Why is my rescue dog licking his lips and having trouble eating?

Hi and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Sky may need some diagnostic testing to find out what the problem is. He may have an esophageal foreign body, ulcers of stomach or esophagus or just acid reflex. I would discuss with Sky's vet if radiographs might help determine what is wrong. If the pepcid seemed to help, it may be that he needs to be on an acid reducer long term. There are other medications that may used longer term than the pepcid. I hope Sky is back to normal soon.

It sounds like something is irritating the nerves that run through the middle/inner ear. Has a thorough ear exam been done with an otoscope? Any x-rays of the head? Have you considered taking him to an internal medicine specialist and/or a neurologist for additional testing? That is what I suggest you do as the next step. Most likely he will need an MRI or CT Scan. I highly doubt Pepcid will do anything but it won't hurt to try it. Personally, I would have used steroids (prednisone) as the medication of choice but it is hard for me to second guess your vet since I have not examined Gale or have access to the entire medical history and exam findings. So, speak to your vet about a referral to a specialist. I can't seem to find any speciality hospitals in your area so you may have to drive a few hours to take him to one.

It sounds like there could be a potential problem. I would highly encourage you to have her evaluated by your veterinarian soon. In the meantime I would try blending her food into an oatmeal type consistency to see if she is able to eat more comfortably if she doesnt have to chew. Jaw pain, tooth pain, or swallowing difficulties could all be possible. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

Wally is showing signs of potential distress and may be in need of medical intervention. Ideally, he should be physically examined by your veterinarian to gather information about what is happening internally with him. [Lab work](https://www.petcoach.co/article/your-pets-bloodwork-what-to-expect) (CBC, chemistry panel, urinalysis, fecal exam) may be recommended after the exam to diagnose or rule out systemic infection and to assess major organ function.. The lip smacking could indicate either nausea (dogs will salivate a lot and become nauseous due to illness), severe [dental disease](https://www.petcoach.co/article/a-comprehensive-dental-care-program-for-your-cat) (infected teeth are painful and can make it hard to eat) or increased [stress/anxiety](https://www.petcoach.co/article/5-surprising-ways-stress-can-impact-your-pet). Without an exam, we don't know how to best help Wally until we know what we are treating, which is why getting him seen at this time is the next best step towards his care. Until you can get him in to the vet you can offer Wally some slightly warmed baby food (or force feed him a little) and small amounts of unflavored Pedialyte to help keep him hydrated. Hopefully, this will tide him over until he is seen by your vet.

I am sorry that Dixie is so sick. In this type of situation I am still usually very suspicious of an intestinal foreign object. There is one area on the x-Ray that is a little suspicious to me. Make sure to look under her tongue for any thread or string caught. I would typically recommend either a barium series or an abdominal ultrasound at this time. Occasionally exploratory surgery is recommended if we can’t find another answer . Best of luck and I hope she improves soon.

It sounds as Buddy is suffering from a gastrointestinal condition, possibly an infection. it could also be due to ingestion of a foreign body material. i would recommend taking him to the vet the first chance you get, he will need to be checked first, if the vet thinks it's a simple gastrointestinal infection he will need an anti nausea injection (lip licking is a sign of nausea), antibiotics and a special food for a few days in order to get better.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Bandit. If he has not already had one, I would recommend having an ultrasound of his belly by a board certified radiologist. This will help diagnose any concurrent problems such as inflammatory bowel disease or something else that is contributing to his symptoms. Depending on his results, a prescription diet may help to improve his symptoms. I hope this information helps!