Weighted blankets are always praised for their relaxing effect on human’s minds and body but the question arises here whether it works the same way for dogs or not? And most importantly, whether they are genuinely safe for our furry friends or not.

Now someone who has recently discovered a weighted blanket and is in the state of chaos whether or not they should buy it for their dogs, you might be thinking if it’s a really wise purchase or just another potential risk. Let’s dive into facts regarding the weighted blankets, how to use it and will your dog thank you for buying it for him or not. 

Weighted blanket for dogs?

A weighted blanket for dogs is a carefully constructed blanket that has an equal distribution of weight all over it, often using the glass beads or poly pellets. Their blankets are almost the same as the one used by humans, it exerts a gentle pressure to the dogs body that replicates the sensation described as a “ deep touch pressure stimulation”. Now what does this deep pressure do to a dog? Deep pressure helps calm the neurological system by lowering the cortisol, which is known as the stress hormone. It also raises the serotonin and dopamine, the substances that promote relaxation as well as overall well-being of the dog too. 

• These blankets are usually beneficial for:
• Dogs with anxiety 
• Puppies that struggle or get scared during the fireworks or stormy weather
• Senior dogs that have joint pain
• All the other pets that have separation anxiety or just the usual restlessness

Do dogs like weighted blankets?

The answer to this question is different for every dog, some puppies might like it a lot, some might find it discomforting completely, or even suffocating. For some puppies it could be a very smooth and enveloping feeling and some might severely dislike it. 

Now, it depends on what your dog prefers. The dog that prefers burrowing or cuddling or likes hiding beneath the blankets, likes to stay in warm sheets with you, are more likely to respond in a very positive way. The dogs like dachshunds, Terriers, and greyhounds are very friendly and loving dogs, they like snuggling a lot and are known for snuggling under blankets too. So, such dogs are the ideal candidate for the weighted blankets. However, the dogs that are very sensitive to touch and get aggressive easily are most likely to dislike these weighted blankets.

Are weighted blankets safe for dogs?

The benefits and harms of everything depends usually on their use, how we use a certain thing will show if the thing is safe or not. If talking about the weighted blankets for the dogs, when used correctly, they can be both safe as well as beneficial. 

Let’s talk about a few security measures that can be used:

• Selecting a dog specific blanket:

The blankets that are used for the humans can not be used by the dogs too, it should be according to the dog. Moreover, the weight of these blankets should not be more than 10% of the dog’s actual weight, else it will be very heavy and suffocating for them. They might feel trapped in it too. 

• Supervising:

You need to supervise the use of the blanket too, do not leave the dog alone with it. Especially, at the time of night you need to look after the dog for the first few days to make sure if the dog is comfortable with it or not. 

• Avoiding for puppies or small breed dogs:

The tiny dogs or puppies that are less than 15 pounds may be too little to support the weight of this blanket, so you need to wait for them to grow a bit and then make them experience this blanket. 

• Watching signs for discomfort: 

You need to examine the signs that show symptoms of discomfort in the dog such as panting, restlessness and even refusing completely to go near the blanket. On appearing of any such symptoms, you do not have to force it on the dog. 

Benefits of weighted blanket:

There are various benefits of weighted blanket such as:

• Reduces anxiety (Ideal for the dogs that have separation anxiety or noise phobia)
• Improves sleep pattern (the restless dogs fall asleep sooner and they remain asleep for longer time)
• Relaxes the body and mind (After a pet visit or new training, to calm dogs down)
• Reduces any sort of joint pain (gentle pressure can help with muscular pain too)

When to avoid weighted blankets?

There are times and situations when you need to completely avoid these blankets. Such as:

• If dog is having breathing issues, avoid it
• If dog is suffering from heat sensitivity, avoid it
• If dog is too little or a puppy, avoid it
• If the dog recently had surgery or operate, avoid it

So, are the weighted blankets actually good for the dogs? Yes, but you need to use it correctly, and under appropriate situations too. A well-designed weighted blanket can help dogs reduce anxiety, stress, better sleep and many more benefits. However, you need to supervise it, keep a proper size, veterinary consultant and keep in mind the safety measures too. 

For more pet care tips, visit our site Biakwe