12 reasons why dogs smack their lips when petted [2024] –

When dogs smack their lips when petted, it is usually an expression of satisfaction. Under certain circumstances, it can also indicate hunger, dental problems, insecurity, dehydration, dementia, poisoning or a splinter in the mouth.

Compared to humans, dogs' means of communication are very limited. This explains why the same gesture can mean different things in the same situation.

In addition, every dog develops its own communication patterns over the course of its life, which are often only understood by their master.

To find out the real cause, the elimination process is usually the best choice. Here you will learn about the 11 most common causes.

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#1 Hunger

Stroking their stomach often reminds dogs that they are actually hungry. This can usually be recognized by the four-legged friend suddenly producing a lot of saliva.

Here, smacking is just an attempt to keep the saliva in the mouth. Some breeds are better at this, but others don't mind if they leave behind drool marks. [1]

#2 Leftover food in the mouth

You probably know the feeling when you've eaten an ear of corn and then have corn all over your teeth. So what do you do?

You try to tease out the leftover food with your tongue. Dogs behave the same here. However, they were not taught German manners from an early age.

So if your dog has eaten before being petted, the smacking may just be an attempt to scrape out leftover food from between its teeth. [2]

#3 Satisfaction

Dogs show their happiness and contentment in different ways. An upward-pointing and wagging tail is typical here. Other typical signs are:

Relaxed floppy ears
Dog leans against you
Quiet sighs and moans
Relaxed posture
Smacking when stroking
Friendly facial expression
Sleeping on your back [3]

You can easily test it by stopping stroking and then waiting for the reaction. Does he demand more petting or does he get no response?

#4 Nausea

Dogs' digestive systems are much more sensitive than ours. Even the smallest inconsistencies can lead to stomach pain and nausea.

This is especially true if your four-legged friend eats grass. This can usually be recognized by the fact that the dog swallows unusually frequently, licks his lips and smacks his lips.

Here, too, the question arises: Did your dog happen to eat something before being petted? If not, sudden nausea is rare. [4]

#5 Splinters in mouth

Greed and curiosity sometimes become fatal for dogs. When gnawing on pieces of wood or bones, splinters can come off and get stuck in the gums.

I experienced this myself just a few months ago when I gave our dog fish. Apparently I forgot a large, sharp bone.

Afterwards, our “Alex” rubbed his muzzle wildly with his paws and you could easily see blood. Fortunately, it resolved itself.

So could it be that your dog gnawed on wood or bones shortly before being petted? Because then smacking could indicate splinters in the mouth.

#6 Dehydration

If dogs drink too little water, their noses and gums usually become dry. Other typical symptoms are:

Constant panting
Sunken eyes
Feeling of weakness
Stinky smell of urine
Thick saliva
Declining skin elasticity
Lack of motivation [5]

Here, smacking while stroking is just an attempt to keep the dry gums moist. The solution? Encourage your dog to drink more.

#7 Dental problems

If your dog has suddenly started smacking his lips and also does so when being petted, then this could indicate problems with his teeth. Typical examples are here:

Excessive tartar
Inflammation of the gums
Tooth chips
Infection of the periodontium
Misaligned teeth

Such problems can usually be recognized by the dog eating less, biting on one side, constantly shaking its head and rubbing its muzzle with its paws. [6]

#8 Insecurity

When dogs are insecure or afraid, they tend to constantly lick their lips and smack their lips. This is their way of calming themselves and reducing stress levels.

When petting, this usually only occurs if the dog has recently joined the family or if it is a stranger.

Under certain circumstances, it could simply be because there is a stranger or a strange pet nearby. This is especially true for fearful breeds. [7]

#9 Poisoning

A number of common foods in your diet are toxic to dogs for unknown reasons. Typical examples of these are:

Cocoa and chocolate
Onions and garlic
Avocados and avocado oil
Walnuts and macadamia nuts
Alcohol and hops

You can often recognize such poisoning by excessive drooling, constant shaking of the head, frequent smacking, bright red gums and foam in the mouth.

Unfortunately, the symptoms can only appear with a delay, so that the smacking can only occur after the pet is stroked. [8]

#10 Dementia

⅓ of all dogs over the age of 11 are said to suffer from dementia. It is a chronic nerve disease that increasingly reduces brain performance. [9]

Memory also gets worse and worse. In practice, this often leads to dogs grooming themselves excessively due to forgetfulness.

Here, smacking is just the sound of their oral hygiene. After eating, they remove existing food residues. This is almost part of everyday life for dogs with dementia.

#11 Certain flavors

If dogs have eaten something very bitter, salty, sweet, sour or spicy, it can get stuck in their mouths. Here, smacking is cleaning the tongue.

More specifically, they slide their tongue along the surface of the mouth to clear the taste buds. Many dogs also open their mouths.

Here too the question is: Is it possible that your dog ate something unusual before being petted? Better check the candy cabinet again.

#12 Sialocele

A sialocele is a small cavity in the dog's mouth that has filled with saliva. It is usually caused by inflammation or injury.

Smacking is just one of many symptoms and occurs even when the dog is not being petted. Other typical symptoms are:

Swelling of the mouth
Problems swallowing
No pain
Breathing problems [10]