24/07/2023
9 reasons why your dog licks the air
Like humans, dogs use their tongues to taste and swallow food. But the latter also plays a role in other situations: have you noticed that sometimes your dog seems to lick the air?
When your dog eats or drinks, his tongue laps. In the same way,
he will lick the air giving these same licks and curling it towards
his muzzle. You may feel like your dog is rocking his tongue back and forth.
Is licking the air another weird and funny behavior seen in dogs, like zoomies, pacing around, or getting all excited after a bath? In reality, your dog can lick the air for many reasons, some of which may warrant consulting your veterinarian.
Read on to learn nine reasons your dog might be licking the air, and the signs that you need to see a vet.
Why is my dog licking the air?
Dogs can lick the air for many reasons, both behavioral and health.
Amplification of the sense of smell
Compared to humans, dogs have an incredible sense of smell because their noses contain almost 60 times more olfactory receptors than ours! As if that were not enough, they use another technique to increase this meaning tenfold: their language.
"In the nasal cavity of dogs is the vomeronasal organ, or Jacobson's organ," explains Renee Rhoades, lead behaviorist at R+ Dogs. When a dog picks up an interesting smell, like a mate's urine, you may see him lick and start chattering his teeth. »
That doesn't mean your dog is cold. As the behaviorist points out, he uses his tongue to "push" the smell of urine to his vomeronasal organ. This behavior is called “flehmen”. It allows dogs to pick up pheromones or chemical information about other animals. (This behavior is also observed in cats!)
In summary, "smelling" the air with the tongue is a perfectly normal canine behavior that should not worry you.
Short-term stress and anxiety
Sometimes your dog may feel stressed or anxious because he doesn't like being left alone or playing in crowded spaces.
In an attempt to relax, he will start licking himself, but also licking the air or objects. “Rhythmic, soothing licks can calm your dog by releasing happy hormones (endorphins),” says Renee Rhoades.
Ears drooping, twitching, moaning or crying and a tail dangling or positioned between the legs are other signs of stress. If you notice your dog licking the air and showing other signs of stress, the behaviorist suggests distracting her with a LickiMat or other enrichment toy.
If your dog continues to lick the air because he remains stressed, call a dog trainer: he can apply other techniques to help him feel more calm.
This is compulsive behavior
If your dog regularly feels anxious or stressed, his defense mechanism may quickly turn into compulsive behavior.
Licking the air can become a compulsive behavior, just like quickly licking your skin which, as the specialist points out, can damage the tissues and lead to the appearance of sores or infections.
As Renee Rhoades explains, "Dogs can lick quilts, pillows, or toys." But this behavior can present some dangers, as your dog could swallow an object and choke or suffer from gastrointestinal problems.
As a general rule, you need to identify and treat the source of your dog's anxiety before helping him stop this compulsive behavior. A veterinarian or canine behaviorist can give you more advice, including approaches to change this behavior.
Presence of a foreign body in the mouth
When food gets stuck between our teeth or on our palate, we dislodge it with our tongue. It's the same for dogs!
A dog that has food stuck in its mouth may lick itself excessively, reveals Renee Rhoades. They may also yawn or rub their face on objects to try to remove the stuck food. The behaviorist adds that this situation can lead the dog to salivate excessively, explaining the fact that he constantly licks himself.
If you think food is stuck in your dog's mouth, gently open it to get a look. If there is something in his mouth, use your index finger and thumb to gently pull it out.
skin problems
Dogs, to relieve their itching, will scratch themselves. When skin conditions like dermatitis or dry skin cause persistent itching, your dog may find it difficult to reach those spots.
"If your dog is itchy or irritated in places he can't reach, he'll sometimes writhe and lick the air," says Renee Rhoades.
If you notice your dog constantly scratching in the same spot, watch that area of skin for redness, sores, or scabs. You can also ask your veterinarian to perform a thorough skin exam.
