Why is my dog lip smacking while on antibiotics for GI issues?

Java’s lip smacking can be due to dry mouth, hair in the mouth if he has long hair on the lips, nausea, or dental disease. Keep any long hair trimmed and keep his mouth clean from food particles. Check his lips for redness or scabbing. Monitor his eating habits and energy level for any signs of illness and ask his veterinarian if he has any signs of dental disease. Best of luck and please feel free to post any additional questions.

If the other dog is a female, Tiny may be reacting to the hormones since he is not neutered. If there is often food or treats when you are with the other dog, he may be smelling that and telling you he is ready for some, too. Dogs will occasionally smack their lips when they are stressed; it is a way for them to try to calm themselves. I would watch their interaction very carefully, and Tiny may benefit from something like a Comfort Zone Adaptil Collar to help with the stress. Finally, he may be doing it as a way to gain your attention! Other potential causes of lip smacking include nausea, dehydration, or oral/dental disease. If additional symptoms of pain or not eating develop, Tiny may need to see a vet.

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.

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.

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.

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.

It is possible it is a bite or sting, or an infection. A veterinarian would also need to look inside her mouth at her teeth and the inner surface of the lip. For what it is worth, there should not be leftover antibiotics unless the veterinarian told you to stop giving them. And I definitely do not recommend giving them without being instructed by your veterinarian. Antibiotic resistance is a big problem that can be made worse by giving them when they aren't needed, or stopping them before they have been finished. If Roxy is pawing at the face, rubbing the area, I definitely recommend having it looked at to determine if it seems more likely to be infection or allergic reaction. If this just popped up and doesn't seem to be distressing her, you could wait 24 hours to see if it goes away. If she will let you, an ice cube can be rubbed over the area to decrease inflammation.