Dogs usually stretch because they want to play. Stretching releases toxins and warms up their muscles. It also gets their blood flowing, which helps them when they’re about to do an exhausting physical activity.
Stretching is sometimes part of their mating ritual. For example, your dog may start stretching if he’s sexually interested in the female dog he saw down the road. It’s also possible that he’s just doing a common greeting stretch which involves relaxed ears and squinty eyes.
The greeting stretch communicates respect,is a friendly behavior that shows eagerness to play with others and also shows peace. Dogs usually use this kind of stretch to make friends.
Dogs usually stretch after sleeping. If your pet is stretching much more than usual, it could be a sign of a serious health problem.
Upset Stomach
Your dog might be suffering from an upset stomach. He might be stretching a lot to release the pressure that has accumulated in his stomach. Canine bloating is a serious condition.When gas accumulates in the dog’s stomach, their abdomen starts toexpand, pushing up against the other organs.
You should check your pet’s stomach. Is he drooling a lot? Does his belly look extremely round and feel warm? Is it producinggurgling sounds? These are all signs of canine bloating. This condition should be treated immediately because it can be fatal if ignored.
Canine bloating can be prevented by paying attention to the amount of water your dog drinks after playtime. Let him rest for a few minutes. Wait for his breathing to slow down and let his temperature drop.
Give your dog water, but just enough to let him hydrate a bit. You don’t want him to drink an entire bowl of water. Feed him once his breathing has returned to normal. If your dog finishes eating in just a few bites, you can use a puzzle bowl to force him to consume individual pieces.
Pancreatitis
If your dog tries to lengthen his abdominalmuscles, it could be a sign that he’s suffering from pancreatitis. He’s doing this to release pressure from his stomach. Take him to the vet immediately. This is particularly important if your dog seems weak, feverish and has a bloated belly.
Dragging Hind Legs
Perhaps you’ve seen your dog dragging his hind legs behind him. He may be stretching out his back and hips. If you want to be sure, you should check if your pet is in pain.
Apply pressure to his legs, hips, paws, and ankles. Observe his reaction. Run your hands along his inner thighs to check for any injury. If your dog shows any sign of discomfort, you should back off right away.
You don’t want to get bitten or cause further harm to your pet. Set an appointment with the vet to get your dog properly treated.
Splooting
Splooting means that your dog loves to lie down flat on his stomach.Greyhounds and Labradors, in particular, love to do this because they need a lot of space to extend their limbs. Splooting helps them feel more relaxed. You might see dogs stretching a lot during the summer. They dig holes and set their stomach inside to keep themselves cool.
Stretching is seldom a cause for anxiety. Older dogs grunt, gurgle, stretch and sploot more often. This is because their digestion is no longer as good as before. They are also less flexible than younger dogs so they adapt to these changes by doing some extra stretching.
You can take your dog to the vet for your peace of mind. If you want to reduce obsessivestretching or improve your pet’s flexibility, you can try hydrotherapy or take him out for a swim. You should also inspect his wrists, knees, ankles and elbows on a regular basis. Look for signs of inflammation ordifficulty with mobility.
Common Dog Behavior
Head tilting
Behaviorists believe that dogs tilt their head to the side to try to understand what they’re hearing. It’s also possible that they are trying to accurately pinpoint the location of the noise. If your dog is always cocking his head to the side without any clear reason, he might be suffering from a medical problem.
Staring
If your dog is always staring at you, he might be hoping that you will praise him or give him a treat. Direct eye contact, however, is considered to bea threatening gestureby dogs. Before you stare at him too, make sure he’s not showing signs of fear or aggression.
Licking
When your dog is licking you, he’s just showing his affection. It is also possible that he wants to get your attention. Licking also serves as a sensory tool for them. A canine mother licks her puppies for social and grooming purposes.
Tail chasing
Tail chasing is a way for puppies to expend their extra energy. If your dog chases his tail constantly, he might be suffering from flea allergy dermatitis or anal gland issues. It is also possible that he has obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Poop eating
This behavior is called coprophagy. Your dog might eat poop because he’s hungry or maybe just likes the taste and smell of poop. He might think that eating poop is fun. If your dog loves eating poop, you can seek help from the vet to correct this behavior.
Sniffing butt
Sniffing butts is your dog’s way of greeting another dog. Dogs can smell 10,000 times better than humans. There are a lot of insightful scents that they can learn from another dog’s butt.
Humping
Contrary to common belief, humping is not a sign of sexual interest or desire to dominate. Spayed and neutered dogs may hump because they’re seeking attention or are excited. You can divert your pet’s attention with a toy or treat or simply ignore him.
These are the most common behaviors of dogs. If you want to improve your pet’s mobility, you can take him out for a walk every day.
