Why Do Canine Lick Their Lips?

Once you discover your canine licking his lips, you may assume he’s hungry or simply ending up a tasty meal. However why do canine lick their lips — even when, generally, there’s no meals in sight? Is that this extra of a behavioral or a medical state of affairs? Effectively, in brief, it could possibly be both.
Why do canine lick their lips? The fundamentals.
Is your canine licking his lips attributable to starvation … or one thing else? Pictures © GlobalP | iStock / Getty Photos Plus.
Lip licking is a approach for canine to speak through physique language. For those who discover your canine licking his lips if you admonish him for an undesirable habits — or when he’s on the veterinary clinic or anyplace that makes him uncomfortable — you’ll be able to assume that the lip licking is attributable to stress.
The time period ‘calming sign’ was coined by Norwegian canine coach, Turid Rugaas, who associates lip licking with stress, concern or confusion in a canine. She believes that this habits can start initially as a stress response, however over time can flip into an obsessive behavior, like nail biting in people.
Why do canine lick their lips once they’re pressured?
In case your canine is licking his lips out of stress, attempt to redirect him in a optimistic method. A method to do that is to present him a easy cue and reward him when he follows it. It is best to keep away from comforting your canine when he appears uneasy as a result of this will truly reinforce his concern or anxiousness.
Canine additionally lick their lips to appease an individual or animal who they understand as a menace with a purpose to keep at bay aggression. Whereas that is thought-about to be a submissive gesture, it’s nonetheless an indication that a canine is pressured and uncomfortable. Additionally, this doesn’t imply that the canine received’t ultimately change into defensive and/or aggressive if the uncomfortable stimulus stays as is. At this level, it’s finest to again off and provides the canine some area to get extra comfy.
“If you need your canine to respect you, you need to additionally respect your canine. relationship is predicated on two-way communication, and dwelling collectively in a well-balanced togetherness,” says Turid. “Management doesn’t resolve something; it solely creates issues, in our lives in addition to within the canine’ lives.”
Why do canine lick their lips once they’re confused or pissed off?
Generally canine exhibit appeasement gestures like lip licking and yawning when they’re pissed off or confused. House owners might discover this habits throughout coaching periods when their canine are having hassle understanding what is predicted of them. This can be a clear signal that the lesson wants to finish quickly, and on a optimistic notice (maybe by asking the canine to do one thing simple, like ‘sit’).
Once you begin once more the subsequent day or so, attempt to break down the motion or coaching into smaller segments so it’s simpler in your canine to be taught.
Why do canine lick their lips for different causes?
In some instances, the reply to, “Why do canine lick their lips?” is due to bodily maladies corresponding to nausea, dental illness or mouth ache. Gastroesophageal reflux, abrupt dietary modifications, intestinal obstruction or a bout of pancreatitis can be culprits. Lip licking, nausea and vomiting are sometimes secondary to different situations like liver illness, kidney illness or Addison’s illness.
Do not forget that it’s all the time higher to be protected than sorry. For those who discover any modifications in your canine’s habits, you must promptly make an appointment together with your veterinarian.
Thumbnail: Pictures © bobmadbob | iStock / Getty Photos Plus.
In regards to the writer
Author Elizabeth Vecsi lives within the Hudson Valley along with her 5 cats. Over the previous twenty years, she has been an editor and author for numerous pet publications, together with Cornell’s Dogwatch.
Learn extra about canine well being care on Dogster.com: