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Dog smacks its lips: possible reasons and tips for dog owners

It is not unusual for a dog to smack its lips. In many cases, this is nothing to worry about. However, the smacking could also be caused by a health problem.


Therefore, if your dog smacks its lips a lot, it shouldn't be ignored. Below you will find out what causes the constant smacking noises and what you can do about it.

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A relaxed dog smacks its lips


There are times when a dog smacks his lips while resting or just falling asleep. In this case, you usually do not have to worry about the well-being of your four-legged friend.

The smacking is quite normal and only indicates that your dog is relaxed.

Accordingly, dogs can also smack their lips while they cuddle and are petted by their owner.

Therefore, if you hear your dog making smacking noises in this situation, see it as a compliment, because the smacking is a sure sign that your four-legged friend feels very comfortable around you.

Dog smacks its lips because of its food

Anticipation for food is another harmless reason for dogs to smack their lips. For example, if you promise your four-legged friend a particularly tasty dog treat, it is quite normal that the proverbial mouth watering causes the dog to smack its lips.

Of course, you don't have to worry in this case, because even if some dog breeds drool very heavily in this situation, it is a perfectly normal reaction that has nothing to do with
any health problems.

A dog smacks its lips because of leftover food

It can happen every now and again that some of your dog's food becomes stuck between its teeth. This can disturb the four-legged friend, so that it tries to get rid of it by smacking its lips.

In principle, this is not a problem. However, if your dog smacks its lips over a long period of time, it can be useful to take a look in the mouth, as food residues that are not removed can cause dental diseases in the long term. Regular dental care is therefore just as important for dogs as it is for us humans.

Dog smacks because of a mouth or throat disease

Unfortunately, the reasons for a dog smacking its lips are not always harmless. In some cases it can be an indication of problems in the mouth or throat of the four-legged friend.

Possible complaints include inflammation of the gums, broken teeth or simply tooth decay.

Be aware that such diseases can be extremely painful for your four-legged friend. The smacking is the least of these problems in this case. For this reason, it is important that you visit a veterinarian as soon as possible so that your dog can be treated properly.

Natural dental care for a healthy dog's teeth

In order to prevent dental problems in the first place and to ensure that your dog's teeth remain healthy, adequate dental care is an essential part of your dog's grooming. You can find two suitable products for this purpose in the Bellfor range: dental sticks and dental powder.

Both dental care products contain natural ingredients and are ideal for the gentle yet effective cleaning of your dog's teeth.

Lip smacking in dogs with gastrointestinal complaints

Gastrointestinal discomfort is another possible cause to consider when your dog is smacking its lips. Some of the complaints can be comparatively harmless. However, it is also possible that there is a disease of the digestive system that urgently requires veterinary treatment.

In dogs, lip smacking can indicate problems with the digestive system, including:

If your dog is smacking its lips due to indigestion, there are usually other symptoms as well. These include, for example, gas, diarrhoea, vomiting or eating grass.

Tips for a healthy digestion in dogs

Digestive discomfort in dogs can have a number of causes. First and foremost, you should make sure to use a dog food that is as easily digestible as possible.

We recommend our insect-based dog food for dogs with a sensitive digestion. It contains insect protein from the larvae of black soldier flies (Hermetia illucens), which is easy to digest and also suitable for nutritionally sensitive four-legged friends.

If necessary, a diet supplement with Shiimun Gastro can also be useful. Thanks to its special composition, the natural preparation based on Shiitake mushrooms can help to promote a healthy digestion and counteract discomforts that can be noticed amongst other things by your dog's frequent smacking.

Lethal causes of lip smacking

Unfortunately, in some cases, lip smacking can also indicate a life-threatening emergency. This applies, for example, to a so-called twisted stomach, in which the stomach of the four-
legged friend rotates around its own axis and thus interrupts the supply of oxygen and blood.

Dogs with a twisted stomach must be operated on immediately. But even then, an estimated 30 percent of all affected four-legged friends die of possible complications.

Large breeds of dogs are particularly prone to twisting the stomach. In order to not overload their stomach, it is therefore advisable to divide the food into several servings. In addition, feeding cold-pressed dry dog food can help reduce the risk of gastric torsion.

Lip smacking in dogs with diabetes

Increased lip smacking is not uncommon in dogs with diabetes. Although diabetes, unlike a twisted stomach, is not acutely life-threatening, it is important to diagnose the disease promptly and take appropriate action.

As a rule, you can assume that in the event of a diagnosis of diabetes, you will continuously administer insulin to your four-legged friend and that you will have to consider a number of things when it comes to its diet. If you start treatment in good time, diabetes can usually be managed well so that your smacking dog can lead a largely normal and symptom-free life.

What helps against lip smacking dogs?


Whether or not you need to do something about your dog's lip smacking depends on the exact cause. No action on your part is required with a dog that is only smacking its lips
because it is relaxed.

If, on the other hand, the smacking occurs in combination with other complaints, a visit to the vet may be advisable. They can examine your four-legged friend and use their findings to determine whether and how they need to be treated.

Your smacking dog may need a broken tooth to be pulled. However, antibiotics may also be required to counteract an existing gastrointestinal infection.

If the cause can be eliminated, it usually doesn't take long before until dog's constant lip smacking stops.
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