Why is my dog tongue smacking, congested, and her mouth feels dry?

I recommend getting her seen by your vet for an oral exam. There may be some hidden oral disease you cannot see, she may have a tumor or polyp somewhere in her mouth or nasal passages, kidney disease can cause bad breath, there are a number of possibilities. You vet will do a thorough exam, possibly bloodwork and based on these results, be better able to tell you what is going on with your dog and how best to treat it.

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.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Naisha. If she continues to make the noises you described, I recommend that she sees her veterinarian today. She could be experiencing nausea that is making her retch, gag and lick her lips. Other times these noises can actually be related to an upper respiratory tract infection. The puppy will cough and gag. This can occasionally bring up a white foamy fluid. Either way she should be seen as she is such a young puppy. I hope this information helps!

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.

This is usually a sign of nausea, which should be ideally checked as it could be compatible with a chronic type of inflammation. Considering her age, a physical examination and possibly more investigations (like an abdominal ultrasound of her abdomen) would be ideal.

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.

Those symptoms could indicate issues such as stress, nausea/GI upset, or even something stuck in the throat or mouth. Since items can get lodged far enough back to not be seen just by looking in the nose or mouth, it would be best to bring Kona into your vet for an exam. You vet can take a closer look (with sedation as needed) to see if there is an apparent cause.