Being a dog parent, you might be used to their weird yet adorable behaviors, especially during mealtime. While some may not eat unless their favorite person is in the room, others pick up the food to enjoy it elsewhere. And there are still many buddies who roll around excitedly after eating.
Does your dog even roll around after meals? Great! But does this behavior constantly haunt you in your mind? You might be wondering:
Is rolling around after a meal normal? Is he just having fun? Or is your buddy in distress or pain?
The fact is that any of these things can be the reason. In general, dogs are highly playful and energetic companions. They are very quirky too, and one such quirky behavior is rolling around after meals.
In most instances, dogs roll around to remove bits of food from their mouths. On the contrary, it can be an inherent tendency to eject food stuck between the teeth or to hide the food scent.
However, rolling after meals can even indicate a serious medical condition like an allergy or sore gums. This article will discuss all the possible reasons why your dog rolls around after meals and whether it’s something to be concerned about.
Keep reading to find them out!
9 Reasons Why Your Dog Rolls Around After Eating
Dogs can roll around after taking a meal for many reasons. It might appear quirky to you, but it’s an instinctive behavior that dogs inherited from their wild ancestors. You will commonly find dogs rolling in grass or dirt.
Some dogs roll around after eating just to enjoy a relaxing post-meal cuddle. Others may do it as a way of seeking attention from their parents or other people. Or it can just be a way to liberate excess energy.
So let’s dive into details about the common reasons why your dog rolls around after having a meal.
1. Expressing Happiness
Rolling around after a meal can be a way of expressing extreme contentment and happiness for some dogs. Dogs love food. Food is one of those things that brings them the greatest joy.
So your dog can give a celebratory roll to express the happiness of having a full belly. You know your dog the best. If they appear happy while rolling, don’t panic! Your buddy is just trying to convey his joy. Allow them to enjoy the moment.
Your buddy will gradually get tired and take a nap.
3. Highly Energetic
Dogs usually go for a nap after a big meal. But your buddy might prefer to roll around or run around energetically rather than sleep. A possible explanation for it is:
After a dog eats and digests the food, their blood sugar level increases. This can make them too energetic and cause them to roll around crazily. Fascinatingly, people lovingly refer to this behavior as “zoomies.”
According to some experts, this behavior is a dog’s way to incite the digestion of food quickly. While they roll, the digestive tract gets massaged, which helps things move smoothly.
On the contrary, some believe that rolling around after meals is just a way of releasing energy. And it’s difficult to sleep with full-on energy.
3. Drying or Cleaning Their Faces
Dogs don’t like their hair to be dirty or wet around the face or mouth. So it’s their instinctive behavior to clean their mouth after eating.
This behavior is more prevalent in long-coated dogs. The long hairs touch the food or water in the bowl while eating or drinking. So they can even roll around to remove the wet or dirty hairs from the face.
4. Masking the Food Scent
It’s one of the most common possibilities. Your dog rolls around after meals possibly to camouflage its food’s scent.
However, this behavior is more commonly seen in wild dogs. Predators have the risk of being hunted for food. So they move around the grass or dirt to mask the smells, making it difficult for others to spot them.
Interestingly, domestic dogs even have this instinctive nature to hide their smell by rolling around after having a meal. Your pooch may consider your neighbor’s dog to be a predator. So they roll around to mask the scent and make them less discernible.
But if he rolls around frequently and seems stressed or overly cautious, you should consult your vet.
5. Manifesting Signs of Discomfort
Unfortunately, rolling around after eating isn’t often a good sign in dogs. It can also signal pain or discomfort.
So you need to check attentively to see whether your canine buddy is showing any sign of discomfort or distress. For instance, is he making a meek sound or licking his lips repeatedly? They might be feeling nauseous.
Other possibilities include ingesting too fast, getting motion sickness, or ingesting something that they can’t digest. It’s usually not an alarming cause, but it’s better to consult your vet if you find your pooch to be uncomfortable.
Dogs often suffer from a life-threatening health condition like GDV (Gastric dilatation and volvulus). Well, the cause can be anything. But exercising after a meal isn’t recommended as it can boost the risk.
Check whether or not the left portion of your doggy’s stomach is swollen or bloated. If so, contact your vet.
6. Marking his Territory
Is your pooch trying to mark his territory by rolling? It’s possible too. While rolling around, dogs deposit their body scent on the ground to mark it. This scent marker warns other dogs that the territory isn’t theirs.
Male dogs are known to practice the behavior of marking territory more than females. They are actually more inherently territorial. However, many female dogs can also roll around on the ground, especially if they feel threatened.
After eating, your buddy might feel the need to mark their territory by rolling around on the ground. Dogs tend to respond in such ways if they feel anxious, submissive, or fearful.
7. Suffering from Allergies
Allergies are quite common in dogs. They suffer from seasonal allergies, food allergies, and environmental allergies. A common allergic symptom is itchiness. So a dog may roll around to get rid of the itching irritation.
