10 Reasons Why Your Dog Keeps Licking Its Lips
Why does my dog keep licking his lips and drooling?
Help! My Dog Is Licking Its Lips a Lot!
One day, out of nowhere, your dog suddenly starts continuously licking its lips as if there's some peanut butter on their nose. As the smacking persists, your dog starts looking uncomfortable. Perhaps they also try to lick the carpet or the floor or lick the air as though they're attempting to get rid of something.
They may be drooling, too—even more so than usual. You look at your dog's nose, gums, and teeth, and all seems normal, yet the behavior continues. What could it be? You take your dog out, and they start to frantically eat grass.
What is going on?
Related: 12 Reasons Why Dogs Lick Their Paws Constantly & Obsessively
Why Is My Dog Constantly Licking Its Lips?
Dogs will lick their lips non-stop as an appeasement gesture when feeling threatened, anxious, or nervous or when they experience a health-related problem such as nausea, oral discomfort, allergies, or internal pain:
- A medical condition: According to veterinarian Dr. Katie Grzyb, dogs who keep licking their lips for no reason are most likely feeling nauseous, have allergies, or are dehydrated. Constant lip licking and smacking can also be caused by abnormal medical conditions or learned behaviors.
- A calming signal: If you notice this behavior when you scold your dog or when they are at the vet or in some other uncomfortable situation, then lip licking may be a stress response. Turid Rugaas, a Norwegian dog trainer and behaviorist, came up with the term "calming signal" to refer to lip-licking that is instigated by stress, fear, or confusion. Your dog licks their lips as a way of saying, "I feel threatened or nervous. Please go away."
- An obsessive behavior: Of course, this behavior can start as a stress response, but over time, it can turn into an obsessive habit, similar to nail-biting in humans.
Foxtails are spiky grass seeds that can travel up your dog's nose, causing constant licking, sneezing, and head shaking.
10 Reasons Why Your Dog Keeps Licking Its Lips
- Nausea
- Calming signal
- Oral discomfort
- Swallowed a foxtail
- Licked a toad
- Seizure
- Sign of pain
- Dehydration
- Bloat
- Attention-seeking behavior
Each of these situations is described in detail below, with tips and suggestions.
Also in This Article
- Are there different types of licking?
- Other signs and behaviors to look for
- What does it mean if my dog is licking and sneezing?
- What does it mean if my dog keeps licking the air?
- When to see a vet
Your dog may eat grass to clean out its system.
1. Your Dog Is Nauseous
- If your dog is licking and swallowing, she is most likely nauseous.
- The feeling of nausea makes her drool, and she may lick her lips and swallow to get rid of excessive saliva.
- She may also eat grass, which is a natural way for dogs to make themselves vomit.
- Licking and gulping may mean your dog ate something that didn’t agree with her stomach or, worse, something toxic.
If you don't think your dog has eaten any of the toxic foods on this list, then try these home remedies for vomiting and vet-approved remedies for an upset stomach. If vomiting or nausea continues for more than 24 hours, see a vet immediately. It may be a critical medical condition or a sign of poisoning.
2. Your Dog Is Displaying a Calming Signal
- Dogs who are faced with a perceived threat may lick their lips as a sign of appeasement.
- It is a pacifying behavior that dogs display when they are stressed, fearful, or anxious.
- By licking their lips, they are sending the message that they would rather not confront their fear. It's helpful to look at the context.
- If your dog licks their lips every time you come home, then it may be possible that you have scolded them several times in the past when you saw a puddle of pee that was left while you were away.
- Your dog cannot associate your scolding with what they did hours ago, so they might be frightened of you every time you come home.
- Lip licking may also become a nervous habit similar to nail-biting behavior in humans.
Related: Why Is My Dog Obsessively Licking Other Dogs?
Depending on the age of your dog, lip licking could be indicative of tooth decay, periodontal disease, or even swollen salivary glands.
3. Your Dog Has Oral Discomfort
If there is something wrong in a dog’s mouth, it can cause oral pain and discomfort. Owners should check for signs of:
- Tooth decay
- Periodontal disease
- Objects embedded in the mouth
- Swollen salivary glands
In particular, owners should look under the dog's jawline or under the dog's tongue for swelling. These are the locations of the salivary glands.
- If such areas appear swollen, then this may be an indication of accumulated fluid in the surrounding tissues, known as a sialocele. This condition needs to be seen by a vet promptly.
- An owner may be able to inspect the teeth, tongue, and gums, but it can be difficult to see the larynx.
- A vet may have to sedate the pet so that they can see over the soft palate.
