If you have ever been on the receiving end of a slobbery greeting at the front door, you have already had a close encounter with your dog’s lips. But those soft, seamless flaps around a dog’s mouth look nothing like our own, which leaves plenty of owners genuinely puzzled.
So let’s settle the question properly, from the anatomy right through to the little lumps and bumps that are worth keeping an eye on.
Yes, dogs really do have lips. They are just built differently from ours. A dog’s lips run in one continuous fold around the mouth rather than forming a neat upper and lower pair. The upper lips are called flews, and together they help dogs eat, drink, carry things, cool down and communicate.
Key Takeaways
- Dogs absolutely have lips, but they lack the defined red-bordered upper and lower lips that humans have.
- A dog’s upper lips are known as flews, and the lower lip is thinner and closely attached to the jaw.
- Lips help dogs hold food and water, lap and drink, carry objects, protect their teeth and gums, funnel scent and pant to cool down.
- Most dogs have black lips thanks to a pigment called melanin, though colour varies from black to brown, tan, grey and even pink.
- Breeds with heavy, drooping flews, such as Bloodhounds and Saint Bernards, tend to drool more.
- Lip fold dermatitis, injuries, sudden colour changes and new lumps are all worth a vet check.
Do Dogs Have Lips? A Look at the Anatomy
Yes, they do. The confusion is understandable, because a dog’s mouth is lined by one continuous band of soft tissue rather than the two distinct lips we see on people. There is no obvious pink border, no cupid’s bow and no pucker, so the whole thing can look like a single seamless flap.
Anatomically, though, dogs still have an upper and a lower lip. They are simply shaped for a very different job. Canine lips are more muscular and fibrous than ours, packed with nerves, tiny glands and a rich blood supply, which makes them sensitive and surprisingly capable.
Flews: the upper lips
A dog’s upper lips are called flews. They are usually larger than the lower lip and hang loosely over it, which is typical of meat-eating animals. In tight-lipped breeds such as Greyhounds, Dobermanns and Collies, the flews sit neatly against the jaw. In breeds like Bloodhounds, Bulldogs and Mastiffs, they hang low and loose in heavy, pendulous folds.
The lower lip
The lower lip is thinner and more firmly attached to the jaw, so it moves less than the flews. You may notice small serrations or bumps along its edge. These are normal, and they are thought to help cushion the sharp teeth so they do not cut into the sensitive lip while a dog eats or chews.
What Are a Dog’s Lips Actually For?
Dog lips are far more of a multi-tool than ours. Here is what they get up to every single day.
Holding food and water
Lips help a dog gather food and keep it in the mouth, and they form a rough seal that stops too much water escaping when a dog drinks. If you have ever watched a dog make an enormous mess at the water bowl, spare a thought for how much worse it would be without any lips at all.
Lapping and drinking
Dogs do not sip the way we do. They curl the tongue and flick water upwards, and the lips help direct and contain that splashy motion so at least some of it ends up where it should.
Carrying and picking things up
From a favourite ball to a stolen sock, dogs use their lips alongside their teeth and tongue to grip and carry objects gently. It is the same soft dexterity a retriever uses to bring back game without crushing it. If your dog is a committed collector, our guide to why dogs love carrying sticks is worth a read.
Protecting the teeth and gums
The lips act as a soft curtain over the teeth and gums, covering and cushioning them. The little bumps on the lower lip play their part here too, helping keep those sharp canines from nicking the mouth.
Helping with scent
Dogs live through their noses, and their lips help. Curling the lips can channel more air and scent particles towards the nose and the roof of the mouth. In scent hounds with long, low flews, those hanging lips are even thought to help stir up and trap ground scent as the dog tracks. It is all part of the reason dogs read the world so differently to us, much like the way certain smells that dogs find off-putting can send them running.
Panting and keeping cool
Dogs cannot sweat through their skin the way we do, so they rely on panting to regulate their temperature. The lips draw back and the mouth opens to let moisture evaporate from the tongue and mouth, releasing heat. On a warm day, those relaxed, pulled-back lips are doing important work.
Why Are Dogs’ Lips Usually Black?
Reach for a mental picture of a dog’s mouth and you will probably imagine black lips, especially striking against a white coat on breeds like the Samoyed. Most dogs do have black lips, and the reason comes down to a pigment called melanin, the same pigment that influences skin, coat, eye and nose colour.
