Why Does My Dog Lick The Air?

Dogs have a lot of quirky habits, but air licking can be one of the more puzzling ones. You may notice your dog sitting quietly and repeatedly licking at nothing, almost as though there is an invisible treat floating in front of their nose. Sometimes it happens once or twice and then stops. Other times, a dog may lick the air constantly throughout the day.

It begs the question, why does your dog lick the air? In most cases, this behavior has a simple explanation. Your dog may be picking up an interesting smell, responding to something on their lips, or just being quirky!

On the other hand, frequent or sudden air licking can sometimes signal nausea, dental discomfort, gastrointestinal problems, or another underlying issue.

Why Do Dogs Lick the Air?

Air licking can happen for many different reasons, and your dog's overall behavior can help determine the cause. Some dogs lick the air because they can smell or taste something interesting, while others do it because something feels uncomfortable in their mouth or stomach.

Occasional air licking usually isn't something to worry about, especially if your dog otherwise acts normally, eats and drinks normally, and shows no other unusual symptoms. The behavior becomes more concerning when it appears suddenly, happens frequently, or occurs along with other signs of illness.

Some of the more common reasons that your dog licks the air are the following:

Your Dog Smells Something Interesting

Dogs have an amazing ability to pick up smells and scents that you don't even notice. When your dog catches an interesting smell, they may lick their lips or the air as they process the scent. This type of licking can happen after smelling food, another animal, or an unfamiliar object.

Dogs also use their mouths to gather information about their environment. Lip licking and subtle mouth movements can accompany this process, so what looks like random air licking may actually be your dog investigating an interesting scent.

Your Dog May Have Something on Their Lips

Sometimes the air licking is really straightforward, and your dog has something on his or her lips. A small piece of food, a crumb, peanut butter, or even a little water can stick around your dog's lips or gums. Your dog may lick the air while trying to get rid of the sensation.

You may notice this right after your dog eats a meal, enjoys a treat, or drinks water. In these cases, the air licking should usually stop once the sensation disappears.

Nausea Can Cause Air Licking

One of the more common reasons dogs lick their lips or the air is nausea. When dogs feel sick to their stomach, they may drool, swallow repeatedly, lick their lips, or lick the air. It’s not that different from when a dog eats grass because they feel nauseous.

You may notice other signs as well, such as pacing, restlessness, not eating, or eventually vomiting. Some dogs show these behaviors before they vomit, while others may continue licking their lips or the air because their stomach still feels unsettled.

If your dog suddenly starts licking the air repeatedly and seems uncomfortable, pay attention to what happens next. Occasional stomach upset can resolve on its own, but persistent nausea deserves a conversation with your veterinarian.

Dental Pain Can Make a Dog Lick the Air

Mouth pain can also cause unusual licking behaviors. Dental disease, a broken tooth, an irritated gum, or something stuck between your dog’s teeth can make your dog move their mouth differently in an attempt to relieve the discomfort.

A dog with dental pain may also drool more than usual, chew on one side of his or her mouth, drop food, paw at their face, have bad breath, or become reluctant to eat harder foods.

Something May Be Stuck in Your Dog's Mouth

A piece of grass, food, hair, or another small object can become lodged in a dog's mouth. Your dog may respond by licking, swallowing repeatedly, drooling, or opening and closing their mouth.

If your dog suddenly starts licking the air after chewing on a toy, eating grass, or playing with something they could have picked up, take a closer look if it is safe to do so. Never put your fingers into a dog's mouth if they are distressed or may bite.

If you think something is stuck or your dog seems unable to swallow normally, contact your veterinarian for next steps.

Gastrointestinal Problems May Be to Blame

Air licking can sometimes be a result of digestive problems. Conditions that cause nausea, acid reflux, stomach irritation, or discomfort in the gastrointestinal tract may lead a dog to repeatedly lick their lips or the air.

Some dogs with acid reflux, for example, may lick their lips, swallow frequently, gulp, or become restless, particularly around meals or when lying down. These symptoms can look minor at first, but repeated episodes are worth discussing with your veterinarian.

Your vet can help determine whether your dog's licking is related to something they ate, a digestive disorder, medication, or another underlying problem.

Stress or Anxiety Can Cause Air Licking

Dogs sometimes develop repetitive behaviors when they feel anxious, nervous, or overstimulated. Lip licking is a well-known stress signal in dogs, and some dogs may extend this behavior into repeated air licking.

You might notice it during a stressful situation, such as a trip to the veterinarian, meeting unfamiliar people, hearing loud noises, or being left alone. If the behavior consistently appears in situations that make your dog nervous and disappears once they relax, stress may play a role.

Look at your dog’s entire body rather than focusing only on the licking. A worried dog may also tuck their tail, pin their ears back, avoid eye contact, yawn, pace, pant, or try to move away from whatever is making them uncomfortable.

Could Air Licking Be a Neurological Problem?

Although less common, repetitive air licking can sometimes occur with neurological disorders. Certain focal seizures can cause unusual repetitive movements involving the mouth, face, or tongue. Dogs experiencing these episodes may appear to lick, chew, snap at the air, or stare into space.

Not every dog who licks the air has a neurological problem, and occasional licking by itself isn't a reason to assume your dog is having seizures. However, if the behavior looks involuntary, happens repeatedly without an obvious trigger, or occurs along with staring, confusion, muscle twitching, unusual movements, or changes in awareness, contact your veterinarian immediately.

Why Does My Dog Lick the Air at Night?

Some pet parents notice their dogs’ air licking more often at night. A quiet environment can make repetitive behaviors more noticeable, but nighttime air licking can also occur because of nausea, acid reflux, anxiety, or discomfort.

Pay attention to whether your dog licks the air after eating dinner, when settling down for sleep, or after lying down. If your dog repeatedly gets up, swallows, licks the air, or seems uncomfortable at night, mention these details to your veterinarian.

When Should You Worry About Your Dog Licking the Air?

An occasional air lick usually isn't concerning when your dog otherwise seems happy and healthy. However, a sudden change in behavior or frequent air licking deserves closer attention.

Contact your veterinarian if your dog repeatedly licks the air or if the behavior occurs alongside:

• Vomiting or repeated retching

• Excessive drooling

• Difficulty eating or swallowing

• Bad breath or obvious mouth pain

• Loss of appetite

• Weight loss

• Frequent gulping or swallowing

• Restlessness or signs of abdominal discomfort

• Confusion, staring, twitching, or other unusual movements

• A sudden change in behavior

If your dog has trouble breathing, can’t swallow, appears distressed, or you think your dog might have something lodged in their throat, contact your veterinarian immediately.

Final Thoughts

So, why does your dog lick the air? The answer can range from something completely harmless, such as investigating an interesting smell or getting rid of a bit of food around the mouth, to nausea, dental problems, digestive discomfort, or stress.

The key is to look at the bigger picture. Occasional air licking in an otherwise happy, healthy dog usually isn't a cause for concern. But when the behavior becomes frequent, starts suddenly, or comes with other changes, it's worth paying attention.