You know I have four Chihuahuas. Three of them sleep in the bed with me and Remedy sleeps in her own warm little bed on the floor right beside our bed. Their nighttime licking drives me crazy sometimes! So, picture this:
Bedtime (Licking) Ritual
We have a nighttime routine (dogs thrive on routine) that includes, unmaking the bed, spreading out their blankets on top, turning on the lamp beside my bed. Then I put Remedy to bed and talk to her a minute, tell her goodnight give her a kiss a pat and then cover her up (we like it cool at night).
Then the other three and I walk to the other side of the bed, I tell them all to sit, (good training practice), and in this order, I first lift Pebbles onto the bed, then Cora, then Winston. Finally, at long last I return to my side of the bed crawl in, turn off the light and proceed to read for a while. Go ahead, you can call me crazy if you want… I think it’s a little crazy too, but it is what it is. 🙂
A big “sigh” because it sure feels good to ….. slurp! finally ….. slurp! get into bed …. slurp! after a long day. Slurp! Now all of them are laying next to me licking, slurp! slurp! slurp! slurp! Cora likes to lay right by my ear! I seldom notice Remedy’s licking as she is a little further away. They are not dainty little dogs when it comes to the sound they make when licking and there goes my peace and quiet and my concentration for reading!
It is something that I have just accepted as part of owning four Chihuahuas. But then…. last night I began to wonder why exactly do they do that every single night and decided to dig a little and find out all the possible reasons.
In the still of the night
The first and most likely explanation is that they are simply grooming themselves before sleep. Kind of a nighttime sponge bath. They may be licking during the day also but we just haven’t noticed for whatever reason.
Once they are relaxed and the diversions of the day are gone, they too may notice things that lead to licking. He could be licking sore or stiff muscles from the day’s activities. Or if he had no mental or physical activity during the day, he may be licking simply out of boredom.
Some theorize that they lick out of anxiety. It has been shown that licking releases endorphins that give him a sense of calm. This could be one reason especially if your Chihuahua sleeps away from you.
When to be concerned
Sometimes licking can be a sign of trouble. If you notice any of the following it may be time to talk to your veterinarian.
- Excessive licking
- Sudden onset of licking
- Hair loss and or skin exposure
- Inflamed skin or lesions
- Lameness or limping
- Vomiting or loss of appetite
There are some things you can do and some things not to do that may help with the nighttime licking.
Do:
- Make sure your Chihuahua has some sort of mental and/or physical stimulation during the day. This will stop the licking out of boredom.
- Stay on a regular sleep schedule and keep nightime calm.
- Encourage him to drink a little water before bed. Don’t let him drink so much that he will need to go out during the night. Sometimes when a dog is thirsty they will lick to stimulate the salivary glands.
- Brush your Chi and check his paws before bed.
- Consider whether he may be allergic to something in the bedding or the detergent used to wash it.
- Provide a safe toy for him to comfort and distract him.
- Pay attention to where he is licking. If he licks the same specific spot, check it and watch for licking during the day.
- Be patient! Ignore your Chihuahua’s licking. Sometimes he is seeking attention from you and even negitive attention is still attention.
Don’t:
- Go for a walk or play with him immediately before bed. You can do so an hour or two before bed however to help tire him out.
- Feed your Chihuahua right before bed. Stomach upset can cause licking.
- Let your dog out immediately before bed. He may pick up irritants, allergens, or scrapes that will lead to licking. However, do let him out about an hour before bed to prevent a night time potty trip.
Do you have a nighttime routine or ritual? Tell us about it in the comments below. I LOVE hearing from my readers! I read and answer every comment!