04/14/2026
Have you ever wondered why your dog licks and swallows? There are numerous reasons, many of which indicate a serious health problem.
Some dogs tend to lick their lips more than others and most pet owners worry when the licking becomes excessive or is a new behavior. Dog licking and swallowing can be a symptom of a medical problem, behavioral problem, or a normal communication tool.
Behavioral Causes
* Communication behavior
* Dogs may lick their lips when confused or frustrated.
Environmental response.
* Some dogs will lick their lips when they feel dry, a bug hits their face, or something is stuck near their lip, like a piece of food or a blade of grass.
Medical Causes
* Foreign body.
* An item stuck in a dog’s mouth that causes pain and discomfort will lead to lip licking and swallowing.
Dental disease. 🦷
* As dental disease advances, plaque turns into tartar. The build-up of tartar both above and below the gum line can gradually produce an environment for bacteria to grow that is destructive to the periodontal tissues.
Nausea. 🤢
* One of the most common signs of lip licking and swallowing is nausea.
Oral ulcers.
* Oral ulcerations cause pain, lip licking, drooling, and/or excessive swallowing. Ulcers can develop from oral infections, dental disease, systemic infections (like kidney disease), or from ingestion of caustic substances.
Unpleasant tastes and toxins. 👅
* Dogs that lick something different or unpleasant can develop a funny taste in their mouths. This can be brought on by licking or eating new foods, table scraps, or plant material.
Bites. 🐝
* Any type of bite to the face or around the lips can cause lip licking and swallowing.
* Bites can come from insects (spiders, horse flies, mosquitoes) or a bee/wasp sting.
If you are concerned, schedule a vet visit.
-notes taken from PetPlace.com