My dog licks her lips before bed. Is this normal or a concern?

Licking lips can be a sign of nausea in dogs, and that could be what's causing Fendi to do this behavior. Given that she is otherwise acting normal, I would monitor her for now. If she is still acting this way in the morning, or develops other symptoms such as vomiting and lethargy, I would have her seen by a vet.

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.

This sign could be quite generic and could be compatible commonly with teeth problems or nausea (related to gastrointestinal inflammation/infections), but it is not uncommon even in normal dogs. In Puffina case I would just monitor her should the signs be persistent or getting worse or should you notice any gastrointestinal sign as vomiting or diarrhoea. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Minnie. She may have dental disease that is painful and causing the signs you have described. She could also be experiencing nausea. If her symptoms persist, I recommend that she sees her veterinarian. A thorough examination will be performed and hopefully the doctor will be able to tell you to the source of her problem. Then treatment can be recommended of necessary. I hope this information helps!

This could indeed be a health issue. It has been observed that many dogs which excessively lick objects or even eat strange things are suffering from gastrointestinal problems. On the other hand this could also be just a nervous tick. I suggest you take Pepper to your vet for an exam. Your vet may want to do blood tests and an x ray to get to the bottom of the excessive licking. If Pepper is suffering from gastrointestinal problem, medications will usually alleviate the problem.

Is Yoshi still eating? The licking lips and burping can be a sign of nausea. I would recommend getting an exam done especially if he is not eating. If the sleeping is more than normal, then I’d be worried that he is lethargic. Nausea and lethargy are both good reasons to get avoid exam done. The veterinarian will be able to help you decide if there is a medical problem and what treatment he needs. Thanks for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Licking the lips and pawing at the mouths area can be a sign of nausea or a sign of a problem in the mouth cavity. if the issue does not resolve within 24 hours i would recommend taking her to the vet in order to get it checked and treated.