It can be unsettling to notice your dog repeatedly licking their lips late at night. While sometimes it’s harmless, excessive lip licking may point to underlying health or behavioral issues that need attention.
We outline the common causes of excessive lip licking at night in dogs, what you can do at home, and when to seek veterinary help.
Dog Excessively Licking Lips at Night — Why It Happens
Dogs lick their lips at night for a variety of reasons, ranging from minor discomfort to more serious health concerns. Anxiety, nausea, dental issues, dehydration, or even neurological problems can all trigger this repetitive behavior. In some cases, it may simply be a nighttime habit, but when excessive, it can signal that your dog is in distress or pain.
Dog Excessively Licking Lips at Night: Common Causes
Nausea or Upset Stomach
Dogs often lick their lips when they feel nauseous. At night, this can be more noticeable since they are lying still and not distracted by daytime activities.
Owners may also see drooling, swallowing repeatedly, or restlessness. This can be caused by dietary indiscretion (eating something unusual), acid reflux, or even early signs of gastrointestinal disease.
Nighttime nausea should not be ignored, as it could mean your dog’s digestive system is struggling.
Read more: Dog Excessively Licking Lips and Swallowing (When to worry)
Anxiety or Stress
Nighttime is when many dogs feel vulnerable, and lip licking can be a self-soothing behavior. Separation anxiety, changes in routine, or even loud nighttime noises can all trigger anxiety in dogs.
Other signs may include pacing, whining, or difficulty settling down. If your dog only licks their lips at night but seems calm during the day, stress or anxiety may be a leading cause.
Persistent anxiety not only affects sleep but can harm your dog’s overall well-being.
Dental Disease or Oral Discomfort
Painful teeth, gum inflammation, or oral infections can make dogs excessively lick their lips, especially when they are lying quietly at night. Dental problems often worsen when the mouth is at rest, making nighttime licking more noticeable.
Other red flags include bad breath, pawing at the mouth, or difficulty chewing food. Left untreated, dental disease can lead to severe pain, infections, and even damage to other organs.
Dehydration or Dry Mouth
When a dog is dehydrated or has a dry mouth, lip licking becomes a way to moisten the lips and gums.
This can occur if your dog hasn’t had enough water during the day or if they are on medications that reduce saliva production.
Signs may include sticky gums, sunken eyes, and reduced skin elasticity. Since dehydration can become dangerous quickly, persistent lip licking at night in combination with these signs should be taken seriously.
Neurological Issues
In rare cases, excessive nighttime lip licking can be related to neurological problems. Conditions affecting the brain or nerves may cause abnormal repetitive behaviors such as constant licking.
These cases are often accompanied by other symptoms such as disorientation, tremors, circling, or difficulty walking. While less common, neurological causes require urgent veterinary evaluation.
Acid Reflux or Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
Acid reflux is a frequent nighttime issue in dogs because lying down makes stomach acid more likely to flow upward into the esophagus.
This causes discomfort, leading to lip licking, gulping, and even vomiting in some dogs.
Chronic reflux can irritate the esophagus and lead to long-term health issues if not treated. If your dog licks lips at night along with burping or swallowing frequently, reflux may be a likely cause.
What to Do If Your Dog Is Excessively Licking Its Lips at Night
If your dog only occasionally licks their lips at night and otherwise seems healthy, start by monitoring the behavior closely.
Ensure they have access to fresh water before bedtime and avoid feeding them immediately before lying down, as this can reduce reflux.
Providing a calm and quiet sleeping environment can help reduce anxiety-related licking. Gentle reassurance, a consistent bedtime routine, and even white noise machines may ease stress in sensitive dogs.
For dogs prone to nausea or reflux, smaller, earlier evening meals may reduce discomfort. Some owners find that slightly elevating the dog’s head at night can also help with reflux symptoms.
Dental hygiene should not be overlooked. Regular brushing, dental chews, and veterinary cleanings can reduce oral discomfort that may lead to nighttime licking. If dental disease is suspected, prompt veterinary evaluation is essential.
If the behavior persists or worsens, do not assume it will resolve on its own. Ongoing lip licking can indicate an underlying health condition that requires veterinary treatment.
When to Call or Visit Your Vet
If your dog is excessively licking their lips every night, especially if accompanied by drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, or loss of appetite, it’s time to seek veterinary advice. These signs point to gastrointestinal issues that could become serious if untreated.
You should also consult a vet if lip licking is paired with signs of oral pain, such as bad breath, reluctance to eat, or pawing at the mouth. Dental disease is painful and progressive but treatable with professional care.
Any neurological signs, such as stumbling, disorientation, or head tilting, require immediate veterinary evaluation. These symptoms can indicate serious conditions like seizures or brain disease.
Finally, if your dog’s behavior is causing distress, restlessness, or loss of sleep for them or your household, a veterinary check-up can provide both answers and relief.
Read more: Dog licking lips excessively (What it really means)
Key Takeaway
Excessive lip licking at night in dogs is not always a harmless habit. It can be caused by nausea, dental pain, dehydration, anxiety, reflux, or even neurological issues.
Paying attention to when and how often it occurs, along with any other symptoms, can help you determine whether your dog needs immediate veterinary care.
By creating a comfortable nighttime environment, ensuring hydration, maintaining dental health, and monitoring for other symptoms, you can help your dog rest more easily.
But if lip licking is persistent, paired with other concerning signs, or simply leaves you uneasy, reaching out to your veterinarian is always the safest step.