Why Does My Dog Keep Licking His Lips?
It might wake you up in the middle of the night, or it might even be the soundtrack of your day: the constant smacking of your dog licking their lips. It’s a common behavior that has you asking yourself, “Why does my dog keep doing that?”
It’s normal for your pup to occasionally lick their lips, but if this is frequent it could indicate an underlying problem, such as dental issues or stress.
Here are the reasons dogs lick their lips a lot and what to do about it.
Reasons Your Dog Keeps Licking Their Lips
Health Problems
There are several health concerns that could cause your dog to lick their lips excessively, including:
Depending on the condition, the lip licking is typically paired with other symptoms:
Nausea
A dog with an upset stomach or nausea might resort to lip licking to deal with discomfort from eating something inappropriate or from motion sickness.
Excessive lip licking and drooling can be a precursor to vomiting.
Thirst
If your dog has been outside in the sun playing hard, there’s a chance they’ll lick their lips more than usual due to thirst, or in a more serious scenario, dehydration.
Dental Issues
The most common reason a dog might be licking lips is tooth-related. Everything from dental disease, which is caused by a buildup of plaque and tartar, to a foreign object lodged between their teeth or gums (like pieces of a stick or bone shards) can cause a dog to drool, lick their lips, or paw at their mouth.
Inappropriate Consumption
According to our dogs, everything is edible with enough effort, and eating the wrong thing can lead to digestive issues, lip licking, and drooling.
Stress
When dogs are feeling uncomfortable, they use a variety of behaviors known as calming signals to telegraph their emotional state. Lip licking, or lizard tongue, is a common behavior that indicates a dog is worried about a scenario, and it might be an attempt to deescalate what’s going on.
Appeasement
Lip licking can also signify a need to reduce the tension in a stressful scenario, like if a dog gets caught chewing a shoe and is scolded.
Sees or Smells Food
If you’re enjoying a snack, your dog probably wants a taste, which is why you might catch your pup staring up at you and licking his muzzle as you plow through a bag of pretzels.
Settling Down
At the end of a long day, many pups smack their mouths and lick their lips repeatedly as they start to fall asleep; this is their way of self-soothing. Puppies weaned too soon in life might be more likely to engage in this behavior.
Should I Be Worried if My Dog Keeps Licking His Lips?
Pet parents should look at the context when considering if their dog’s lip licking is a concern. For example:
- If you take your dog for a car ride and notice lip licking, it’s probably due to motion sickness.
- Or if your neighbor is building an addition and the construction noise is overwhelming, your lip-licking dog might be feeling stressed out.
However, a dog who suddenly begins lip licking might be dealing with a health issue. For example, if they were eating a bone and then begin pawing at their mouth and lip licking, there’s a good chance they might have something in their teeth or stuck in the throat, requiring help.
Along with lip licking, pet parents should also keep track of and watch for:
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The duration of the behavior (Is it just a few licks or is it ongoing?)
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The frequency (Does it happen every night after dinner?)
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Physical signs, like lethargy, lack of appetite, excessive salivation, and vomiting
How Do I Stop My Dog From Licking Their Lips?
Before attempting to stop the behavior, it’s important to first determine the reason behind your dog’s lip licking.
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If you sense that your dog is excessively licking his lips due to a health-related issue, like illness, eating something inappropriate, or a trapped foreign body, schedule an appointment with your veterinarian.
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Calming signal-related lip licking can usually be addressed by shifting the scenario. For example, if your dog is lip licking because they’re worried about a visitor to your home, give them a safe space in a different part of your house. If the lip licking is because you scolded them for tipping the garbage can, relocate the can where they can’t get to it.
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Lip licking that coincides with mealtime, either canine or human, is a typical reaction and nothing to worry about.
Dog Licking Lips FAQs
Why is my dog always licking and chomping?
The most common reason for a dog licking his lips and chomping or chewing vigorously is due to a mouth problem. This could be foreign material stuck in the cheek, between the teeth or gums, or in the roof of the mouth.
It would also be due to swelling due to injury or tumor; a dental problem such as a loose tooth, painful tooth, infected tooth, or a growth on the gums.
Do dogs lick their lips when sick?
Yes, dogs often lick their lips when they’re not feeling well due to nausea associated with stomach upset or other GI problems, like acid reflux or pancreatitis.
Why does my dog keep licking his lips and swallowing?
Your dog might be licking his lips and swallowing excessively due to any of the issues listed above, including nausea, a trapped foreign body in the mouth or throat; dental disease; extreme thirst; motion sickness; or stress.
The context around the behavior will help pet parents understand if the dog lip licking requires intervention or if it’s just a normal reaction.
