Your dog can be burping and licking its lips due to acid reflux or some other gastrointestinal problem. Nausea and oral ulcers are also probable causes of dogs exhibiting burping and licking behavior.
Dogs love licking everything. Some dogs are heavy lickers from birth; others do it due to anxiety or fun.
Like licking, burping is also normal for dogs. Burping is the result of the displacement of trapped air in bellies.
When that’s said, one of the worst sights for dog owners is their dog acting weird. If your dog is excessively burping and licking lips, there can be an underlying problem that needs to be addressed.
This article discusses the major causes of burping and lip-licking in dogs and how you can stop them.
Dog Keeps Burping and Licking Lips
Dogs burp and lick lips excessively due to many reasons. Nausea, acid reflux, and oral ulcers are among the most common causes of these behaviors.
Being a dog owner is not easy. You have to take care of their basic needs and identify when your dog is feeling sick. If your dog is constantly burping and licking lips, there can be psychological and medical reasons behind them.
It can be that your dog has acid reflux. It can also be that your dog is suffering from nausea, or oral ulcers, which are one of the most common causes of burping and licking.
You should identify your dog’s symptoms and take the necessary precautions to treat them.
5 Reasons Why Dogs Burp and Lick Lips
Dogs keep burping and licking lips due to some gastrointestinal issues that must be addressed. Acid reflux, nausea, gastrointestinal upset, or indigestion can cause excessive burping and lip licking in dogs.
No one likes to see their pooch exhibit strange behaviors. Abnormal lip licking and burping can indicate a serious problem that needs to be rectified.
Your dog can be showing these symptoms for a variety of reasons. Some of the most common ones are listed below.
1. Acid Reflux Causes Burping and Lip-Licking
Probably the biggest reason for excessive burping and licking in dogs is acid reflux. It occurs when the esophagus fails to stop the stomach acid from moving up the food pipe.
Acid reflux can result in a number of issues for dogs:
- Heartburn
- Bad breath
- Acid taste
- Chest pain
- Regurgitation of food
It is also possible that your dog is allergic to certain foods. If you add these foods to your dog’s diet, it can cause abnormal production of stomach acid, which causes acid reflux to occur.
Acid reflux is treatable, and you can treat it at home. Contact a veterinarian if you don’t know how to handle the issue.
2. Nausea Causes Lip-Licking and Vomiting
Your dog can be suffering from nausea if they are licking their lips in combination with vomiting. If your dog is licking and gagging, it may be trying to vomit to get rid of undigested food.
Check if your dog is exhibiting other behaviors:
- Lethargy
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal pain
- Loss of appetite
If your dog is showing any of these symptoms, it can be suffering from nausea. You can manage nausea by yourself using home remedies. In severe cases, visiting a veterinarian is the recommended choice.
3. Oral Ulcers Cause Dogs to Lick Lips and Burp
Ulcers are painful and unpleasant. They produce a burning sensation in the gut and esophagus. Your dog can develop ulcers if they are usually given an alkali diet.
An alkali diet encourages the production of stomach acid, which can travel up the food pipe and damage the mouth.
An oral ulcer[1] causes dogs to lick their lips frequently and burp, thanks to the fast digestion.
Dogs can develop ulcers from infections, allergies, dental conditions, or by ingesting acidic substances, such as cleaning fluids.
4. Gastrointestinal Upset
Dogs can start randomly burping when they are facing a hard time digesting food.
If your dog ate something from the trashcan or something they weren’t supposed to, they can develop gastrointestinal upset. This makes them excessively lick their lips and burp.
Gastrointestinal upset is usually accompanied by:
- Vomiting and panting
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Liquid with burps
- Pancreatitis, in severe cases
5. Objects Stuck in Their Throat
It is also possible that your dog has some object stuck in its throat that is causing them to burp excessively.
Lip licking is usually a sign of stress. If your dog is showing this behavior, it may be trying to communicate with you. Examine your dog’s throat to uncover if something’s stuck down there.
If your dog was chewing a bone when they started showing signs of burping and licking, there could be a small bit of the bone present in their trachea.
An object stuck in the throat can cause gagging and choking, which can be harmful to dogs. You should consult a veterinarian if you think your dog has something stuck in its throat.
How to Stop Dogs from Burping and Licking Lips
You can stop your dog from burping and licking lips by solving the stressor causing it. Take them for a walk or give them an antacid pill. You should consult a doctor if the condition worsens over time.
If your dog is having a burping spree and licking its lips, there are certain home remedies you can use. You must identify the main issue behind your dog’s unusual behavior, so you can treat them accordingly.
Related: 11 Home Remedies to Stop Dogs from Licking
Give Your Dog Antacid to Relieve Acid Reflux
If your dog has acid reflux, giving an antacid pill is the right thing to do. Famotidine [2] is one of the most common antacids. It helps neutralize the excess stomach acid and stops reflux symptoms.
Antacids coat the stomach lining with alkaline medicine, which promotes healing. They work quickly to relieve the pain caused by acid reflux.
Exercise Can Relieve Stress & Air
Exercise with your dog when they are excessively burping and licking lips. This will help dogs discharge the air in their belly and stop the burping. A walk, run, or even jumping can do wonders.
In case of nausea, your dog can also try to eat grass. This helps them settle their stomach and improve their health. If your dog tries to eat grass, you shouldn’t stop them. It is their instinctive way of curing themselves.
Introduce a Low-Fat Diet
A low-fat bland diet can help your dog fight ulcers and acid reflux. Carbohydrates and proteins are much easier digested than fats. Avoid feeding your dog huge amounts of fat.
Boiled lean chicken or beef coupled with white rice or bread makes for a great low-fat diet. Rice is excellent at soaking up excess stomach acid.[3]
Calling the Veterinarian
If all else fails, it is time to call the veterinarian. In case of choking or gagging, contact a vet immediately.
You should also visit a veterinarian if your dog exhibits the following behavior:
- Vomiting
- Fanatically pacing
- Crying in pain
- Heavy breathing
Conclusion
Burping and licking are natural behaviors for dogs. They lick anything and everything. Burping is a normal process that is a sign of digestion. Anything in excess can be harmful. This is also the case with these behaviors.
If your dog is constantly burping and licking everything, it may be suffering from a medical condition that must be tended to. Identify the probable cause of their behavior and consult a veterinarian if things are beyond your expertise.
FAQs
Why Does My Dog Keeps Licking His Lips and Swallowing?
If your dog is excessively licking his lips and swallowing, he can have nausea or dental issues. Your dog can be trying to regurgitate, which is causing abnormal swallowing behavior. You should stop giving your dog food and water for a couple of hours. If the condition persists, a trip to the veterinarian can be required.
Why Does My Dog Keep Burping?
Burping is the result of too much air in the stomach. If your dog is excessively burping, it may be having a hard time digesting food. It can also mean that they are suffering from gastrointestinal disease and require urgent medical attention.
