Cocker spaniel repeatedly licking the air in the evenings

[Nousernameideaaga]

My 6 year old cocker spaniel has recently started licking the air for about ten minutes every evening. She only does it in the evening and only when lying on the sofa.

She stops when she is distracted by something else and is well in herself otherwise.

still eating and drinking plenty and nothing that we can see in her mouth.

what could this be please?

Is it an itch that she can't reach? If she was young, I would say it was ocd, but it's very strange for it to appear in a six year old

I dont think it’s an itch. Its bizarre , she has been doing it every single evening lately, it’s almost like she gets herself stuck and can only stop when she’s interrupted by a knock at the door or somebody moving around for instance

Acid reflux maybe?

Could it be? Would that be a trip to the vets ?

I think this is likely to be it. You could try giving her a acid ease type supplement - Healthful Pets have a good selection - and give her a really low fat diet. Might be a good idea to take her to the vet but could try that first.

Maybe there's a boy dog she fancies and she's practising french kissing?

Thankyou.

she has two meals a day of boiled chicken , rice and carrots (she’s had this since a pup as has a very sensitive tummy) and doesn’t have treats besides a tiny bit of cheese and extra chicken during the day.

I will look into your suggestion Thankyou

As well as feeding a low fat diet, it might help to feed smaller, more frequent meals so she can digest the food easier.

Food intolerance can also cause acid reflux I think. Maybe she's become intolerant to chicken or rice?

A vet check up is needed if there isn't any improvement after trying these changes or if it worsens

Thankyou. I will call the vet in the morning and I’ve just emailed him a video of her.

I hate the thought of her being in pain 😢

Try turkey instead of chicken, it is well tolerated by most dogs unlike chicken, it is a bland type of meat and healthier than chicken.

Another thought. Is the chicken chicken from the supermarket? I wonder if organic chicken might be worth a try if you don't buy it already. I realise it's expensive. But I buy it for mine as I worry about all the things they give to the poor chickens and just wondering if it is that that is causing your dog the digestive issues (if it is that), the growth hormones and whatever else they give them I mean. She only gets a bit as I use it for training aka bribe treats. I'd struggle to feed her organic chicken as her main food!
Mine does really well on white fish too.
Good luck, it's worrying to see them not quite right.

I hope you get some answers at the vet.
I agree with @Branster that turkey might be better for her, it's worth a try. Or white fish as @redboxer321 suggested.
Sweet potato instead of rice perhaps?

Thankyou all , I’m not sure how she would cope without chicken , she has had it twice a day since she was about six months old , maybe reducing the amount of times she has it and swap for white fish some meals?

Yes it’s chicken from the supermarket.
I would happily try organic if that would help her.
it does make sense that it’s reflux actually as it’s in the evening and when she lies down.
I suffer from it myself and it’s horrible , she must be in pain with it. 😢

Had to look this up as I am a spaniel owner too - I think it needs a quick trip to the vet? My guess, if they are otherwise fine and it seems to be happening after their evening meal, is that it is food/digestion related as suggested below and by other pps - ie it could be acid reflux? One of my spaniels is allergic to chicken (they go pink) and it may be that there is an ingredient in their food/kibble that is disagreeing with them?

Having had a bit more of a think, I think organic chicken would more help with allergies maybe. Not sure it would make a difference to your dog.
Mine also has digestive issues but not so much acid reflux but she really benefits from digestive enzymes. Also available at Healthful Pets but there's lots of digestive enzymes in pineapple, mango, kiwi, cider vinegar with the mother, raw honey, ginger... I give her a little bit of these things and that's helped her but don't know if it would help for yours.
Does yours eat grass? I use clay when mine does and it sorts her out a treat. It's not a long term solution but if she has a short term problem it helps.
Vet sounds like a good idea too. Hope you find a solution.

Chicken is one of the most common food allergens and Spaniels are very predisposed to it. My springer’s coat turns pink, especially between his toes.

I’d take it out of the diet for a few weeks and swap for turkey (they are completely different), goose or duck mixes.

She does try to eat grass occasionally ,

She hasn’t had any digestive problems (apart from the odd bout if she’s eaten something questionable on a walk) since we put her on the chicken and rice diet at six months. It would be really sad if we have to move her away from chicken as she absolutely loves it.

really hoping the vet can help in the morning and I’m glad I asked on here now , as I thought she was just having a loopy five minutes in the evening. Bless her 😢

Even though she’s been on a chicken and rice diet since six months old?

(really hoping somebody will come along and tell me chicken isn’t the problem 🤦‍♀️)

I doubt it is the chicken. If it was allergies then I'd think more likely. But not for acid reflux (if it is that). Could well be wrong of course.
What bit of the chicken do you feed her? Mine gets skinless breast only. Anything else is too fatty.

Yes boiled skinless breast.

im panicking now that we have been feeding her wrong all these years.

this was what the vet recommended when she had so many digestive issues as a pup

Yes. Allergies can develop at any age, but especially if there is no variety in their diet?

My dogs eat: turkey, venison, duck, lamb, beef, pork, goose, salmon or any fish that we happen to be eating. They also eat a variety of vegetables mixed in with those together with kibble to ensure their teeth don’t build up tartar.

ETA - just no chicken because of digestive issues when a pup (runny poops, smelly farts, and the pink skin/paw licking thing).

@Nousernameideaaga Don't panic! Mine had a bad incident some months ago and the vets were great! I haven't always found them so with digestive issues but the last two times they have been. And as I said, loads of supplements that might help. You'll get her right. Let us know how the vet visit goes 😀

It is very difficult to get the correct nutrition in a dog with human food alone. They need a very specific set of micronutrients. If you are feeding just human food with no bone and no dietary supplement it is quite likely that you may have created a deficiency somewhere. Please let your vet know exactly what you are feeding and get some blood tests done

My girl can’t hack any type of poultry so she is a mostly fish girl. White fish, salmon, sardines- the stinkier the better and her coat is gorgeous for it!