Why is my dog's tongue acting weird, like something's stuck or sick?

Hi and thank you for your question on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sight unseen, it is hard to say exactly what the cause of the tongue issue may be, but I certainly provide a few possibilities. Dogs will stick out their tongues or lick their lips with their tongues when they are nauseous. Other times, it can signal a dental infection, periodontal disease or other oral infection. A foreign body like a pieces of twine or twig could be stuck in between his teeth or gums. Lastly, dogs stick their tongues out and report to "lick the air" can be a self soothing behavior- it would be like us tapping our feet or clicking a pen. An exam from your primary care veterinarian can help rule out most of the above possibilities. I would encourage you to take Jack in when you can. Best of luck to you and Jack!

Nancy may have an infected tooth in her mouth that is causing the discomfort and fever. I would recommend taking her to the vet to have an oral exam performed to look for a problem. You may also want to feed her soft or canned food until you determine the problem because thenkibble could further irritate the problem.

These symptoms indicate that your dog is very ill. She really should be seen by a vet asap for a full examination and potential bloodwork to find out the underlying cause of her symptoms. Especially since she won't take anything by mouth. Try offering her small amount of Pedialyte and Ensure using a small turkey baster or syringe for now, until you can get her in to the vet. If your dog isn't spayed, there's particular cause for concern. Shortly after un-spayed females have their menstrual cycle they are at high risk of developing an infected uterus causing a condition called pyometra, which can be life threatening if not treated. So it really is best for your pet's health to get a diagnosis quickly and treated by your vet.

This is concerning for an oral issue, which could be an infected tooth, something stuck in the mouth, autoimmune or inflammatory conditions in the mouth, etc. Until we have a diagnosis, I can’t tell you what would be the best treatment. Casper really needs to be seen by a vet to determine what is going on.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Otis. You are correct that his behavior can signify a problem with his mouth, such as severe dental disease or a broken tooth. There could even be something stuck in his mouth. Another cause is nausea. I'd have him seen by a vet for this, and you should take him into one in the morning. I hope this helps!

Poor little LuLu! Lethargy is a very general sign of illness, and it could be caused by systemic illness, infection, inflammation, or injury. I would monitor her tonight, and if she is still acting this way in the morning, have her seen by a vet. Best of luck.

Hi there and thanks for posting on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. If Chowper's tongue is becoming white or pale, this may signal a circulation issue or anemia. Other causes may be a yeast infection. Sometimes oral papillomas (which are often white or gray in nature when originating on the tongue) can make it appear like a part of the tongue is white. I would recommend seeking care at a veterinarian's office soon to have Chowper evaluated. I hope this helps and best wishes to you and Chowper!