Dental diseases
Regularly cleaning your dog's teeth can be complicated, which probably explains why 80% of dogs over the age of 3 have dental problems.
But what is the connection between toothache and licking the air? As Brian C. Hurley, veterinarian and national medical director at AmeriVet, explains, when dogs lick themselves, it's often to relieve pain or out of comfort.
Loss of appetite or pawing at the mouth are other signs that may suggest dental problems.
However, the veterinarian brings good news: dental problems can be treated. "See a vet and have your little friend's teeth checked out," recommends the specialist, adding that if the vet observes a possible dental problem, they will recommend professional dental care and treat any periodontal disease.
Nausea
Dogs, for the same reasons as humans, can be nauseous. This may be due to a food they can not digest or motion sickness.
“When your dog is nauseous, he will typically lick the air in an attempt to soothe his upset stomach,” explains the veterinarian. A dog with a stomach ache may also gag or drool excessively.
In most cases, these symptoms go away fairly quickly. However, if your dog's nausea doesn't seem to subside in a short period of time, Brian C. Hurley recommends contacting a veterinarian for advice on the proper course of action.
Gastrointestinal problems
If your dog regularly suffers from stomach problems, and his pain leads him to lick the air, he may be suffering from gastrointestinal problems. Dogs can develop digestive issues like inflammatory bowel disease or ulcers.
If your dog frequently shows signs of an upset stomach, or if air licking is accompanied by other symptoms, such as lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, or loss of appetite, Brian C. Hurley advises contacting a veterinarian. The latter may prescribe tests to identify the cause of the stomach ailments your dog is suffering from and establish an effective care plan.
Seizures
The appearance of seizures in a dog can be linked to several reasons, among which are:
Neurological conditions such as epilepsy
diabetes ;
Infections
Tumors
Poisoning
"When a dog has a seizure, it will lie on its side, wag its paws as if swimming, urinate and defecate," explains Brian C. Hurley, before adding that dogs, during a partial seizure, can also lick the air.
If your dog's seizures are related to an infection from a parasite or something else, your veterinarian may prescribe medications that will cure the infection and stop the seizures.
If epilepsy and diabetes are diseases considered irreversible, certain treatments can limit the damage. So, if your dog has epilepsy, your vet may prescribe an antiepileptic, such as phenobarbital or potassium bromide.
My dog licks the air: should I be worried?
In most cases, licking the air is completely normal canine behavior. According to Brian C. Hurley, there's no reason to worry if your dog occasionally licks the air.
All dogs, regardless of breed, lick the air, and this behavior can be influenced by the time of day: at night, dogs are more likely to lick the air.
“Your dog will be more likely to lick the air when waking up from a nap. This behavior can therefore occur in the morning, afternoon or evening, because dogs have polyphasic sleep, ”explains Renee Rhoades. (Polyphasic sleep is a segmentation of the sleep cycle into multiple phases, so dogs will fall asleep and wake up throughout the day and night, rather than sleeping all at once like humans.)
That said, as Brian C. Hurley points out, if your dog seems to be licking the air more and more regularly, it may be a good idea to consult a veterinarian. Renee Rhoades supports this, adding that the situation can become worrying if this behavior prevents the dog from calming down, eating, playing or exercising.
Consult your veterinarian as soon as possible and explain your dog's behavior in detail. If possible, Renee Rhoades suggests filming your dog and writing down in a notebook all the times this behavior occurs. This will help your vet make a more accurate diagnosis.
Points to remember
Dogs lick each other naturally and for many reasons. For example, they may lick and chew their paws if they suffer from dermatitis. They will also be able to lick your face as a sign of affection (be careful, letting your pooch lick your face is not always a good idea). Finally, if your dog licks a friend, it is probably to establish his dominant position.
In most cases, you don't have to worry about your dog licking the air: he's just trying to pick up a really good smell. However, if he does not seem to stop, or if this behavior affects his daily life, it would be best to consult a veterinarian.
