Licking, Smacking Lips? Don't Know What He's Doing

[AllDogBoots]

I know this is long, but want to be very thorough. 6 weeks ago Cooper was licking his lips, gulping and heavy swallowing. I took him to the vet to find out he had a 103.5 temperature and a throat infection. After some antibiotics he seemed better in about 2 days.

Recently he started this licking/smacking lips thing again (without the gulping or swallowing). It seems that there are 3 instances of this. The best I can expain it is:

1 - he looks as though he just ate and is licking his mouth.
2 - he has peanut butter on the roof of his mouth
3 - he ate something disgusting

Cooper does this at night and it starts in bed around 2am. I wake up to hearing him.

After speaking with another member of YT, we both came to the conclusion that it could be dust mites since it really only happens in the bedroom. This past weekend I turned my bedroom upside down, dusting, cleaning, putting a protective cover on my mattress, etc. That night I gave Cooper a bath and his "licking" was at about a 10% rate. It worked!

The next night, right back to the behavior - licking/smacking.

Cooper has no fever, is eating fine, pooping, playing and is not lethargic. He rarely scratches his body although once in a while when he wakes up he scratches and rubs his nose on the carpet. It's nothing that I'd be alarmed about. His nose sometimes runs, so maybe slight allergies.

I took him to the vet about 3 weeks ago and they tested him for pancreatitis (he vomited once after his throat infection) and it came back negative.

I took him to the vet 4 days ago to have his anal glands expressed. He went through a full exam and appears healthy. I explained what Cooper was doing and she said to give him some benadryl, thinking it was allergies. It doesn't seem as though benadryl is doing much, although i've only given him 1/2 dose. I will full dose tonight. The vet gave me the option of doing full bloodwork although she didn't seem to think it was necessary. I was told that I could be as aggressive with this as I wanted.

So, with all that being said. What's going on? Do any of you have experience with this? Cooper seems totally fine except for this odd behavior. He started doing it a little bit this afternoon today but normally only does it at night when he's sleeping. There MUST be a reason for it.

Also, I understand that lip licking is a sign of nausea. We woke up last night at 3am and he went and got his ball and started spinning in circles. He wanted to play

[Wylie's Mom]

Did they culture the "throat infection", bc it sounds like it is returning, doesn't it? If yes, I'd want to know specifically what bug is back there. Hmm...will give this more thought...

[AllDogBoots]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

Did they culture the "throat infection", bc it sounds like it is returning, doesn't it? If yes, I'd want to know specifically what bug is back there. Hmm...will give this more thought...

I'm embarrassed to say that I don't know. His symptoms are quite different from the throat infection. He is not gulping or swallowing and has no fever. I'm not so sure it's returning. He's been doing this for a while although it seems like he's doing it more and more each day.

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by AllDogBoots

I'm embarrassed to say that I don't know. His symptoms are quite different from the throat infection. He is not gulping or swallowing and has no fever. I'm not so sure it's returning. He's been doing this for a while although it seems like he's doing it more and more each day.

Aw gosh, please don't be embarrassed! Most vets would not culture, honestly. They'd probably only consider it if it kept returning and proved resistant .

Did the vet palpate each tooth? Is he eating his kibble okay...or does his mouth seem sore and/or has his eating time slowed?

After a while, I'd almost be tempted to see what effect a steroid shot would have (which could tell you something, diagnostically)...but...I doubt now is the time.

[kjc]

It may be listed as a 'C/S' on your invoice, if one was done.

Do you give him any snacks/ small meal at night? Maybe he's waking up licking wanting something to eat? Maybe a small meal late evening would help him sleep through the night.

Will give it more thought...

[AllDogBoots]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

Aw gosh, please don't be embarrassed! Most vets would not culture, honestly. They'd probably only consider it if it kept returning and proved resistant .

Did the vet palpate each tooth? Is he eating his kibble okay...or does his mouth seem sore and/or has his eating time slowed?

After a while, I'd almost be tempted to see what effect a steroid shot would have (which could tell you something, diagnostically)...but...I doubt now is the time.

Palpate each tooth? He's eating fine- no changes there. His mouth appears fine.

I'm just not sure of the seriousness of this. Maybe it's an odd quirk. The vet says maybe he's talking in his sleep. He isn't in any type of pain.

His nose is running right now. But then I would assume that benadryl would help.

[AllDogBoots]

Originally Posted by kjc

It may be listed as a 'C/S' on your invoice, if one was done.

Do you give him any snacks/ small meal at night? Maybe he's waking up licking wanting something to eat? Maybe a small meal late evening would help him sleep through the night.

Will give it more thought...

I don't think he wants something to eat, although I'm not certain. I don't see anything that says C/S. The day of the throat infection he got a SNAP CPL and last week just a medical progress exam.

I should add that he threw up some bile this morning. I don't want anyone to jump to conclusions because he does that about once per month when he wakes up hungry. I do not think it's related and he did eat well this morning.

