Is it safe for puppies to have a blanket? Essential Tips

Create comfort on the go

A blanket is easier to pack than a dog bed if you’re planning a trip. It’ll also help keep your dog calm in the car and strange places like a hotel room or a friend’s house.

Blankets also help shield couches, chairs, or your bed from dog hair and muddy paws. And unlike most furniture, it’s easy to toss a blanket in the wash.

How closely you watch your pet while using a blanket depends on your pet’s personality and habits. “It really varies from pet to pet,” Roberts says. “I always recommend monitoring first.” Puppies and kittens may especially need closer watch until they become older.

Cords for electric blankets or heating pads may pose a safety hazard, so it is important to keep them away from your pet. This is especially true for puppies and kittens who often like to play with objects that resemble a toy. “Anything that has an electrical component is not safe,” Roberts says. “You never know what is going to tempt them to chew.” If too hot, electrocution may cause burns, noncardiogenic pulmonary edema (where fluid fills the lungs, making it difficult to breathe), and death. Cats who like to knead on the cords may tear through the protective lining and shock themselves by accident.

Suffocation isn’t likely to occur when your pet is using a blanket, but it still helps to be aware of what type of blanket she is using. “They wouldn’t suffocate if [the blanket is] a breathable material,” Roberts says. If the blanket is not made of a material that would feel comfortable for a person to use, your pet may feel the same discomfort.

During the winter months, sometimes all you want to do is curl up under the blankets—and your dog or cat may hop up on the couch to join you. While blankets are usually harmless for pets, there are some key points to consider when they decide to cuddle under the covers.

As far as ideal blanket materials, most materials used for human blankets are safe for pets. You may choose to purchase specialty blankets marketed specifically for your pet, or you may already have suitable blankets at home. “Our pets probably don’t mind one way or another,” says Dr. Charlotte Thompson, associate veterinarian of Banfield Pet Hospital in Montgomeryville, Pennsylvania. However, Thompson does warn pet owners to be aware of possible allergies that your pet may have to the laundry detergent used to wash the blanket, as it may cause an allergic reaction if she is sensitive to the product.

Why your dog needs a dog blanket

Dogs are pack animals and like the sense of security they get from burrowing into a cozy spot. If you don’t have more than one dog, you can help mimic a dog den by giving your dog a special blanket they can use whether they curl up on the floor, at the foot of your bed, or inside a crate.

Puppies adjusting to a new home or dogs who’ve recently been adopted from a shelter both benefit from adding a soft blanket to their sleep space.

Why Dogs Need Blankets

A dog’s blanket provides a great deal of comfort both in and out of the home. Many families have chaotic routines. Work, school, and nightly activities can all provide a jolt of unpredictability into your pet’s life. These are essential activities in your world, but to your pet, they are a source of stress.

Your dog needs a spot to call their own. When chaos is thrust upon them, they need something, however small it might be, that they can depend on to provide comfort. A dog’s blanket is often just the thing that they need to provide that source of comfort. When it comes to purchasing a dog blanket, it’s good to know you have plenty of durable and comfortable options.

A Natural Instinct to Nest – Dogs have base instincts that have stuck with them since before the days of domestication. For instance, they may circle and scratch around their sleeping spot. For them, it may feel like they’re building their comfortable nest, or a place to rest for the remainder of the night.

A blanket gives them a natural place to rest their head inside your home. They won’t need to go searching all over for this spot on a regular basis if they have a comfortable, favorite blanket accessible for them to sleep on.

Keep Your Dog Warm – Sleeping on a blanket instead of tile or a hardwood floor can provide your dog a source of warmth and comfort on a cold winter night. This is especially true if you don’t sleep in the same room as your dog, or don’t allow them on your living room furniture. Offering your animal this option, especially on a winter night, can just feel like the right thing to do.

Keep Calm in a Thunderstorm – Summer thunderstorms can be a great source of anxiety for dogs. The shockingly loud booms can send animals into panic mode. Having a blanket for them to take shelter on can provide a source of stability in chaos.

Comfort on the Go – Travel is stressful for dogs. For many animals, the car becomes automatically associated with the vet, which can make going anywhere with your pup difficult. A comfortable blanket makes any car trip a less anxious affair.

Comfort in Unfamiliar Places – Families travel and go on vacations. People often board their animals to make vacations a little easier. A favorite blanket can provide a permanent reminder of home, and their “favorite humans.” This is another difficult and anxiety-provoking experience for dogs, and that sense of stability that a blanket provides can really help.

Easier to Wash than a Bed – Blankets are pretty straightforward to clean. You can simply throw them in the washing machine at home and carry on with your day. The same cannot be said for many dog beds. Washed on the wrong setting, and they can be destroyed.

Dogs notoriously love their blankets. Whether it’s at home or on the road, it gives them a place to snuggle up and be comfortable. No matter your lifestyle, this is an easy investment that every pet owner can make to improve the quality of life for their animal.