Why Does My Dog Lick My Pillow?

Your dog may be licking your pillow for a few reasons.

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They may be trying to get your attention or they may enjoy the taste or smell of your pillow.

If your dog is licking your pillow excessively, you may want to consult with a veterinarian to see if there is an underlying medical condition.

A vet can often help identify what’s causing your dog’s excessive licking behavior.

Below are some of the most common causes of dogs licking pillows and other objects.

There are many reasons why dogs lick pillows.

Some dogs just like to chew on their pillows.

Other dogs will use pillows as a place to relieve themselves.

And still others may have a medical condition that requires them to sleep in close proximity to their owners.

Whatever the reason, it’s important to understand how and when your dog should be using their pillows.

The History of Dogs Licking Pillows

Dogs have been known to lick anything that catches their eye.

This includes items such as shoes, furniture, rocks, plants, and even people!

Dogs also love to chew on things that are hard to swallow.

Their teeth are not as strong as ours so they need something hard to bite down on.

Many times, dogs will try to lick these things because it makes them feel better when they do.

However, this can cause more problems than it solves.

Here are some of the most common causes of dogs licking pillows.

Sleeping Pills

Medication

Chemicals

Pesticides

Other Chemicals

1. Sleeping Pills

Many people give their pets sleeping pills to help them sleep at night.

Unfortunately, many dogs end up licking these pills.

The reason behind this is that dogs find pills interesting.

Some animals have even been known to eat pills in order to get high.

When dogs lick sleeping pills, they are ingesting the medication.

This can lead to the development of serious side effects including vomiting, diarrhea and liver damage.

In extreme cases, the ingestion of sleeping pills can lead to death.

2. Medication

Some medications are very powerful and can make your dog sick if they are ingested.

Some of the most common medications that dogs lick include anti-anxiety drugs, pain killers, antibiotics, steroids and others.

In fact, one study found that 15% of dogs had licked their owners’ prescription medicine bottles!

It is important to keep your dog away from any object that contains medication.

3. Chemicals

There are many chemicals that can be found in household products.

These types of chemicals can also be found in food, drinks and medicines.

Some of the most common chemicals that dogs lick include paint, cleaners, gasoline, kitty litter, antifreeze, insecticides and others.

As mentioned above, ingesting these chemicals can have negative health consequences.

While the effects may vary depending on the chemical, most of the time, they can lead to nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures and liver damage.

4. Pesticides

Pesticides are chemicals used to kill pests like insects.

Some pesticides contain dangerous chemicals such as arsenic, lead and cyanide.

Others contain organophosphates which are toxic to humans.

When a dog eats a pesticide, it can cause vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, seizures and death.

It is best to keep your dog away from any area where pesticides are being used.

Also, never leave your pet unattended near poison or pesticides.

Never use the same container twice.

Keep all containers out of reach of children and pets.

5. Other Chemicals

Other chemicals that can be found in household products include detergents, paints, disinfectants, glues and other adhesives.

Like pesticides, these chemicals are toxic to dogs.

Ingestion of these chemicals can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramping, kidney failure and death.

Keep all chemicals out of reach of children and pets.

6. Toys

Dogs love toys!

They are playful, fun and can provide hours of entertainment.

Unfortunately, sometimes dogs get into things they shouldn’t and ingest dangerous toys.

This can lead to serious health issues.

For example, a toy filled with glass shards can easily cut through the skin and can cause internal bleeding.

A toy made from plastic can break off inside a dog’s mouth and become lodged in its throat causing choking and death.

Most importantly, never allow your dog to play with any type of toys that are unsafe.

Always supervise your dog while playing with toys.

Make sure that they don’t put their mouths on any objects that could hurt them.

The Evolution of Dogs Licking Pillows

Pillows have been around since ancient times.

In ancient Egypt, Egyptians used them as burial mounds, and in Greece, people used them as bedding.

It wasn’t until the late 1800s that people started using pillows as beds.

Today, pillows are one of the most popular accessories for bedrooms.

Dogs like to lick pillows because they give off a pleasant scent and taste, which makes it easier for them to find their food bowl.

Some dogs also use pillows as a hiding place when they need to escape from another animal, such as a cat or other dog.

When they do this, they may choose to lick the pillow so they will know where the other animal has gone.

Some animals, including cats and mice, dislike pillows.

Cats will often spit on pillows, and mice will chew on them.

These animals may try to keep other animals away by using pillows as barriers.

Dogs lick pillows because they love to feel the softness and texture of them.

This helps them to relax after a long day of work or play.

If a dog licks a pillow, it’s not necessarily a bad thing.

However, if the dog is doing it too much, it could indicate a problem.

There are many different types of pillows on the market today.

You should research which type of pillow would best suit both your dog and yourself before purchasing a new one.

There are several different types of pillows out there, but here are two types of pillows you might consider buying:

Memory foam pillows – Memory foam pillows provide support and comfort for pets who spend a lot of time lying down.

These pillows are great for pets who are prone to back pain or arthritis.

They also make it easy for dogs to sleep on a flat surface without rolling over.

Luxury pillows – Luxury pillows are designed to look and feel luxurious.

They come in various colors and patterns, and include decorative features such as stripes, ruffles, and bows.

These pillows are usually made of softer materials, such as feathers and silk, which makes them more comfortable for pets to lay on.

The Benefits of Dogs Licking Pillows

There are several benefits to having a dog lick your pillow, including increasing their comfort level while sleeping.

Here are some other things that may benefit when your dog licks your pillow:

Reduces stress.

Helps relieve anxiety.

Improves circulation.

Relieves pressure points.

Increases blood flow.

Enhances sleep quality.

When your dog licks your pillow, it reduces stress and anxiety in the body.

For example, if your dog licks your neck after waking up from a stressful night, this action helps reduce tension in the neck area.

This allows your dog to feel more relaxed and comfortable as they drift off to sleep.

A dog licking your pillow also increases circulation throughout the body.

The act of licking the pillow stimulates blood to circulate through the skin, which improves blood flow throughout the body.

When your dog licks your pillow, it encourages the flow of oxygen-rich blood into areas that need more circulation.

Finally, a dog licking your pillow enhances sleep quality.

The Drawbacks of Dogs Licking Pillows

Dogs lick objects for different reasons.

Some are just curious about their environment while others have a more specific purpose in mind.

For instance, a dog might be interested in exploring its surroundings by licking its paw on something it finds interesting.

However, sometimes, a dog will pick up on another scent that draws them over to investigate
further.

This could mean the dog picks up on the scent of a dead animal (e.g., mice) or something else that
makes them uncomfortable.

When this happens, the dog may be searching for a way to alleviate the discomfort.

The dog may lick at the object to remove any unpleasant odor or taste, or simply to calm
themselves down.

In either case, it doesn’t matter why the dog is picking up on these scents, it only matters that they are doing so.

The Bottom Line

There are many things that can cause your dog to lick pillows.

The good news is that these issues are usually very simple to fix and don’t require surgery.

We’ll go over the different causes of excessive pillow-licking below.