Dogs can lick their lips for a variety of reasons, some are normal behavior while others could indicate a health issue. If your dog is constantly licking her lips, here’s what could be going on.
Dogs licking their lips is mostly a normal behavior and not something to worry about. But there are some situations when this behavior can be concerning.
Dogs commonly lick their lips when they’re hungry. If your dog tends to lick his lips just before mealtimes, this is probably the simplest explanation. Dogs will also lick their lips after they’ve finished eating to get to those last tasty morsels of food and to clean their mouths.
Sometimes, dogs lick their lips due to emotional or behavioral reasons, such as:
Fear or anxiety: If your dog shows other body language that indicates fear or anxiety, then the lip licking could be part of it. This includes tail tucked in, tense body, and ears pinned against the head.
Submission: Dog trainers say lip licking in dogs can be a type of appeasement behavior. So, dogs will sometimes lick their lips to indicate submission or diffuse aggression from another dog.
Boredom or attention-seeking behavior: Some dogs lick their lips when they’re bored. As long as it is not constant, you can safely ignore it. Don’t react too much to your dog licking her lips. This will send her cues that lip licking is not something that gets her attention from you.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD): Lip licking can be a symptom in dogs with OCD. It can be a difficult condition to diagnose and treat and you may need to have your dog evaluated by a veterinary behavior specialist.
There are several health conditions that can make dogs lick their lips.
Dehydration: Like humans, dogs can develop dry lips if they are dehydrated. Look for other signs of dehydration in dogs such as sunken eyes, sticky gums, and loss of skin elasticity. Make sure your dog has plenty of fresh, clean drinking water around the clock. Call the vet if your dog has not drunk water for more than 24 hours. Keep an eye on your dog’s peeing frequency. Dehydrated dogs pee less than usual.
Nausea: Dogs who are nauseous often drool more and might lick their lips to remove the extra saliva. Lots of things can cause nausea in dogs, such as a stomach bug or food allergy. Some dogs might even vomit, so keep a close eye on your pooch if you notice he’s constantly licking his lips.
Dental issues: Dogs with dental problems like gum disease, tooth decay, swollen salivary glands, or something stuck in their teeth might lick their teeth to try and relieve discomfort. Check for signs and symptoms like red or swollen gums, excessive drooling, and whining if your dog is licking his lips excessively. Make an appointment with the vet if you notice anything amiss.
Seizures: Some dogs lick their lips when they’re having a type of seizure called focal seizures. If your dog seems to have episodes of lip licking, try making a video of it and sharing it with the vet. Keep in mind that many common substances around the home are toxins that can cause seizures in dogs.
Bloat: This is a potentially life-threatening health condition that tends to occur in large breed dogs with broad chests, such as Great Danes and St. Bernards. If you notice your dog is retching, pacing, drooling, and licking the lips after a large meal, it could be bloat. Call the vet without delay or take your dog to the emergency room.
Cognitive dysfunction: Senior dogs can develop cognitive changes and declining brain function with age. This can be associated with repetitive behaviors like pacing, soiling, and licking the lips.
We cannot be sure, but there’s a good chance dogs think of licking the way humans think of kissing. Dogs lick to show affection, that much we know. For example, dog behaviorists say they will lick other dogs’ ears as a way of saying hello. It’s also common for dogs to lick their owners’ hands as an expression of love. So, there’s a pretty good chance that when your dog licks you, she’s giving you a kiss.
Dogs sometimes lick their lips if you’re talking to them and you mention food or a favorite treat. Licking of the lips could also be a way of communication. If your dog is meeting someone for the first time and licks his lips, it shows that your dog does not perceive the stranger as a threat.
Generally speaking, dogs are happy when they lick their lips. For example, as mentioned, dogs lick their lips around mealtimes. They will also lick their lips during playtime with other dogs. Lick lipping is a dog’s way of telling another dog to calm down if the play gets overly boisterous. Sometimes, your dog might lick her lips if she’s not in the mood for scratches or petting.
If you’ve noticed that your dog has recently started licking his lips and is doing it a lot, it’s worth talking to the vet about it. Excessive lip licking could mean your dog is bored, anxious, seeking attention or there could be an underlying medical condition that needs to be diagnosed and treated.
20 January, 2023