Does your dog smack when you pet it? You wonder what that means. Is he okay or not?
And if he’s not feeling well, what exactly is the cause of the snuggle-smacking?
In the following guide, we will explain to you in detail what smacking while petting is all about.
Dog smacks when petted – 11 reasons and their meaning
When a dog smacks its lips – whether it’s falling asleep, when it’s awake or when it’s eating – there are specific reasons for this.
What are they and what do they mean? Now find out.
Your dog is comfortable
When you pet your dog and he starts smacking his lips, he is expressing to you that that he is comfortable.
In a way, the smacking sound is like a satisfied sigh, nothing more and nothing less.
Good to know:
This smacking means: Your dog feels safe and secure. In many cases, your dog will also smack and yawn just before going to sleep.
Your dog is worried
In addition to feeling good, there can also be this reason behind the smacking – although this does not necessarily occur when petting.
Your Dog is worried. Among other things, this behavior can in shy dogs appear. Or in the presence of a higher-ranking four-legged friend.
Smacking is the dog’s outlet to relieve his fear and stress about this situation.
Interesting:
The anxious breeds that smack their lips more often include these: The chihuahuathe Spanish water dog and – you won’t believe it – the German sheepdog as well as the border collie.
They feel extremely uncomfortable, especially around strange dogs – and can then also start smacking their lips.
Your dog cleans his teeth & mouth
It is well known that dogs cannot brush their own teeth. And because that’s the case, you can too Remains of food between the teeth to get stuck.
Your dog smacks well, he’s tempted by this, these to remove leftover foodwhich, by the way, can also stick to the palate.
In this case, smacking is an attempt at canine oral hygiene.
Your dog knows there is food
Let’s stay a little longer with food. dogs smacking their lips even when they know that they are about to be fed.
The smack is therefore the anticipation Make sure that the feeding bowl is finally filled.
Your dog has stomach problems
Your dog smacks and chokes? Then it’s likely that something has hit his sensitive stomach.
In such a case, smacking is one sure sign that your dog will vomit in the next few seconds or minutes.
Smacking is an attempt to trigger nausea. And usually with success. It is also accompanied by increased swallowing.
Good to know:
Smack is also used when a Dog suffering from heartburn.
The excess stomach acid not only irritates the stomach, it also migrates unpleasantly up the esophagus. Dogs try to “counteract” this by smacking their lips.
Your dog has a «smack tick»
You know for sure that not every behavior that our four-legged friends show makes sense from our point of view.
So why should smacking behave any differently? actually develop especially older dogs a quirkabout that noise.
The reason: you want it tell different thingsfor example that they want attention or are thirsty or hungry.
Good to know:
Not just age can trigger this quirk. Also uncertainty and thus stress are in many cases the reasons behind the behavior of our four-legged friends that normally does not occur.
Your dog is dehydrated
One insufficient fluid intake respectively one dehydration can be another reason why your dog smacks his lips.
This should be tried, of course to moisten dry gums. Typically, dehydration, which is not without risk, is accompanied by these symptoms:
Your dog panting permanently, he is lethargic and weak and also has his urine a pungent smell developed.
Your dog has dental problems
Not only leftover food between the teeth can lead to smacking when it comes to a dog’s mouth. Also dental problems may have set the cause.
These include, among other things tartarone tooth infection or one gingivitis. You can also recognize this by the fact that your dog only chews with one side.
Also a permanent one Rubbing the muzzle with the paws can indicate that your dog is struggling with a dental problem.
Your dog is poisoned
Also one poisoning can be the trigger for the smacking of the dog. In order to trigger such a thing, it is unfortunately sometimes enough if the fur nose has eaten something that is harmless to us humans, for example.
These include, among other things Chocolate and avocados – both foods that, depending on the size and weight of the dog, dangerous even in small amounts can become.
The smacking is accompanied by other symptoms. These include, among others drooling and Gums that are bright red started. Also shaking his head and Foam at the mouth point relatively clearly to poisoning in the dog.
Your dog has dementia
Not only old people can suffer from this disease – also old dogs. At dementia it is one chronic nerve diseasethat affects brain performance.
If a dog suffers from dementia, this leads, among other things, to the four-legged friends cleaning themselves more often. The smacking is an accompanying noise and is part of everyday dog life for this fur nose.
Already knew?
According to statistics, suffer already more than a third of all dogsthe older than 11 years are, under this nervous disease.
Your dog is in pain
Unfortunately, dogs cannot communicate one-to-one with us. So how do people convey that they Pains have?
By using certain sounds and behaviors, among other things. And that should also include smacking.
Conclusion
If your dog smacks his lips when petted, you can there are various reasons behind it.
We have presented the most common ones to you in our guide. Is the smacking just a sign of well-being and affectionyou don’t have to worry about your dog.
But does he show symptoms that include: Nausea, dental problems or even poisoning indicate that a trip to the vet is necessary.
How about your fur nose? Does she smack you when you pet her? Or when she goes into the dog bed in the evening, i.e. immediately before falling asleep? Or has there ever been another reason behind the smacking?
We would be happy if you share your experiences with us and other dog owners in the comments!