There are many reasons why a dog drools – the prospect of daily food or a tasty extra morsel, for example, is literally the last straw for almost every dog and the spit drips from their lips. In many breeds, drooling is also a consequence of the appearance desired by breeders – long, heavy lips in Boxers, St. Bernards, Bulldogs, and co. lead to an incomplete lip closure, and the saliva collects in long threads at the corners of the mouth. As a dog owner, you just have to deal with that. In some cases, however, the dog will start drooling suddenly and for no apparent reason – this should be investigated as this could indicate a serious problem. In this article, we explain the reasons why a dog drools.
Dog drooling due to stress, anxiety, excitement
Situations that stress the dog or even scare it often trigger increased salivation, and the four-legged friend drools or even has foamy spit around the mouth. Driving a car, for example, can lead to such an overproduction of saliva in many dogs if they have not been introduced to it slowly and gradually. But also “positive stress” such as extensive romping with other dogs or a boisterous game with your favorite person makes some dogs drool.
Extreme heat
Dogs cannot sweat from every pore as we humans can. If it is very hot, they regulate their body temperature by panting. Especially in breeds with a short snout, such as Bulldogs, Pugs, or Pekingese, this can stimulate saliva production to keep the tongue and mouth moist, and the dog starts to drool. It is therefore very important to always offer the dog enough fresh drinking water. If the ambient temperature is very high or the sun is strong, the dog must be able to retreat to shady, cooler areas. A long day at the beach, for example, is not recommended for many four-legged friends. Very heavy drooling in extreme heat can even indicate heat stroke, which can be life-threatening for the dog – in this case, a veterinarian should be consulted as soon as possible.
How much drooling is normal in dogs?
That depends a lot on the breed. Some dog breeds just drool more than others. For example, if you choose a Dogue De Bordeaux, a Boxer, or a St. Bernard, you have to accept the drooling.
Foreign body in the mouth
It is not uncommon for a foreign body to get stuck in the dog’s mouth – the “classic” is the stick or piece of bone that has become wedged between the molars of the upper jaw, or the fishbone that gets stuck in the gums. The dog then salivates heavily and usually tries in vain to remove the annoying and painful thing from its mouth with its paws. Since such foreign bodies often injure the gums, a veterinarian should remove them professionally and treat the wounds immediately if necessary.
Gingivitis/dental disease
Inflammatory processes on the gums or tongue, loose or broken teeth or other pathological changes in the oral cavity are other possible causes of excessive salivation in the dog. In addition, there is usually an unpleasant odor from the mouth, and the dog often has difficulty eating or even refuses to eat. For clarification and further treatment, the veterinarian should be asked for advice.
Can you stop dogs from drooling?
When a dog drools, there is a reason. In many breeds, it is due to the shape of the snout and the lips, which are so large and heavy that the lips do not close completely at the corners of the mouth and the spit drips out in long threads there. Health can also be responsible for increased salivation. You can’t break that habit from a dog.
Dog drools when in pain
Dogs communicate with us humans in many different ways, but unfortunately, they cannot speak. If a dog is in severe pain, it cannot simply say so – but if you know your four-legged friend well, you will soon notice that it is not doing well. Moaning, whining, a reluctance to move, or even increased salivation and drooling can be indications of painful processes in the dog, which should be clarified by the vet as soon as possible.
Suspected poisoning
Numerous substances, plants, or medicines are toxic to dogs. Especially those four-legged friends who curiously examine everything or have to nibble are at risk. And unfortunately, it happens again and again that poisoned baits are laid out on walkways or dog parks. In addition to other symptoms such as trembling, vomiting, circulatory problems, cramps, and even collapse, excessive salivation can also indicate poisoning. If such suspicion is obvious, it is important not to lose any time and take the dog to the veterinarian or a clinic as soon as possible. If something of the ingested substance is still found, you should take it to the vet – but be careful, it’s best to take it up with a glove or an excrement bag and avoid direct contact.
What’s wrong with a dog if it suddenly drools?
A dog that doesn’t normally drool but then suddenly does should be thoroughly evaluated for a possible cause. It could be a foreign object in the mouth or the four-legged friend is currently under severe stress or even a serious illness or, in the worst case, poisoning.
A side effect of medication
Some medications that the veterinarian prescribes for the dog because of another illness can have side effects such as increased salivation. Usually, something like that is in the package insert. If the dog does not tolerate the medication well, it should be discussed with the veterinarian whether there is an alternative treatment.
Dog drools due to illness
Various other diseases can also trigger increased saliva production or drooling. Dogs often drool and spit up when they have stomach problems with nausea, for example. Inflammation of the salivary glands could also be the cause. Extensive processes in the oral cavity or in the throat area, such as tumors, abscesses or other swellings can prevent the saliva from draining into the esophagus, which also causes the dog to drool noticeably. Kennel cough, an infectious disease that occurs mainly in dog kennels or animal shelters and is very contagious, also causes increased salivation due to the strong, wheezing cough. In any case, the cause should be investigated if the four-legged friend suddenly spits and salivates heavily.
