Dog Licking Lips and Blinking Eyes (Here’s Why)

Depending on the underlying cause, a may also have the following symptoms:

• Frequent lip licking

• Excessive blinking or squinting

• Pawing at the face or eyes

• Red or watery eyes

• Drooling

• Loss of appetite

• Rubbing the face on furniture or the floor

• Sensitivity to bright light

Dog Licking Lips and Blinking Eyes: Common Causes 

Eye Irritation or a Foreign Object

One of the most common reasons a dog licks their lips while blinking excessively is irritation affecting the eye.

Dust, dirt, grass seeds, eyelashes, or other small foreign objects can become trapped beneath the eyelids, causing discomfort every time the dog blinks.

Even a tiny particle can make the eye feel extremely painful.

Dogs often blink repeatedly, squint, or keep one eye partially closed while trying to relieve the irritation.

They may also rub their face on furniture, paw at the eye, or produce excessive tears. Lip licking sometimes occurs because the discomfort causes stress or anxiety.

If the eye remains closed, becomes cloudy, or you suspect a foreign object is present, your dog should be examined promptly, as untreated eye injuries can worsen quickly.

Related: Dog excessively licking lips suddenly (Here’s why)

Corneal Ulcer

A corneal ulcer is a scratch or open sore on the clear surface of the eye. These injuries may result from trauma, scratches from another animal, foreign objects, dry eye, or underlying eye disease.

Corneal ulcers are very painful and often cause continuous blinking and squinting.

Dogs with corneal ulcers frequently avoid bright light, develop excessive tearing, and may keep the affected eye tightly shut.

Lip licking is often a response to pain rather than a problem in the mouth.

Because untreated ulcers can deepen and threaten vision, they require prompt veterinary diagnosis and treatment with prescription eye medications.

Allergies

Environmental allergies can irritate both the eyes and the skin around the face.

Pollen, mold, dust mites, and grasses may trigger inflammation that causes itchy, watery eyes along with repeated blinking.

Some dogs also lick their lips because allergens cause mild irritation around the mouth or because they swallow excess nasal drainage.

Dogs with allergies often show additional signs such as itchy skin, ear infections, paw licking, or rubbing their face against furniture or carpets.

Symptoms may appear seasonally or persist year-round depending on the trigger.

Treatment focuses on reducing exposure to allergens and managing inflammation with therapies recommended by your veterinarian.

Nausea or Digestive Upset

Lip licking is one of the earliest signs of nausea in dogs. When nausea develops because of an upset stomach, motion sickness, dietary indiscretion, or gastrointestinal illness, some dogs also blink more frequently because they feel generally uncomfortable or weak.

Other symptoms often include drooling, swallowing repeatedly, loss of appetite, eating grass, vomiting, or reluctance to move.

If the nausea is brief and your dog otherwise appears healthy, it may resolve on its own.

However, repeated vomiting, prolonged loss of appetite, or ongoing lip licking should be evaluated by a veterinarian.

Related: Dog excessively licking lips and swallowing (Is it normal?)

Dental Disease or Mouth Pain

Pain affecting the mouth can cause dogs to lick their lips repeatedly, while discomfort around the face may also lead to increased blinking or squinting.

Dental disease, broken teeth, oral ulcers, gum infections, or objects stuck between the teeth can all produce these symptoms.

Symptoms that may be noticed include bad breath, difficulty chewing, dropping food, pawing at the mouth, or swelling along the jaw.

Because dental disease often worsens gradually, many dogs continue eating despite significant discomfort.

A veterinary oral examination can identify the source of the pain and determine whether dental treatment is needed.

Stress or Anxiety

Dogs frequently lick their lips and blink excessively when they are feeling nervous or uncomfortable.

These are common calming signals that dogs use to communicate stress during situations such as veterinary visits, thunderstorms, fireworks, travel, or interactions with unfamiliar people or animals.

Other signs of anxiety may include yawning, pacing, trembling, panting, tucked tail, or avoiding eye contact.

Once the stressful situation passes, the lip licking and blinking usually stop.

If these behaviors occur frequently without an obvious trigger, your veterinarian can help rule out medical causes before considering behavioral treatment.

Dry Eye 

Dry eye occurs when the tear glands fail to produce enough tears to properly lubricate the eye.

