Have you ever noticed that your dog keeps licking his lips and swallowing? There are numerous reasons behind the behaviors, with many indicating serious health issues.

Most dog parents deeply bond with their pooches, but there's a certain limit in how we can communicate with our four-legged friends. If you think your pet is constantly licking and drooling, then it’s time to determine why and find out ways to tackle the issue.

Potential causes of dog licking lips constantly

Some pooches are born lickers. For example, you are likely to be greeted with lots of licking when you get home after a hard-working day, a long trip, or even when you get back from the mailbox. Sometimes, they might just want to groom themselves or their friends or simply prefer to lick treats and toys. 

Read more: Why Do Dogs Lick Each Other?

On the whole, dog licking and swallowing can be a normal communication tool. In some situations, this so-called normality can indicate a behavioral problem and even an early indicator of a medical issue.

Normal behavior

In this case, everything is just normal and there’s no worry at all. A dog licking lips when petted is just a way to show affection and bond with the human owners. Or when feeling dry, he will also continuously lick his lips and swallow. Besides, in the case of inter-dog conflicts, direct eye contact avoidance and lips licking are also instinctive canine’s gestures. By doing the combination, the frightened dog is showing his opponent that he’s not interested in the fight. 

An interesting scent in the air could also easily lead to your dog constantly smacking mouth. Thanks to the acute nose, a dog can pick up odors out of the surrounding air. Instead of curling lips like cats, pooches tend to lick the air to catch the scent.

Last but not least, chances are that it’s a normal physiologic reaction in your pets. Specifically, when he anticipates that his treats or foods are coming, the salivary glands will continuously flow, leading to his lip licking and swallowing reaction.

These normal dog behaviors are absolutely entertaining and heart-melting to watch. And you even want to cherish the moment wherever you go. So why not have a custom dog Hawaiian shirt with an image of your dog’s funny mouth licking on it like this? 

Behavioral issues

Some dogs will constantly lick their lips and swallow as a way to show their different emotions. For example, if your pet is having difficulty in some parts of the training course, he will lick his lips to express his confusion. Likewise, if your dog keeps licking lips and yawning, it can be a sign of frustration caused by the high intensity of the training session 

A dog will exhibit continuous lip licking when they want to calm themselves down. So, when scared or in stressful situations, dogs tend to use this appeasement gesture. If stress is the root cause of these behaviors, you need to figure out and remove the source of their discomfort. Most of the time, it could be one of the following:

• Loud noises — either internal or external noises
• The presence of guests or strangers in your house
• The appearance of a new pet or animal in his territory
• A new environment or some changes in the house after renovations.  

Medical causes

Foreign body

If you find your dog keeps licking lips and shaking his head, sneezing or pawing at his mouth, pay full attention. He could be trying to get rid of an item stuck in his mouth. Some common items that are the culprits of these symptoms are: 

• Bones
• Toys
• Sticks
• Rawhide
• A blade of grass
• Spiky foxtail seeds

The small stuff leaves potential risks to dogs if not removed immediately. Not only cause pain, but they could also go all the way to the lung and stomach to damage their internal organs.  

Nausea  

Nausea can also cause your pet to lick and swallow uncontrollably. In this case, maybe there’s something that disagreed or even was toxic with his stomach. To eliminate the discomfort, you might catch him rushing to the yard and ending up eating lots of grass.  Once your dog has successfully vomited, the lick-and-swallow behavior will decrease significantly. 

Make sure to note down the duration. If the abnormality lasts for more than 24 hours could, it indicates a critical medical issue that needs an immediate visit to the vet.

Dental problems

Just like human owners, pets also need to brush their teeth daily. If your dogs have to get fillings after they break their teeth, be sure to take them for dental checkups as recommended by the vet. Otherwise, due to the lack of adequate care, your dog will suffer from tooth decays.  

Besides issues related to the teeth, poor dental care could also lead to oral ulcers in pets. In particular, plaque could develop into tartar, which is an ideal breeding ground for bacteria to cause ulceration. To make the matter worse, this oral issue causes pain and drooling. Your dog keeps licking his lips and swallowing continuously. 

There’s a way to check if dental disease is the root cause of the lick-and-swallow behavior. You can examine whether there is a foul scent from your dog’s mouth, inflammation, or any food particles stuck between infected teeth. 

