simpler once you have a good understanding of the most likely cause.
It may have been motivated by anxiety to do it. This would be more likely if it began doing it after an incident that might have made it anxious or if it did it more frequently during an anxious period. Examples include if it acts more aggressively when a particular person is nearby, just before you leave the house, or when there are loud noises coming from the outside.
The blanket probably has a pungent smell to it. It may lick the blanket because it detects your scent on it and feels calmer as a result of the scent. If it frequently does so when you are not present, this would be more likely to occur.
If it occurs more frequently when you are not at home, separation anxiety is more likely to be the cause. This would be more likely if your dog licks the blankets that you use personally and exhibits anxiety whenever you leave the house because they almost certainly have a strong scent of you on them. In order to increase the likelihood that it will sleep while you are away, it would be beneficial to try to minimize the causes of any possible anxiety.
As was previously mentioned, it’s possible that by rewarding your dog when it exhibits the behavior, you’ve unintentionally encouraged it. Instead, it would be beneficial to praise your dog when it does not do it, wait for it to stop before rewarding it, and try to divert its attention when it appears like it might start doing it.
FAQ
Why does my dog excessively lick my bed?
Anxiety, stress, or even a medical condition in a dog can be indicated by them licking the furniture. A dog may lick furniture because he’s bored. He might simply be attempting to pass the time since there isn’t anything else to keep his mind and body active.
What does it mean when a dog licks fabric?
The symptoms of liver disease, inflammatory bowel disease, dental issues, and other conditions can include excessive licking. When they have an upset stomach, dogs will frequently lick fabric; this is apparently their equivalent of Pepto-Bismol. Talk to your vet about Rascal’s diet.
Why do dogs lick blankets and pillows?
Dogs lick blankets for the same reason they lick pillows, so why is mine doing it? Blankets have sweat and dead skin cells, which whets your dog’s desire for salt.
How do I get my dog to stop licking my blanket?
Encourage Your Dog To Avoid Licking The Blanket Make Sure Your Dog Has Plenty Of Chew Toys And Bones To Gnaw On This will help them fulfill their urge to lick and keep their teeth clean. You can also attempt spraying objects that you don’t want your dog to lick with a spray that has a bitter taste.