Without adequate moisture, the surface of the eye becomes irritated and inflamed, leading to excessive blinking, squinting, and thick eye discharge.

Because the condition is uncomfortable, some dogs also lick their lips or appear restless due to ongoing facial discomfort.

Left untreated, dry eye can damage the cornea and impair vision. Lifelong management with prescription eye medications is often needed to keep the eyes healthy and comfortable.

Neurological Disorders

Less commonly, conditions affecting the nerves or brain can cause abnormal facial movements, excessive blinking, and repeated lip licking.

Partial seizures, facial nerve disorders, or other neurological diseases may produce these symptoms, particularly if they occur suddenly or in repeated episodes.

Affected dogs may also stare into space, twitch one side of the face, appear confused, lose coordination, or behave unusually during an episode.

Because neurological disorders require prompt diagnosis, any sudden or recurring combination of facial symptoms should be evaluated by a veterinarian.

Related: Dog keeps licking lips and throwing up (Why it happens)

Dog Licking Lips and Blinking Eyes: What to Do

If your dog begins licking their lips and blinking excessively, first examine the eyes in a well-lit area.

Look for redness, swelling, discharge, cloudiness, or obvious foreign material. Avoid touching the eye directly or attempting to remove anything embedded in the surface.

Observe whether the symptoms occur after eating, during stressful situations, outdoors, or alongside vomiting, coughing, or other signs of illness.

Recording a short video of the behavior can help your veterinarian if the episodes are intermittent.

Prevent your dog from rubbing or scratching the affected eye, as this can worsen injuries such as corneal ulcers.

If necessary, your veterinarian may recommend using an Elizabethan collar until the eye can be examined.

Monitor your dog’s appetite, energy level, and overall behavior. If symptoms worsen, involve one eye only, or are accompanied by squinting, cloudiness, or pain, arrange a veterinary appointment promptly.

Do not use human eye drops or medications unless specifically instructed by your veterinarian, as some products can make certain eye conditions worse.

When to Call or Visit the Vet

Persistent lip licking and excessive blinking often indicate discomfort that should not be ignored.

Schedule an appointment if you notice:

• Blinking lasting more than a few hours

• Persistent lip licking

• Mild eye redness or watering

• Pawing at the face

• Loss of appetite

• Recurrent episodes of blinking and lip licking

• Bad breath or signs of dental disease

• Mild eye discharge

Seek emergency veterinary attention immediately if your dog develops:

• The eye remains closed or tightly squinted

• A cloudy, blue, or white appearance to the eye

• Blood in or around the eye

• Sudden vision loss

• Repeated vomiting with severe lethargy

• Collapse or seizures

• Difficulty breathing

• Severe facial swelling after an insect sting or allergic reaction

Dog Licking Lips and Blinking Eyes: Treatment

Veterinary treatment for a dog that repeatedly licks its lips and blinks its eyes begins with an examination of the eyes, mouth, teeth, and neurological system.

The veterinarian may perform an eye examination, including tests for corneal injury or abnormal tear production, and may conduct additional diagnostic testing when indicated.

Treatment depends on the findings and may include prescription eye medication, pain relief, anti-inflammatory medication, dental treatment, or other targeted therapy.

Recovery and Monitoring

Recovery varies depending on the cause. Minor eye irritation often improves within a day or two after treatment, while corneal ulcers, dry eye, or dental disease may require longer-term care and follow-up visits.

Monitor your dog’s blinking, lip licking, appetite, and overall comfort during recovery.

Prevent rubbing of the eyes and administer all prescribed medications exactly as directed.

Contact your veterinarian if symptoms worsen, new eye discharge develops, or your dog appears to lose vision or become increasingly uncomfortable.

Key Takeaway

A dog licking their lips and blinking their eyes may be responding to discomfort involving the eyes, mouth, digestive system, or nervous system.

Eye irritation, corneal ulcers, allergies, nausea, dental disease, stress, dry eye, and neurological disorders are among the most common causes.

While some cases are mild and short-lived, persistent blinking or lip licking should never be ignored, especially if accompanied by eye pain, vision changes, vomiting, or lethargy.

Early veterinary evaluation can identify the underlying cause and prevent more serious complications.

If your dog’s symptoms persist, worsen, or involve significant eye discomfort, contact your veterinarian as soon as possible.