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Excessive licking

Susan

I have a 1.5 year old Maltese named Tiger. He constantly licks and licks the air (looks as if he just ate peanut butter, but he didn't) and sometimes his paws or us. Is this OK? I don't want to take my dog to the vet for "licking air" but it's so excessive I am starting to worry.

Another worry is that he has a "goose honk" cough. It always happens after he drinks water but I was told that it is normal. But now he does it when he's not drinking water. It only happens like once a day, but I don't know how many times a day it should happen before I should start to worry.

Since he is a Maltese, he used to have tear stains from his eyes, they stopped for a while and now when things come out of his eyes, it is green. My vet told me it was allergies and not to worry, but thought I should get a second opinion and let you know about that issue in case that would help diagnose the first two.

I only started to worry because he threw up the other day. He usually throws up in the morning a little yellow, about the size of a quarter, possibly stomach bile if he doesn't eat before bed. But this time it was all of his food and it stained the rug a red/orange/brown color. It hasn't happened since last week but maybe this info might help.

Thank you!

Symptoms: Vomiting, Behavioral, Coughing, Eyes, Weight Loss

• Experienced Advisor Barry St.george says:

  March 29th, 2008 at 07:32 PM

  ·         A:) Licking the air could be a number of things, one could be that Tiger has something could be caught in his mouth like a stick or thorn even a piece of food between his teeth.

  ·         Sometimes we see that as a mini seizure. If it were just licking at paws or legs it could be allergies. We have been thinking that boredom could be another possibility for excessive licking of just about everything in site. I would try getting a Kong and fill it with doggie peanut butter or bacon flavor to keep him occupied and see if the licking excessively stops, to rule out boredom. My dog licks every thing and I think she’s board, were out most of the day and licks plus follows the girls around whenever we are home.
  
   B:) Goose honking?. Some times something like that could be what we call a reverse sneeze. Kennel cough could make a honking sound, also something caught or irritating thought.
  
   C:) Green discharge from eyes and nose can be a slight infection (respiratory) sometimes it goes away on it’s own in a few days or so, other times the Vet would need to prescribe a oral and ointment antibiotic to help that out.
  
   D:) Yellow bile vomiting is a result of acid buildup in the stomach from going long period without food. If a dog or cat vomits once or twice in a few weeks time frame I would not worry too much, that’s normal I see it all the time.

           I hope that answers all of your concerns.

          Regards,

               Barry
   

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• Suzie says:

  March 30th, 2008 at 02:07 PM

  Thank you for your helpful response. One quick question, if it is kennel cough, how often would he be coughing, or "reverse sneezing? He only does it maybe once or twice a day. Is that enough to be kennel cough? I have had him vaccinated for it, but maybe I might need treatment now?

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• Experienced Advisor Barry St.george says:

  March 30th, 2008 at 04:23 PM

  Sure, Your welcome....

  If it is Kennel cough it gets worse if untreated, If it would be reverse sneezing, it comes and goes. it may happen a few times one week, then it may happen once in the next few weeks.

  Thanks for your Questions I hope I was helpfull.

  Regards,

  Barry

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•   Andrea Selner says:

  January 31st, 2009 at 10:50 AM

  I agree with your Veterinarian in that this sounds like allergies to me.  I think your pet is having post nasal drip which makes him feel like there is something in the back of his throat.  It is probably what makes him reverse sneeze as well.  Have you ever had a cold and the phelgm buildup you get on the back of your throat and sometimes you can't catch your breath.  Same feeling to them.  I would call your Veterinarian and have him recommend some type of allergy medication for him to see if that helps reduce the symptoms you are seeing. 

    The bile vomitus can also be caused by allergies.  Food allergies cause this very often.  I would recommend you consulting your veterinarian for foods he/she recommends.  Good luck

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• User suggests:

  April 02nd, 2009 at 11:39 AM

  Goose-like honking from small dogs is indicative of a collapsed tracchea. Many very small dogs have this problem (around 30% of all small dogs). They are trying to catch their breath after the tracchea collapses, thereby producing a honking sound. 99% of the time it is not a matter of concern. Dogs do it after drinking water, or getting very, very excited for instance. An operation can not guarantee improvement and often makes the matter even worse. Some small dogs do get better with it especially after they have become fully accustomed to their new home, environment etc. Don't panic when it happens or appear upset. It will only fill your little pooch with fear. Just softly pet him and in a soft tone tell him "it's ok".

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• Carol suggests:

  April 08th, 2009 at 01:05 AM

  Sometimes the excessive licking is simply their way of "tasting" the air ... one of my Poms does this all the time ... and its definitely not because he's bored. Another thing about the small dogs' "honking" ... our vet told us this is VERY normal in small dogs and ALL of our dogs have done it at one point or another. One dog has PND, two are very excitable and our oldest boy does it when he's excited, when he eats too fast, when he drinks water, when he wants attention ... you name it! I agree with Barry regarding C and D above.

