When it comes to licking, the first thing that comes to mind is cats. Although it is known as a cat-specific, normal behavior, it is true that some dogs also do. However, the point to be noted here is that cat licking (except in some special cases) is perfectly normal behavior, while dogs licking themselves or something else like objects (blanket, pillow, etc.) can signal illness.
Because dogs constantly wanting to lick an object, wall, floor, carpet, or the owner’s hands, arms, or legs indicates that they may have ELS (excessive licking of surfaces) disease. Dogs with ELS may even feel the urge to lick their lips.
The most important point that pet owners should pay attention to when saying that their dog is constantly licking something; is not to be confused about whether dogs lick themselves to clean themselves or because they are bothered by skin inflammation.
There may be a problem with gastrointestinal problems
In the study conducted by the Faculty of Veterinarians of the University of Montreal and carried out with a total of 19 dogs, including 16 of them that frequently reveal the symptoms of ELS in their daily lives, their psychological and neurological behaviors of them were observed, and ten healthy dogs were also tested in terms of data comparison. Following the tests, ultrasound, endoscopy, and histopathological analyzes were performed to observe whether there were gastrointestinal problems in the laboratory environment. As a result of the research, gastrointestinal problems occurred in 14 (74%) of 19 dogs with ELS. Watch out for other diseases too!
With the immediate initiation of treatments for emerging diseases and keeping them under observation, 9 of them were completely cured of ELS. Compared to 10 healthy ones observed during the same period, it turned out that dogs with ELS did not behave much differently from healthy ones. Another point that draws attention to the research is that 7 of the dogs exhibit these behaviors immediately after eating at home. According to the results of the study, there is a high probability of gastrointestinal diseases in dogs showing signs of ELS. This shows that it is a valid situation for veterinarians to deal with stomach problems, not behavioral disorders.
Traditional treatment methods
Although studies to understand whether dogs with ELS suffer from gastrointestinal problems have yielded useful results, treatment methods have not gone further than traditional medicines or foods. For this reason, animal owners should give up giving their dogs drugs according to their heads every time they get sick, feed them with high-quality and rich food, and thus not support the progression of gastrointestinal diseases.
Since it is used whenever it comes to mind, it causes various serious problems in animals. Therefore, no matter what, you should feed your dog according to its breed, health condition, and age. The problem of licking is not just due to stress. There may be many other reasons as well. If you say that your dog is constantly licking somewhere, you should immediately share the problem with your veterinarian and find real reasons other than psychological reasons.
Why Does My Dog Lick My Blanket?
Dogs often lick to communicate. Apart from that, if they lick a certain point or an object like your blanket, it is because they smell an odor in that area. In other words, the reason why your dog is licking your pillow or your blanket is most likely because it has your scent all over the place.
Have you ever gone into bed after a long day at work to discover a moist patch on your bed or blanket? Don’t get too worked up over your dog marking its territory all over your house just yet. It’s possible that your dog is just licking their covers.
Why do dogs lick your blanket, then? Boredom, nervousness, nutritional disorders, numerous medical conditions, mineral or vitamin shortages, or simple habits might all be reasons why your dog likes to lick your blanket. It’s a good idea to take your dog to the doctor if you’re concerned that they’re licking their blanket compulsively.
Dogs do lick blankets, but they lick everything else as well. Only when they begin to do this excessively does it become a reason for worry. But there’s no need to be concerned.
Dogs lick to get a feel of their environment and what is going on around them. Canines, on the other hand, don’t just lick to see what’s there. Dogs use their sense of taste to understand the world around them in the same way that people do. That might be one of the reasons why your dog is doing that to your blanket.
In most animals, this behavior is a kind of self-hygiene, and your darling pet is no exception. Furthermore, most dogs associate this activity with a pleasurable experience.
When your pet is a puppy, it gets licked by its mother for sanitary reasons as well as affection. As a result, it might emerge later in life as a learned behavior that develops into an innate habit.
This suggests that licking is a completely normal behavior in dogs. Only if your dog demonstrates excessive or compulsive licking should you be worried. A lot of circumstances might contribute to this excessive behavior. Here are some reasons as though why your dog likes to lick:
Anxiety
If your pet was formerly a well-behaved puppy who has suddenly begun to lick your blanket excessively, you should look into the core of the problem. Pay attention to any changes in your pup’s life or routine that may have occurred recently.
It’s possible that you’ve begun to spend long periods away from home or that there have been some loud noises outside your home as a result of street construction. In either case, your dog will react to the drastic shift in its habit, and it may even develop separation anxiety. Therefore anxiety can causes it to lick your blanket.