[kjc]

Don't know if this is relevent:

My first Yorkie had some major episodes with reverse sneezing... so bad at night I thought she would have a heart attack! Vet checked her and said reverse sneezing, maybe agravated by a post nasal drip. Sent us home to see how she progressed. Well, the next night, I called him at 3 AM, she was RS and couldn't stop! He said to give Sudafed (not giving the dose here), and it worked like a charm. In fact, I don't think she had another problem with this the rest of her life!

Just might be worth asking the vet about, as it happens while he's lying down. Maybe a sinus issue going on?

[AllDogBoots]

Originally Posted by kjc

Don't know if this is relevent:

My first Yorkie had some major episodes with reverse sneezing... so bad at night I thought she would have a heart attack! Vet checked her and said reverse sneezing, maybe agravated by a post nasal drip. Sent us home to see how she progressed. Well, the next night, I called him at 3 AM, she was RS and couldn't stop! He said to give Sudafed (not giving the dose here), and it worked like a charm. In fact, I don't think she had another problem with this the rest of her life!

Just might be worth asking the vet about, as it happens while he's lying down. Maybe a sinus issue going on?

He reverse sneezes but I don't think it's an extreme amount. Or actually what is a normal amount? He does do it everyday while he is playing ball but he's always done that. I believe it's post nasal/allergy related which is why he was given benadryl. His nose was running slightly when the vet checked him last week. But, wouldn't you think the benadryl would help the licking if that was the case?

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by AllDogBoots

Palpate each tooth? He's eating fine- no changes there. His mouth appears fine.

I'm just not sure of the seriousness of this. Maybe it's an odd quirk. The vet says maybe he's talking in his sleep. He isn't in any type of pain.

His nose is running right now. But then I would assume that benadryl would help.

I'm sorry about that...palpate just means the vet would go through and touch/put pressure (w/ fingers) on each tooth to see if there was tenderness.

How are the pollens in your area right now (www.pollen.com)? Something to check out...

[AllDogBoots]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

I'm sorry about that...palpate just means the vet would go through and touch/put pressure (w/ fingers) on each tooth to see if there was tenderness.

How are the pollens in your area right now (www.pollen.com)? Something to check out...

It seemed as though she checked his mouth quite thoroughly. I can only assume she checked his teeth, but that's good information should i need to go back to the vet. The pollens say low, but i wake up coughing and sneezing with a runny nose and I have no known allergies.

[kjc]

Originally Posted by AllDogBoots

I don't think he wants something to eat, although I'm not certain. I don't see anything that says C/S. The day of the throat infection he got a SNAP CPL and last week just a medical progress exam.

I should add that he threw up some bile this morning. I don't want anyone to jump to conclusions because he does that about once per month when he wakes up hungry. I do not think it's related and he did eat well this morning.

A late evening meal should prevent that from happening. I started feeding mine their dinner later in the evening bc they do tend to vomit bile in the AM.

I in no way meant to imply that he's not getting enough to eat. All our pups are different, and depending on their energy levels, and the specifics of their activity any given day, can influence what their bodies go through, how they process food, etc. Other members have experienced their pups having the morning vomiting of bile, and a late night snack is what members and vets recommend. This is a common occurence in small breed dogs.

[AllDogBoots]

My dog has been using Leba III dental spray for about 6 weeks. This is around the time that I noticed his odd behavior with his mouth. Leba III has no known side effects and the vet was certain that his behavior was not because of this product. One of the ingredients in Leba III (the most prominent) is alcohol. Wouldn't alcohol create "dry mouth" and thereby cause licking?

[AllDogBoots]

Originally Posted by kjc

A late evening meal should prevent that from happening. I started feeding mine their dinner later in the evening bc they do tend to vomit bile in the AM.

I in no way meant to imply that he's not getting enough to eat. All our pups are different, and depending on their energy levels, and the specifics of their activity any given day, can influence what their bodies go through, how they process food, etc. Other members have experienced their pups having the morning vomiting of bile, and a late night snack is what members and vets recommend. This is a common occurence in small breed dogs.

I'm not that concerned about the morning bile. I usually give Coop a late night snack, but I'm trying to eliminate all foods except his meal kibble. I'll let him eat late tonight.

[kjc]

Originally Posted by AllDogBoots

He reverse sneezes but I don't think it's an extreme amount. Or actually what is a normal amount? He does do it everyday while he is playing ball but he's always done that. I believe it's post nasal/allergy related which is why he was given benadryl. His nose was running slightly when the vet checked him last week. But, wouldn't you think the benadryl would help the licking if that was the case?

Normal: anything that does not interfere with the daily living of life. If something occurs and you have to disrupt your routine to deal with it (like being woke up in the middle of the night) then it becomes abnormal.

Benedryl is an antihistimine, which prevents the body from reacting to allergens. So it should be helping if allergens is his problem, but you should also be giving the full dose your vet prescribed before deciding if it's working or not.

Sudafed is a decongestant (I know bc I take it all the time for sinus) and the effect on me is it can dry up a runny nose, or unclog the sinus cavities in the head.