 Watch: The Reasons Why Your Dog is Licking Their Lips All the Time 

Toad venom toxicity

Toxic substances from toad is another mishap that could result in lips licking and drooling in your dogs. Once your pet comes into contact with a poisonous toad, the toxins will be rapidly absorbed through the eyes, mouth, open wound, or even gas tract. After entering the bloodstream, the substances target the vessels, heart, and nervous system.

The two most frequently seen species of toads that cause poisonings in the US are the Colorado River (Sonoran desert toad) and the cane (marine toad). These amphibians are most commonly found in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Texas, and Hawaii.

To confirm that poisonous toads are what to blame for, check if your dog is foaming at the mouth. If you notice foam in his mouth, then take him to the vet immediately.

Insect biting

Insect biting is another cause of the lick-and-swallow behavior in pooches. If your dog keeps licking lips and swallowing at night, chances are he’s been bitten by some insects such as spiders, mosquitoes, or horse flies. Bee stings could also cause discomfort, resulting in your dog licking lips to alleviate pain.

In the case of snakebites, the situation may get worse with more serious symptoms.  Your pet could suffer from intense pain. So, if there’s any swelling or inflammation around the face, call the vet for further recommendations and suitable treatments.

Becoming dehydrated

If your beloved dog keeps licking lips and panting, especially in hot weather, he’s likely experiencing a loss of water. Dogs with a history of liver or kidney disease can also become overheated easily in hot weather. You can literally tell if that’s what is happening.  Watch for some more indications such as:

• Dull/sticky gums appear and spread quickly
• Your dog keeps licking lips and panting
• There’s no or little skin elasticity
• His eyes become sunken 
• In some cases, dehydration can result in your dog licking lips and lethargic symptoms

Suffering from Lick Fits

If your dog’s lip-licking behaviors don’t stop for days, there could be more to it than a normal health problem. That’s because the Lick Fits in dogs presents similar symptoms.

Dogs battling against Lick Fits will exhibit signs of permanent swallowing and salivation. Your pet will lick anything in the house and eat anything they find. Other symptoms include constant air gulping and swallowing. These doggy abnormalities are more obvious when the animals are in severe gas discomfort. In fact, Lick Fits are most common in young Swissys, but dogs of any age and breed can also be affected. 

Diabetes 

Is your little furry canine taking more nocturnal trips outside than usual? If you notice that your dog is showing symptoms of excessive thirst but urinating frequently, take them to a vet. This is because they may signal the development of diabetes.

Seizures

In some cases, pooches may develop partial seizures. A dog with partial seizure may be still conscious and responsive but lick the air and snap continuously for a while. If your dog seems depressed and listless after having an episode like this, then it is very likely that your pet is suffering from a seizure. 

What to do if you see your dog licking and swallowing

The first thing to do if your dog is constantly licking his lips and swallowing is to look at the above causes and determine if there is an underlying medical problem.

The key is to:

Evaluate your dog’s behavior

When your dog keeps licking his lips and swallowing, is he anxious? Stressed or nervous? Try to examine whether the lip licking and swallowing behavior is a message of anxiety or not. If your dog is currently in a situation that makes them uncomfortable, give them some time and space to relax. Remember to remove your dog from any situation in which he’s prone to be out of energy. 

To improve the behavioral problem by spending more time with your little pups, offering them toys, playing some gameplay, or just going out for a walk. However, an important note is that you’d better avoid giving your dog special attention. This will lead to a natural and rapid recovery and an easy process for the two as well.

Determine if it’s a medical problem 

The best approach is to get your dog to a veterinarian for precise check-ups and examinations. The medical staff will give recommendations for a certain type of medical issue that your pet is suffering. Sometimes, your pet has to take blood tests or MRI scans to rule out any physical issues.

For behavioral and emotional problems, it’s better to consult a behaviorist. Remember that you are unable to tell exactly what’s going on with your pets. So please don’t delay in consulting your pet professional, otherwise, the condition can potentially be fatal.

Meanwhile, there are some situations when you can handle yourself. For example, in case of dehydration, you need to bring him inside your home or under the shade. Then, slowly offer him water. After your dog cools down a bit, check for recovery or improvement by pinching his skin.

At the same time, try to make detailed observations about the appearance of the symptom. This information can give your special expert important clues as to the cause.

To wrap everything up, your pet depends on you to keep them healthy and active. It’s part of your duty as a dog parent! So if your dog keeps licking his lips and swallowing, or any abnormal behavior, pay attention and decide to take proper actions in a timely manner.