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• Mechelle suggests:

  August 17th, 2009 at 08:56 AM

  Need advice for my 2 year old schnoodle. My dog Sydney has me terribly worried. He is my furry child and is with me constantly. Over the last three months, Syd started to vomit excessively, and is habitually licking this feet, the carpets, my bedspread, the couch, the floors etc. I have taken him to my Vet several times over the last three months. He has had blood work, numerous x-rays and a sensitive blood test for his liver function. All is normal and is being treated with pepcid and Carafate as needed so the vomiting has subsided. Two weeks ago, I took him back to my Vet for the constant licking which at that time we discovered his right paw has a dermatitis which was treated by shaving the hair on the paw, he was administered a low dose of Temaril-P for seven days for the itch, an antibiotic for possible infection and Neopredef powder. The paw has seemed to heal, but the licking objects and now his feet again is constantly. Almost at times as if he cannot stop. My Vet discussed the possibility testing Sydney for Addison's disease if the licking continues. Being that his BUN was normal and that he is only " Two" years old make addison's disease highly unlikely? I am not sure if I have become overly anxious to my dogs health - which sometimes a Veterinary Clinic can become aware of and ( if I may add, benefit financially from). I have spent over the course of three months around $1,200 plus for my dogs care. The test for Addison's disease would be another 400 to 600 dollars. Not that I would not re mortgage my home for my dog if needed, I would, but I just want to make sure that I am not becoming neurotic and that this is behavioral. I keep telling my husband that I know my dog more than anyone, and there is something not right, his changing behaviors in my opinion are very different to his loving sweet personality. I just want my dog back! "Very Worried!" Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

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• User suggests:

  August 21st, 2009 at 09:09 PM

  I just read your question because I was looking up the same thing for my Brussels Griffon! I can't taker her air licking anymore! It is so annoying! And the poor baby does also do that honking sometimes. The vet did say it is a reverse sneeze and to rub her throat to soothe it and help to moisten the air passages. As for the licking, everyone keeps saying to look into her mouth to see if there is something stuck. There clearly is not. It's not constant, but frequent and I just can't seem to determine what it is related to or what provokes it! Any more ideas? Or has anyone talked to a vet about this?

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• User suggests:

  September 18th, 2009 at 08:33 AM

  I have been having the same problem with my Maltese-Bichon Spike. He has been licking the air, biting at his feet, stretching with his hind-end up in the air,bloating and generally just looking uncomfortable. I know my dog and I know that there is something not right. My 15 yo son commented the other day that every day when he comes home from school, Spike looks different. Spike also lies on his back and kicks his feet. I have taken him to the vet and he is now on special food and two types of medication (doggie Zantac - Ranitidine and Metronidazole). All bloods have come back normal. My vet told me that there has been a recent study done that concluded that dogs that air lick were almost always found to have a GI problem. Spike has only been on treatment for 3 days, and I haven't seen too much of an improvement yet but I am hopeful. It sort of makes sense that licking the air could incorporate air into the stomach which will make the dog feel uncomfortable. But why is the dog licking the air??? Perhaps it starts with a GI problem (food related?) and then is exacerbated by the air licking making the dog uncomfortable because of gas (certainly Spike seemed bloated). As responsible pet owners, we have an obligation to our pets to help them in whatever way we can. We know when there is something wrong with our pets and we are doing the right thing in investigating it. I will post the outcome of Spike's course of care and hopefully this will help some of you. I would also like to read the study of the air licking-GI connection, if anyone knows where I could find it, I would appreciate it. Thanks

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•   Andrea Selner says:

  October 01st, 2009 at 06:11 PM

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• User suggests:

  October 06th, 2009 at 10:49 PM

  I can't tell you how thankful I was today to find this web site. My husband and I have 2 beautiful pure-bred Maltese puppies, both just 1 year old. Our little girl is the one giving me great concern these days. She's been an "air" licker and a "honker" from the day we brought her home @ 9 wks. I've never had a pet before and didn't know it wasn't normal. The vet never said the "licking/honking" was or could be a problem when I asked about it, so I never worried, until recently. He did mention the collasped trech, we did Xrays and he ruled it out. We are currently traveling for my husband's job and the licking/honking has not only gotten worse, but now she's throwing up. She does have allergies and I recognize the PND in her, however this past week it has progressed to throwing up, 4 times in 1 night (with diarreha) and 1day later (today) she threw up once, after a bath. It was the color of egg yolk. As much as I'd love to take them outside I don't very often because of the change in air pollen and the effect it has had on her runny nose. I'm afraid of being that "way too worried" pet mommy as my husband tells me I am being when I bring this up to him. We've tried Benedryl (vet ok'd) but like was said above, I think it just knocks them out. The licking/honking I can handle if I'm sure she's not hurting and I can rub her throat and calm her down, the vomiting and diarreha worry me. How do I know how much vomiting is too much and how much vomiting is "normal" for a puppy with nasal drip in her tummy? My own allergies have made me sick to my stomach before, could this be all that is taking place - or do you think this is a food allergy? Any advice for this new and nervous mommy would very very welcome. Thanks, Jennifer

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