Dogs like to lick other dogs, people and objects. So that in itself is not unusual, because it is also a form of communication.
But what does it mean when your dog keeps licking the blanket? Find out the reasons and answers in the following guide!
What does it mean when the dog licks the blanket?
As with everyone behavior that appears unusual our fur noses are also available for licking the blanket different reasons. These can be both harmless and more serious.
Maybe the ceiling just smells wonderfully of you? And because your dog loves you, he will lap up this blanket with devotion.
Causes of licking at the ceiling & Co.
This «declaration of love» is just one reason behind licking the blanket.
The following causes can also be a motivator for your furry friend to lick the blankets.
Emotional Causes
feelings and emotions are for many pets a trigger, to exhibit the strangest behaviors. So why not lick blankets too?
anxiety & stress
Right at the top of the emotional causes are actually always anxiety and stress.
These two feelings mean for dogs that they are not doing well. In order to get this stress and the fear behind it under control, they look for an “outlet”.
And that can be your ceiling in this case. In a way, it functions as a canine punching ballwithout getting bitten.
If she smells of you or of an object that means safety for the dog, it will lick like crazy.
Boredom & underchallenged
It may also be that your four-legged friend totally bored is. Nobody plays with him? Master and mistress are not at home right now? All right – then the ceiling has to serve.
It can happen that it doesn’t stop at licking. If your dog is particularly under-challenged, you may find your blanket scattered all over the apartment.
The solution? Simply play with him a little more. If the blanket licking stops as soon as he is busy, boredom is actually the cause of this behavior.
Interesting:
Bored dogs don’t just dump their excess energy on blankets. Also Shoes and socks are preferred “victims”, which are taken apart with devotion. Much to your annoyance, because after all you still need the shoes.
health causes
In addition to emotional reasons can also health causes licking stuck behind the ceiling. Why it is like that?
On the one hand, your dog hopes to get his problem under control. On the other hand, it also attracts your attention. He so communicate with youwants to tell you: Something is wrong, please help me.
nausea
A health reason is nausea. By licking the blanket, your dog can have a provoke gag reflex. Vomex can be helpful for nausea in dogs.
If this endeavor is successful and the stomach is empty again, the licking of the blanket usually stops.
deficiency symptoms
You probably know that dogs eat feces and also vomit? They usually do that when they suffer from deficiency symptoms.
For example, the food does not contain the nutrients that the dog needs. The same applies to licking the ceiling. Only your dog will know exactly where the nutrients are supposed to be.
salivation
Due to their breed, some dogs tend to to salivate heavily and therefore to produce a lot of saliva. Even dogs that salivate more for other reasons want to leave it somewhere.
This is where the ceiling comes into play. Because she helps the dog Stimulate your natural swallowing reflex. And through this, the excess saliva can be swallowed or reduced.
Can I stop him from licking?
We have already given you a tip for getting your dog to stop licking the blanket: activity. If boredom and under-challenged behavior are behind the behavior, this can help.
Among other things, in the form of play units or a long walk in nature.
Plug in emotional trigger behind the licking, you must try the find out the cause. Have there been any changes in your life lately? Have you had stress that «jumped over» to your dog?
Or has your dog had an awkward encounter with another dog or human? Once you’ve found the answer, you can reduce stress.
Among other things, certain Bach flowers or CBD support. Because these natural remedies are said to have a calming and thus stress-reducing effect.
Another trick: softener. Often the ceiling is licked because it smells like you.
It conveys safety and security. Once your dog has really understood that you are going nowhere, he may no longer need this blanket.
So that he actually stops licking, you can use a fabric softener that your dog doesn’t like the smell of.
When should I go to the vet?
In the solution approaches, we assumed that there are emotional causes behind the behavior.
But she can do just as well health the trigger be. Here you should definitely pay attention to other symptoms:
- Does your dog lose appetite and with it weight?
- Does he vomit a lot and maybe have diarrhea?
- Does he appear dull and defeated or, on the contrary, much more restless?
These are just a few checkpoints that may make a trip to the vet necessary – and only if you can tick them off.
Conclusion
If your dog licks the blanket, in most cases there is an emotional reason behind it.
«Turning it off» is not difficult in itself – if you know how to find out the cause and how to stop it.
If health is the reason, you should definitely have your dog examined by a veterinarian. This also applies, by the way, if you can’t get your furry friend to deal with the stress on your own.
How about your dog? Has he already licked your ceiling? And if so, what was the reason?
We would be happy if you share your experiences and tips with us in the comments.