4. Your Dog Swallowed a Foxtail
- Foxtails are awns (spiky grass seeds) that have been known to travel up the dog's nose, into the ears, between the toes, and even into the lungs.
- If your dog swallowed a foxtail, she will likely appear panicky and will constantly lick, swallow, and sneeze.
- She might also eat anything she finds on the ground (i.e., grass or leaves).
- She may also lick the floor, people, or walls for comfort.
If you think your dog swallowed a foxtail, see a vet immediately. The vet will determine the best way to remove it. This may require sedation, depending on where the seed is.
Drooling, licking, and foaming at the mouth are symptoms of toad poisoning.
5. Your Dog Licked a Poisonous Toad
The two most common species of deadly toads are the Sonoran Desert (Colorado River) toad and the cane toad. Signs of toad venom toxicity appear within minutes. Symptoms include:
- Severe drooling
- Very red gums
- Hyperthermia (body temperature rises)
- Vomiting
- Head shaking
- Pawing
- Foaming at the mouth
- Loss of coordination
If these signs appear, and if your dog permits, wipe the roof of the mouth, gums, and tongue with a wet cloth, rinsing with water to remove as much of the sticky substance as possible, and rush your dog to the vet immediately.
6. Your Dog Is Having a Partial (Focal) Seizure
In some cases, dogs may develop partial seizures.
- Dogs with partial seizures may be conscious and responsive but may lick the air and snap as if catching imaginary flies.
- If your dog seems listless or depressed after having an episode like this, then it is very likely that your pet is suffering from epilepsy.
Speak to a vet immediately. They may prescribe medication to control the seizures.
7. Your Dog Is Showing Signs of Pain
- Some dogs whine or bark when they are in pain. Others show more subtle signs, like lip licking.
- Any cause of pain could lead to this behavior in pets, so it is imperative that a vet checks your dog to avoid faulty guesswork.
- Common causes include liver or kidney diseases or any conditions that cause dehydration.
Related: Can Dogs Drink Pedialyte?
Chronic dehydration is likely a sign of kidney or liver disease.
8. Your Dog Is Dehydrated
- Dogs smack their lips when they are dehydrated.
- Dehydration may be brought on by hot weather (or heat stroke), strenuous physical activity, or an underlying medical condition, such as kidney or liver disease.
- Signs of dehydration include dull and sticky gums, sunken eyes, and loss of skin elasticity.
How to Check for Dehydration
To check for dehydration, pinch your dog's skin and lift it as high as you can. When you release it, the skin should quickly snap back into place. If the skin slowly collapses or forms a tent, then you have a dehydrated dog.
Offer plenty of water and take your pet to the vet if dehydration is accompanied by vomiting, lethargy, and/or diarrhea.
9. Your Dog Has a Case of Bloat
- If the dog drools, paces nervously, and retches but nothing comes out, the dog should be seen by a vet immediately, as this can be a symptom of bloat.
- Bloat is an enlarged stomach caused by food, fluid, or gas.
- It can come on suddenly and is seen mostly in deep-chested dog breeds.
- It can be dangerous and even fatal if not treated by a vet.
It's possible your dog is licking her lips as a way to get attention. If you talk to her every time she licks her lips, she may form positive associations with lip licking.
10. It's Just Attention-Seeking Behavior
- If you can confidently rule out any medical conditions, your dog may be using lip-licking as a way to get your attention.
- Do you pet your dog or turn around and talk to her every time she licks her lips?
- If so, she may have associated this behavior with getting your attention and is now using it to get you to pet her or display other signs of affection toward her.
Other Signs and Behaviors to Look For
Nausea and eating non-food items (e.g., balls of dust or clumps of hair) are the most common reasons for unexplained swallowing or licking, but esophagitis (an inflammation of the esophagus) caused by acid reflux or oral diseases that affect the tongue or gums may also result in constant licking and gulping.
If the behavior only appears periodically, then there is a possibility that your dog is suffering from a seizure. Does the swallowing or licking look like your dog is trying to catch flies or is licking the air? This may be a sign of epilepsy, partial focal seizure, or some other neurological disorder.
Related: 10 Reasons Dogs Throw Up Undigested Food
Licking and sneezing could be an indication of allergies or irritation to foxtail.
What Does It Mean if My Dog Is Licking and Sneezing?
This is a clear sign that your dog is bothered by allergies or irritants. Eating or inhaling foxtail is a common cause, but reasons for allergies may also include:
- Pollen
- Dust
- Grass/weeds
- Mold
- Cleaning chemicals
- Laundry detergents
- Deicing salts
- Flea medications