Not every dog has black lips, though. Depending on genetics and pigment levels, lips and noses can be black, dark brown, tan, a bluish grey or even pink, and some dogs have mottled or spotted lips. Unlike in people, the colour is not driven by sun exposure. That said, dark, well-pigmented lips and noses do offer better natural protection against the sun’s UV rays than pale pink ones, which can be more prone to sunburn.
Flews, Jowls and Why Some Dogs Drool So Much
If you own a Bloodhound, Saint Bernard, Bulldog, Newfoundland or Mastiff, you already know these breeds can leave a trail of drool across the kitchen floor. Their large, loose flews form pouches around the mouth that fill with saliva, which then spills out rather than staying neatly contained.
Those heavy flews are not a design fault. They allow a wider mouth opening and, in working breeds, help with tasks like scenting and gripping. The trade-off is more mess and, as we will see next, a little extra upkeep. Tight-lipped breeds keep things far tidier by comparison, which is one of the many small differences worth weighing up when you think about the real cost and commitment of owning a dog.
Lip Problems to Watch Out For
For the most part, a dog’s lips look after themselves. But because they are warm, folded and often damp, they can occasionally run into trouble. Here are the main things to keep an eye on.
Lip fold dermatitis
Dogs with deep lip folds, such as Cocker Spaniels, Spaniels, Saint Bernards and Bulldogs, are prone to lip fold dermatitis. Saliva, food and moisture get trapped in the fold, bacteria thrive, and the skin becomes red, sore and smelly. UK vets and charities recommend gently cleaning and drying the folds as part of regular grooming to help prevent it. If the area looks inflamed or has a strong odour, book a vet visit, as it may need medicated treatment.
Injuries and irritation
Lips can get scratched, bitten or caught on things, and enthusiastic chewers sometimes graze them on sticks or hard toys. Minor nicks usually heal quickly, but keep an eye on any cut that bleeds heavily, swells or does not settle. Sensible chew choices help here, and our roundup of tougher, longer-lasting dog toys can spare your dog’s mouth some wear and tear.
Colour changes
A gradual shift in lip pigment as a dog ages is usually nothing to worry about. A sudden change in colour, or lips that look unusually pale, blue or bright red, is different and warrants a prompt vet check, as it can point to an underlying health issue.
Lumps and unusual bumps
The tiny natural serrations on the lower lip are normal. New lumps, clusters of wart-like growths or bumps that grow, bleed or seem sore are not. Younger dogs can develop harmless viral warts around the mouth, but any new growth is best examined by a vet to be sure.
As a general rule, if something about your dog’s lips looks different, sore or simply not right, a quick chat with your vet is always the safest move. Keeping on top of these small things is all part of keeping your dog happy and healthy for the long haul.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do dogs have lips like humans?
Not quite. Dogs have lips, but they are structured very differently. Instead of a defined upper and lower lip with a red border, dogs have one continuous fold of muscular, sensitive tissue around the mouth. Their upper lips, the flews, hang over the lower lip and are built for eating, carrying, scenting and cooling rather than for expressions or speech.
Why are dogs’ lips black?
Black lips come from melanin, a natural pigment that also affects coat, eye and nose colour. Most dogs are well pigmented, so their lips appear black. Others may have brown, tan, grey, pink or spotted lips depending on their genetics. Darker lips also offer a little more natural protection from the sun.
What are a dog’s upper lips called?
A dog’s upper lips are called flews. In some breeds they are short and neat, sitting close to the jaw. In others, such as Bloodhounds and Mastiffs, they are large and pendulous, hanging down in loose folds and often contributing to plenty of drool.
Why do some dogs drool so much?
Dogs with big, loose flews, like Saint Bernards, Bloodhounds, Newfoundlands and Bulldogs, have pouches around the mouth that collect saliva. When those pockets overflow, the drool spills out. Excess drooling can also crop up around food, excitement or car journeys, but persistent, sudden or heavy drooling in a dog that does not usually slobber is worth mentioning to your vet.
Should I worry about bumps on my dog’s lips?
The small, natural serrations along the lower lip are perfectly normal. New lumps, wart-like clusters or bumps that grow, bleed or look sore should be checked by a vet. It is almost always nothing serious, but it is sensible to have any new growth looked at.
The Bottom Line
Dogs do have lips, they are simply nothing like ours. Formed into one continuous fold, topped by the flews and packed with nerves and blood vessels, a dog’s lips help them eat, drink, carry, scent, cool down and communicate every single day. They usually turn black thanks to melanin, and they mostly take care of themselves. Keep an eye out for sore folds, injuries, colour changes and new lumps, and when in doubt, let your vet take a look. Beyond that, you can go right on enjoying those slobbery hellos.
