Licking/Swallowing/Smacking...Something is Wrong.

[tonyag9]

Hello my YorkieTalk friends! I haven't been here in quite a while, but need your help please

Pixel started swallowing and smacking/licking his lips last night about an hour before bed. He had been playing and eating fine all day, but once that started his ears were back and just looked, well wrong (we know our babies!). He also coughed a couple of times, like something may have been in his throat. Mostly just the licking though, minor coughing.

He continued this until he went to sleep and seemed to sleep fine through the night.

Then this morning, same thing. He jumped around wanting to be picked up (as usual), ate his treats just fine and went potty fine. BUT was still smacking, though didn't seem like as often as last night.

Since he didn't seem to feel badly (ears weren't back anymore like last night and seemed more normal), I went to work. But now of course I am doing nothing but worrying. Do you think this can wait until tomorrow and see how he does tonight before taking him to the vet, or could this be potentially dangerous and I should leave work and rush home to him??

Please give me some advice. My vet can't see him today (too busy) and neither can another one I called. I could get him in somewhere else I'm sure, but just don't know if it's necessary.

Thank you for any help!!!

[rubymoon2072]

did you try seeing if there way anything in his throat?? i know i have been told by my doctor not to rule out allergies even though its technically winter here..maybe hes go some environmental allergy going on. wish i could be more of more help..hope hes ok.

[itsbaddangel]

Do you think he's got a hair or whisker stuck between some teeth? or a food particle stuck in his gums?

Aww, poor guy. I know how it feels to worry.

[tonyag9]

Thanks rubymoon for answering! I looked, but couldn't see anything, though he didn't let me look in there for very long I checked his teeth to see if anything was lodged and didn't see anything there either, but like I said, only looked for a second and he squirmed and ran away.

[tonyag9]

Thanks itsbaddangel! That is all I am HOPING it is, but I couldn't see anything in the quick minute I looked in his mouth.

So it seems like hopefully not an urgent issue and I can see how he does tonight and take him tomorrow if he's still smacking?

[nanahas3]

Could it be he has a bad tooth in there? Sounds like what Kyra was doing before her dental.

[YorkieSpirit1]

Emy did that once, and she had a piece of dried grass stuck on the inside top of her mouth, must have been driving her crazy, and I couldn't figure out why she was licking her mouth...Do you have a toothbrush you could try to brush the teeth top and bottom, and maybe dislodge a hair or something?

[tonyag9]

Thank you nanahas3! His teeth look good to me, but that could be it. Just funny he all of a sudden started this.

Thanks Yorkiespirit! Yes, I will try and brush his teeth tonight and see if that helps anything.

You guys have relieved me though that it doesn't appear to be anything life threatening I need to worry about today

[Nancy1999]

Joey did this once when he had an upset stomach; it can be a sign of nausea. Dog constantly swallowing and licking lips If he's still doing this today, I think I'd get a vet check.

[marlenemaria]

Sometimes they have a some hairs stuck like at the crease of their mouths you have to kind of lift their lips up on the side to see it and pull it out -usually happens when food gets stuck on their hair.

If not, then a Vet visit is the best thing.

[Alora]

Originally Posted by marlenemaria

Sometimes they have a some hairs stuck like at the crease of their mouths you have to kind of lift their lips up on the side to see it and pull it out -usually happens when food gets stuck on their hair.

If not, then a Vet visit is the best thing.

Henri does the licking/smacking thing when hair is stuck in his mouth, I have to help him because he can't get it out of his mouth himself. Usually by then I know it is time to trim the hair on his face and chin

[yakkwak]

Originally Posted by Alora

Henri does the licking/smacking thing when hair is stuck in his mouth, I have to help him because he can't get it out of his mouth himself. Usually by then I know it is time to trim the hair on his face and chin

This also happened to Liberty. Took me a while to see a strand of longer hair was in mouth from the corner and tickling him terribly.Hope it's that easy for you.

[GuinnessStout]

Guinness did that once, licking, smacking, coughing and maybe an odd throat noise while doing flips and shoving his head on the carpet running forwards... I snatched him up and did 90 mph to an emergency vet in my PJs and socks for him to spit out a pine needle that was stabbing him in the gums as we pulled into the parking lot. I looked in his mouth but must have missed it because it was inside his cheek

[mimimomo]

It could be acid reflux...

[Lisa and Pic]

Originally Posted by Alora

Henri does the licking/smacking thing when hair is stuck in his mouth, I have to help him because he can't get it out of his mouth himself. Usually by then I know it is time to trim the hair on his face and chin

Piccolo does the same thing. She will even start pulling the carpet threads up with her teeth, if she has hair stuck. Her hair is so long that I did not notice she had hair in the crease of her lip and stuck down her throat the first time. Poor thing. I had to take her to the vet to get this figured out.

Hope you get your problem solved.