The simplest technique to alleviate separation anxiety in your pet is to calm him down. If he suffers from separation anxiety, you should spend more time with him. Your puppy will also need to be trained. Training can also assist with OCD.
Obsessive Tendencies
It’s possible that it’s because of an obsessive-compulsive condition. This is where it has an insatiable need to lick blanket and will continue to do so. If it has been doing that to your blanket nonstop for a few weeks, this is more plausible. In this instance, consulting a veterinarian is the best alternative.
Dietary Concerns
The digestive systems of several dog breeds are poor. When your dog begins to lick excessively, it might be a sign of nausea or gastrointestinal distress.
Corn, wheat, and even soy are becoming common allergens in dogs. Nonetheless, grains are included as a filler in most dog food formulations. Excessive behavior will be the outcome if you feed your furry companion something to which it may be allergic.
It Smells Like You
The blanket is likely to have a strong odor on it. It may lick the blanket because it detects your aroma on it, which makes it feel more relaxed. If it tends to do it more while you aren’t around, this is more likely.
You’ve unintentionally rewarded it.
You may have unintentionally taught it to lick your blanket. If you offer it things it wants like attention, sweets, or toys when it licks your blanket, this is more likely to be the case. Instead, rewarding your pet when it doesn’t do it and attempting to shift its concentration when it appears ready to start doing it might be beneficial.
Habit
If you’ve checked out any medical issues and are confident that your pet isn’t suffering from separation anxiety, it’s possible that your dog is just licking your blanket because it enjoys it. Humans leave a lot of dead cells and skin on their beds and blanket while they sleep.
As you may know, your dog’s tongue is its most sensitive organ. Therefore your pet keeps licking your blanket because it smells like you and reminds them of you. In addition, dogs like to lick themselves because it releases endorphins in their bodies.
This feel-good enzyme makes your dog happy and pleased. So, while you’re not around, your dog may mix licking your blanket and oneself to pass the time.
It could be tough for you to get used to waking up to a dog-spit-soaked blanket every night. It isn’t, however, an issue without a remedy. In a short period of time, you can teach your dog to avoid doing this. You may always hire the services of an animal behaviorist or a pet trainer if basic pet training isn’t your strong suit.
A Blanket that is filthy
Many dog owners are mystified as to why their canines lick their blankets on occasion. They have no notion, however, that they may be the perpetrators of such horrific acts. Pet owners like cuddling with their pets, watching movies, and nibbling on snacks.
Now, if you’re munching on your and your pet’s favorite food and accidentally spill some on the blanket, your dog will be able to detect it.
Dogs occasionally uncover small food particles embedded in the blanket’s fabric and lick them away to obtain a taste of them. However, even if there is no food clinging to your blanket and only the aroma of your dog’s favorite snack, your pet will gladly lick it for hours.
Hygiene is the only remedy to this problem. You, too, must become acclimated to the concept of cleaning up after yourself, just as your pet does. There’s no harm in watching a movie with your pet, but if you’ve had any goodies, you must clean up the sofa and wash the blanket you used during the movie.
It enjoys the flavor
Sweat and dead skin cells collect on your blanket as you sleep, which is going to give it a salty flavor. It’s possible that it licks your blanket because it like the way they taste. This is more likely if it likes to lick the blanket that you’ve been using and then doesn’t lick them as often after they’ve been washed.
If it appears to be doing it because it enjoys the flavor of the blanket, it might indicate that something is amiss with its nutrition. This would be more plausible if it began doing so following a dietary change.
Deficiency in a mineral or vitamin
Excessive behavior may also indicate that your puppy is deficient in vitamins or minerals. When it comes to their dogs’ food, many pet owners take additional precautions. Certain breeds, however, are born with calcium or vitamin deficiencies.
Taking your pet to the vet is the only way to know for sure if he has a mineral or vitamin deficiency. It’s also a bad idea to start giving your pets vitamins without first seeing a veterinarian.
What Can You Do to Make Your Pet Stop This Behavior?
Keeping it at Bay
Correct the behavior as soon as you see it. When they start to “go” in the house, chew up your boots, or do anything else you don’t want them to do, you’re supposed to do the same thing.
You are the master of the home in their eyes, and they want to be loyal to you. Please guide them to one of the solutions given in the sections below.
Limit His Use of the Blanket
If everything else fails, restrict blanket access. This may appear cruel at first, but you’re not taking anything away; you’re simply bringing it out when you’re able to monitor it.
You must address their behavior when they begin chewing on the blanket in the first place, as we discussed before. This, along with being there while they anxiously chew, may be all they need to understand that this isn’t appropriate behavior.
Remember that your pet is learning about the world around them, and this behavior is the quickest way for them to understand a new object or area. When this activity gets excessive, replace it with something more pleasurable and beneficial.
