Why Does Your Bulldog Lick the Air? 6 Causes and Their Solutions

If you notice that your Bulldog is licking the air as if he’s imagining flies and want to catch them, you don’t need to worry. All dogs lick the air; it’s part of their nature.

However, as a responsible pet parent, it’s important to understand the reason behind your dog’s behavior.

So, why does your Bulldog lick the air? Bulldogs Lick the air because they’re feeling anxious or bored. They could also lick the air because of teething, nausea, allergies, or there’s something stuck in their teeth. It’s normal for bulldogs to lick the air and is usually not an indication of anything serious and you can ignore it.

Keep reading to learn more about the reasons why Bulldogs lick the air and when to be worried about their behavior.

Why Does Your Bulldog Lick The Air?

There are so many reasons why your Bulldog is licking the air. Some of these reasons are normal, while the others aren’t.

So, let’s break down the common reasons why Bulldogs lick the air to help you tell if it’s a normal habit or if you will need to visit a veterinarian for treatment.

Stress or anxiety

Bulldogs, unfortunately, are prone to suffer from anxiety and stress as humans do.

As a reaction to anxiety and stress, they tend to lick the air. When your Bulldog does that, try to get it to calm down by talking to it quietly and comforting it.

Reducing the dog’s anxiety will help reduce their tendency to lick the air. However, if you don’t manage the dog’s anxiety, its tendency to lick the air will start to become compulsive. The problem might also escalate as the dog will show various other odd behaviors.

I suggest you consult with a veterinarian to determine the best way you can deal with your dog’s anxiety to prevent its behavior from getting worse.

Object Stuck in Their Teeth

When we get something in our teeth, we try to use our tongue to get it out.

Bulldogs may look like they’re licking the air when, in fact, they are trying to remove an object that’s stuck in their teeth.

If your Bulldog was chewing and suddenly stopped to lick the air, try to check his mouth and remove the stuck object.

Skin allergy

Bulldogs are prone to many allergies that cause their skin to become irritated and itchy. You can learn more about other skin problems Bulldogs suffer from here.

This creates a lot of discomfort for the dog, especially if the itching area is an area that’s difficult to reach. So, bulldogs might attempt to lick the air trying to mentally scratch this itch.

Boredom

Bulldogs get bored easily, and once you stop giving them attention, they will start acting out.

So, as a way of coping with boredom, they might start licking the air. In this case, you can just take them for a walk or distract them from licking the air.

Nausea

Bulldogs are prone to develop some health issues that’ll cause them to feel nauseous, but one of the main causes is eating too quickly.

When they eat quickly, they will inhale more air, which will cause them to get nausea. As a result of this nausea, they might start licking the air until they vomit.

In this case, you need to help your dog slow down while eating to prevent any problems.

Teething

Bulldogs start teething at 3 weeks of age, so you’ll probably notice their air licking tendencies starting around that time.

Teething is an extremely uncomfortable and painful process for Bulldogs, so they’ll try to lick their teeth more often to reduce the pressure in their mouth, which will lead to them licking the air as well.

Is It Normal for Bulldogs to Lick the Air?

It is normal for Bulldogs to lick the air as long as you know the reason behind their behavior.

Upon reviewing the previously listed reasons, you will notice that their behavior is justified, and they are not harming themselves by doing that.

Make sure to monitor your dog’s behavior all the time to make sure that they’re not harming themselves or becoming too obsessive.

When to Be Worried About Your Bulldog Licking the Air?

As mentioned before, Bulldogs liking the air is considered normal behavior for them. But when should you start worrying about this kind of behavior?

Basically, you should start worrying about your Bulldog licking the air when their behavior starts to become compulsive or obsessive, as this is usually a sign of extreme anxiety in the dog, and you will need to take it to the vet for treatment.

You should also worry if you cannot seem to identify the reason why your Bulldog is licking the air. If the dog suddenly develops this behavior out of nowhere, it’s a good idea to take it to the vet for a checkup, as it could be caused by an underlying medical condition.

Why Does Your Bulldog Lick the Air? 6 Causes and Their Solutions