Other symptoms of allergies include rubbing the face, watery or red eyes, and excessive licking.
If you think that your buddy has some allergies, take them to the vet to detect the real problem. However, allergies can sometimes be easily managed with medication or a change in diet. But consult their vet before deciding on anything about your dog.
8. Gum or Teeth Pain
Dogs with gum or tooth issues suffer from extra discomfort. By rolling around after eating, they can try to bestow pressure on the area causing irritation to get temporary relief.
However, keep note of other symptoms that indicate your dog is in discomfort, including:
- Bad breath
- Inflamed or red gums
- Eating slowly
- Whining while eating
- Pawing at the face.
Take your dog to the vet right away if you see any of these symptoms. Gum and tooth problems cause extreme pain that can hamper your quality of life.
9. It is Just Fun!
Finally, you may get to understand that your dog is just having fun by rolling around after meals. Your buddy is happy with their meal and is expressing that happiness with this behavior.
If it’s the case, you will see your dog putting their head against the ground, leaving their rear side up, and walking forward. In addition, they can often roll over to scratch their back against the ground or surface.
Other Reasons Why Dogs Roll Around After or Before Eating
Your dog might not only roll over after eating. The fact is that many things trigger dogs to roll around, from allergies to severe health problems.
Dogs tend to roll around to dry themselves after a bath or walk, followed by desperately rubbing against a surface. On the contrary, they can also rub their faces against the floor when trying to remove harnesses or collars.
Some dog breeds have skin folds on their faces. They may roll around to clean or itch between their wrinkles. In most cases, rolling around is pretty normal. But sometimes, it can indicate pain or irritation.
Here are some of the potential causes that can lead your dog to roll around:
1. Ear mites
These parasites cause extreme itchiness in dogs’ ears. Mites cause itching, and thus, dogs may roll around to enjoy a pleasant scratch.
2. Ear infections
Dogs with ear infections tend to roll around to put pressure on the ears and get comfort. You can confirm an ear infection by looking for signs like redness, discharge, and ear swelling.
3. Low calcium
Low calcium levels often result in itching and skin dryness that compel dogs to roll around to get relief. However, calcium deficiency can also lead to twitching, tiredness, and a loss of appetite.
4. Mental changes
Dogs can suffer from psychological issues that cause them to roll over after meals. This behavior might be a way to indicate that something is troubling your canine. So be vigilant about what they are doing, where they are going, and what their behavior is.
Do Dogs Normally Roll Around After Eating?
The answer is both yes and no.
Most dogs don’t roll around after a meal, but that doesn’t mean that rolling around is bad. Some dogs can roll around frequently after eating a meal with content.
After happily consuming their food, they might simply turn on their backs and roll around the ground. In most instances, it’s great because it indicates your buddy loved the meal and is expressing happiness.
Reversely, this behavior can just be a way to mark his food and territory. But if rolling is associated with scratching, it might indicate that your buddy has a food allergy.
If rolling and whimpering go on simultaneously, your dog has eaten their food very quickly.
It can cause a temporary stomach ache or a more severe condition like bloating. If your dog has a distended or hard stomach, it might be in pain. Call your vet immediately.
FAQ’s
Why does your dog roll around on the floor or ground?
Your dog may roll around while adapting to the new scent. It’s possible that they are trying to adopt something new that they actually aren’t enjoying. Moreover, rolling around on a surface is also a way to prevent potential dangers. You are aware that dogs can quickly sense any danger hovering around.
How do dogs behave after having allergies?
Dogs having allergic reactions can behave weirdly. So you should monitor any behavioral changes in your dog.
Why do dogs rub their faces after eating?
There are a ton of reasons your dog is rubbing his face after eating. However, the four major factors that influence this behavior in dogs include the following:
• They are too excited.
• They have allergies.
• They are cleaning their muzzles.
• Something might be stuck between the teeth.
Why does your dog roll on the carpet after meals?
If you see your buddy rolling particularly on that carpet instead of a hard surface, it can be due to two things:
First, they might be trying to clean themselves.
• Secondly, they might be trying to spread their scent.
• So, if your dog rolls on the carpet, it is harmless. Look for any kind of distress in their behavior while rolling. If he seems happy, let them enjoy themselves in their own way.
Conclusion
As you already know, several factors stimulate dogs to roll around after eating. In most cases, rolling around after eating is a dog’s instinctive way to express happiness and excitement. So don’t worry about it!
But if you notice any other symptoms or something out of the ordinary, take them to your vet to detect any underlying health problems.
Elena Gherman is a highly skilled and knowledgeable animal care expert. At the start of her career, she gained practical expertise with multiple animals. In addition to that, she works as a DVM veterinary editor for Joy Pet Products, which focuses on offering reliable information on pet health and wellbeing. She meticulously reviews each piece of writing before it is published to make sure pet owners get the most precise and updated information possible.