
Canine drooling is normal and should not be a cause of worry under normal circumstances, but excessive drooling in dogs may be due to underlying health conditions. This article provides more information.
Drooling is very common in dogs when they see some delicious food in front of them, like a piece of meat. Their mouth starts watering and they feel the urge to grab that piece of bone in front of them. However, excessive drooling in dogs is not a normal sign and needs close attention to detect the actual cause. There are various reasons behind sudden excessive drooling in dogs, one being when the dog is unwell.
Reasons For Excessive Drooling
Pain and Poison
Dogs drool excessively if they have pain in their body or have consumed poison by chance. Insect stings or accidental consumption of phenyl, detergents, mothballs, mouthwash, chocolates, watch batteries, houseplant leaves, etc. can cause severe nausea, drooling, vomiting, choking, and headache in dogs. Other causes of excessive dog drooling are urinary tract infection, ear infection, injuries and wounds on their body, eye problems, dental disorders, back problems, etc. All these health conditions can also cause excessive drooling while sleeping.
Digestive System Disorder
The dog’s stomach can get bloated and dilated due to twisting of the stomach and intestinal blockage. The dog is unable to belch or vomit the trapped food, gas, or water, and starts drooling severely. They also drool heavily if they have pain in their stomach.
Objects Hooked Inside their Mouth
When foreign objects like a fish hook, a bone piece, a piece of string, or wire gets stuck in their teeth or gums, it causes extreme discomfort in dogs, leading them to drool profusely. In such situations, take your dog to a vet without any delay.
Dental Disorder
Gum diseases like gingivitis and tartar, dental decays, and tooth fractures can also cause excessive dog drooling. Another cause of excessive drooling is when your dog has bleeding or swollen gums due to any injury.
Motion Sickness
Some dogs often have motion sickness while traveling. Due to this, their stomach gets upset, they feel nauseated, and start drooling excessively.
Liver Disease
Liver disease in dogs is a serious condition that leads to severe drooling and needs immediate treatment by a veterinarian.
Nerve Damage
If your pet has a damaged trigeminal nerve due to injury and tumor, it is unable to close its mouth. It cannot move its facial muscles and finds difficulty while eating and drinking. This causes the dog to drool profusely.
Rabies
Rabies is one of the most serious causes of excessive drooling. Dogs vaccinated against rabies also have a chance to catch the disease. If there are possibilities that your pet has rabies, take him to a vet immediately, as this can be a cause of drooling.
Drooling in Puppies
The frequency of drooling varies among different dog breeds. Puppies drool while sleeping, when hungry, or at the sight of tempting food. What you can do is, keep some towels with you and wrap it around your pup’s neck loosely so that it soaks the saliva. However, it is always advisable to go to a vet if the drooling is excessive.
Drooling in Golden Retrievers and Boxers
A Golden Retriever is one of the most friendly dog breeds. Symptoms of excessive drooling are seen when the dog is a victim of all these above-mentioned symptoms. However, gastric dilatation volvulus (GDV) is a condition when the stomach is twisted and the contents of the stomach get trapped, leading to swelling and bloating. Under this condition, the dog experiences intense uneasiness and starts drooling heavily. If this is the case, the dog needs immediate medical assistance. Similarly, excessive drooling in Boxers is very common as they are also susceptible to gastric dilatation volvulus (GDV) and other symptoms. So, a regular checkup by a veterinarian is always suggested.
As mentioned, canine drooling may not be a cause of concern always, but the cause of excessive drooling needs to be determined and addressed. It is always wise to take your pet to a vet to rule out any serious health conditions.