Dogs lick the air from anxiety, nausea, excitement, or a medical issue. See a vet if it is frequent.
Why
- Nausea or acid reflux.
- Anxiety or stress.
- Excitement or anticipation of food.
- Dental or mouth problems.
- Compulsive behavior.
- Seizures (rare).
What to do
Check for something in the mouth.
See a vet
If it happens often, or with drooling, vomiting or odd behavior.
Compulsive behavior
Air licking can be related to anxiety, stress or compulsive disorders, in which repetitive licking becomes a coping mechanism. It’s sometimes called “flycatching” if the dog snaps at the air.
Gastrointestinal causes
Licking the air is a common sign of nausea, acid reflux, gastritis, pancreatitis, or foreign bodies. Dogs may lick the air, lick surfaces, swallow frequently or eat grass. A study of dogs with compulsive licking found that over 70% had a gastrointestinal condition.
Dental problems
Mouth pain, broken teeth, gum disease or oral masses can cause licking.
Neurological causes
Focal seizures can cause lip smacking, fly biting and air licking. Cognitive dysfunction in senior dogs can also cause odd repetitive behaviors.
Other reasons
- Smelling something interesting. Dogs may flick their tongue to get scent to the vomeronasal organ.
- Anticipating food or a treat.
- Dry mouth.
- Attention seeking.
- Stress or conflict.
What to do
- Note when it happens and what else is going on.
- Interrupt with a toy or command, and reward calm behavior.
- Increase exercise and enrichment.
- Reduce stressors.
- Ask your vet about a diet change or GI evaluation.
Vet evaluation
Tests may include a physical exam, dental exam, bloodwork, imaging, endoscopy or neurologic exam.
Treatment
Anti-nausea drugs, acid reducers, diet change and treatment of dental disease can resolve the licking in many cases. Anxiety based cases may benefit from behavior therapy and medication.
See a vet if
It is frequent, persistent, associated with vomiting, drooling, loss of appetite, weight loss, or behavior changes.
Behavior and medical causes
Air licking in dogs can be a sign of nausea, gastrointestinal disease, dental pain, anxiety, compulsive behavior or neurologic disorders such as focal seizures. A 2018 case series in Journal of Veterinary Behavior described licking linked to gastrointestinal disease, with improvement after treatment. Dogs may also lick the air when they smell something intriguing, or when excited or stressed.
What owners can do
Note how often it happens, when, and any other symptoms such as drooling, lip smacking, vomiting or grass eating. Record a short video for the vet. A veterinarian may check the mouth, perform bloodwork, imaging or an endoscopy. Treatment depends on the cause, and may involve diet changes, anti nausea medication or behavior therapy. Seek urgent care for collapse, seizures or repeated vomiting.
Based on data from the American Veterinary Medical Association and veterinary behavior studies
