My puppy keeps licking his mouth and lips. Is he teething or sick?

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.

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!

If his mouth is a little sore, then yes he may not eat as much. This may also come with maturity as they realize they don't have to scarf all their food because it will still be there later. Although, we cannot rule out something else is going on. If his food intake decreases more, he starts losing weight or he becomes lethargic, I would have your vet take a look at him. Your vet can make sure nothing else is causing the decreased appetite and make sure he gets the proper treatment. You can offer him a little canned food if you feel like it is just a sore mouth. Honestly, if it is just that, his appetite should pick back up within 24-48 hours. I hope this helps!

Hello, thank you for using PetCoach. I assure you that Asher is getting enough nutrition. This is normal teething behavior and all puppies go through it. Dogs have to be emaciated/starved in order to be truly deficient nutritionally. I would not worry about it. Usually puppies do like harder things to chew on when teething. Do you have any dry food out for him? If not, I suggest you do that. You can also get him some teething toys to help. ( https://www.petcoach.co/article/7-great-toys-for-teething-puppies/ ) Hope this helps. Best wishes.

LIcking can be a sign of dental disease or GI upset. If the licking goes on for more than a few days, then yes it would be a good idea just to get him an overall health check up through your vet. Make sure to brush his teeth 2-3 times a week to hep prevent dental problems. I hope that everything works out well for your pet Toby. Take care!

It is difficult to know without examining him. He could have a problem with his teeth or maybe he is nauseous from an upset stomach. The best thing would be to have him examined by a vet to determine if he has a problem and then treat. If he is experiencing pain, your vet can prescribe an anti-inflammatory to help relieve any pain and inflammation. If he is having stomach/abdominal issues then he may need an anti-nausea medication and a gastrointestinal protectant.

It sounds like Nene may be feeling a bit nauseated or anxious. This can cause symptoms such as burping/hiccuping, licking lips, drooling, etc. Causes can be anything from GI upset, to illness, bloat, or even something stuck in the mouth or throat. If he won't let you examine his mouth at all and is refusing to eat or drink, seems painful, or in distress, having him examined by a vet ASAP is best to rule out more serious issues.