Dog Smacking Lips In Middle Of Night (Reasons) – PetDogsLife
Have you ever been awoken in the middle of the night by your dog smacking its lips? It’s a pretty strange sound, and it can be enough to jolt you out of deep sleep. But what does it mean? Is your dog hungry? Or are they just dreaming of their next meal?
There’s no one answer to this question, as dog lip-smacking can mean different things depending on the context. In some cases, it might simply be a sign of excitement or anticipation, especially if your dog is eagerly watching you cook dinner or waiting for you to toss them a ball.
Continue reading to learn more about what could be causing your dog’s lip-smacking and what you can do about it.
Why Is My Dog Smacking His Lips – Reasons
There are a few different reasons why your dog might start smacking his lips. It could be due to an underlying medical condition, or it might be a behavioural response to something in their environment. The following are some of the most common reasons for lip-smacking in dogs:
1. Nausea Or Indigestion
If your dog has just eaten or is experiencing nausea or indigestion, they may start smacking their lips as a way of trying to relieve the discomfort.
2. Excitement Or Anticipation
As mentioned earlier, in some cases lip-smacking can be a sign of excitement or anticipation. If your dog sees something that they’re eager to get their hands (or mouth) on, they may start smacking their lips in anticipation.
3. Anxiety Or Stress
If your dog is feeling anxious or stressed, they may start lip-smacking as a way of self-soothing. This behaviour is often seen in dogs who are afraid of loud noises or unfamiliar environments.
4. Hunger
Dogs will often start lip-smacking when they’re hungry, as a way of coaxing their owners into feeding them.
5. Thirst
Dogs will also sometimes start lip-smacking when they’re thirsty, as a way of begging for a drink.
How Can I Stop My Dog From Smacking His Lips?
Medical Condition
If your dog is smacking their lips due to an underlying medical condition, the best way to stop the behaviour is to treat the condition. For example, if your dog is smacking their lips because of nausea or indigestion, you can try feeding them small meals more frequently throughout the day or giving them an over-the-counter stomach Settler.
Behavioural Response
If your dog’s lip-smacking is a behavioural response to something in their environment, the best way to stop the behaviour is to remove the stimulus. For example, if your dog is smacking their lips due to anxiety or stress, you can try calming them down with techniques like massage or positive reinforcement.
Hungry Or Thirsty
If your dog is smacking their lips because they’re hungry or thirsty, the best way to stop the behaviour is to feed or water them. However, it’s important to make sure that you’re not overfeeding or watering your dog, as this can lead to other problems like obesity or dehydration.
Conclusion
In conclusion, if your dog is smacking their lips, it could be due to an underlying medical condition, excitement or anticipation, anxiety or stress, hunger, or thirst.
The best way to stop the behaviour is to remove the stimulus (if possible), or to feed or water your dog (if they are hungry or thirsty). However, it’s important to make sure that you’re not overfeeding or watering your dog, as this can lead to other problems.