Why is my dog constantly licking his lips like he's trying to swallow?

Question

For several months, my 12 year old Male Maltese dog has been frequently licking his lips as though he is trying to swallow something even when he has not been drinking or eating. This occurs day and night. He received shots six months ago and is in good health. He went through a period of licking his paws and back about two months ago until we used stop itch spray with good results. What could be the cause of the licking his lips? I can’t feel any obstruction in his throat but it is sensitive. Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Small (up to 22lb) | Male | neutered | 12 years and 3 months old | 16 lbs

Jessica Desrosiers · Accepted Answer

Licking the lips can sometimes be a sign of nervousness, nausea, or even an issue with the teeth or mouth. If he hasn't had a dental cleaning recently, tartar on the teeth or gums could be causing some irritation and thus the licking behavior. Nausea such as from minor GI upset, may also cause drooling, or have signs such as vomiting or diarrhea, but this is not always the case. If it continues or you see any signs of illness/smell bad breath, etc, having your vet take a look is best. If you've changed something in his environment around the time the licking started (new pet, people, items in the house, etc) it could be that he's feeling a bit nervous or uncomfortable as well. Making sure he gets some extra attention and the cause of the nervousness is addressed (IE making sure he has someplace to go rest and hide, using a pheromone diffuser, etc) may help.

Why is my dog constantly licking his lips like he's trying to swallow?

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