Excessive licking (of air) for no apparent reason

[TABULLDOG]

Hello,
For about a week, Sophie, one year, has been licking the air. At first I thought it was simply because she licked the carpet and had fuzzies on her tongue. Giving her water or brushing her teeth and tongue did not help.

Now she just does it. In fact, she did it for about an hour to an hour and a half tonight. She finally stopped when we put her to bed. But she stands in one spot and just sticks her tongue in and out and in and out. It is loud and annoying and probably annoying to her as well.

I did some searching on google groups and came up with some ideas - Obsessive compulsive, attention, pain....not really finding any clear ideas.

I don't see how a vet visit would necessarily help because she just licks. She shows no sign of pain or irritation. She is on Cephlaxin right now for a bacterial infection, but she was licking before that, prednisone too, but again she was licking before that.

If she is playing she does not lick. When we pet her she still sometimes does lick. I wonder about the Obsessive Compulsive ness only because she used to take her soccer ball, walk around with it in her mouth, or just mouth it in hers for an hour or so. Kind of obsessively.

Important note - she DOES NOT LICK ANY PART OF HER BODY....not her paws or her privates or anything - just the air.  And she started "popping" her mouth - like she has a quick lock jaw. 

I checked her tail, looks fine, and we have brushed her teeth so I don't think there is anything on her teeth.  Last night she licked for about an hour.

Any ideas?  This is driving us crazy.

Thanks.

[buddylover]

I bet it's driving you crazy!  Maggie will sit and lick the air for a while but it's usually while she's spinning in circles on the floor.  Bud will lick the air when we scratch his butt  or clean his tail pocket.  I always thought it was when something felt good to them or itched.
What is she on prednisone for?  Was she itchy?  I know you said she was doing this before the prednisone but if she was itchy before that she could have been licking because the itch was driving her nuts.
It doesn't sound like anything is wrong with her.  Could you call your vet just to see if he's seen it before?

[Tracy]

She does have allergies and a slight bacteria infection.

Her licking is just weird.  She just stands or sits there and for like an hour will lick.

[Lord Goliath]

Most of the time licking the air like that is related to a tail pocket problem or anal glands.  Any discomfort "back there" will commonly cause your Bulldog do do this.  If you've ever cleaned out the tail pocket really well, you probably noticed Sophie licking the air while you were cleaning. 

Check the tail pocket for problems and clean it if necessary:

http://bulldogdomain.com/health/tailpocket.php

Another possible remedy might be to express or have the anal glands expressed.  Have Sophie's stools been firm lately?  If not the anal glands may be full and need to be expressed as they may be causing discomfort.

Good luck.

[brumzoo]

If it is OCD, you can talk with your vet about putting her on medication to help. Lumpy has separation anxiety disorder and is on Clomipramine, the main ingredient in Clomi-Calm. They will put dogs on Elavil, Prozac, etc. I would try what James suggested first, though.