If you have a dog at home, you will surely have noticed that sometimes he drools a little. Canine drooling is a normal phenomenon, since the animal's salivary glands are constantly working to help it while it feeds, in such a way that it contributes to the digestion process. However, your dog may salivate more than he should, making drooling a constant that could indicate a problem that should be attended to by a veterinarian.
If you have ever wondered why my dog drools a lot, in this post on our site we explain if it is normal for a dog drools a lot and what are the causes that motivate it so that you have all the necessary knowledge that allows you to understand what is happening with your pet.
Why does a dog drool?
Drool in dogs is part of their digestion process, since it helps them move food towards the esophagus and is usually a completely natural act. On the other hand, their saliva production is also a way to prevent canine cavities, since it contains antibacterial chemicals that help keep them he althy and clean.
It is true that many dog and human guardians do not skimp when it comes to giving our dog a kiss on the face, regardless of whether he is full of drool or not. Even so, there are some occasions when we wonder if it is normal for a dog to drool a lot because we have noticed that ours drools too much.
For this reason, below we are going to list some of the reasons why dogs drool too much and that you may not have known about.
My dog drools a lot because of his breed
One of the reasons why a dog drools is usually the breed. There are some breeds of dogs that constantly drool due to their physical characteristics, such as the Great Dane, the French bulldog, the Saint Bernard or the basset hound. This is due in particular to the shape of the lips and mouth, as they have drooping lips that cover the lower lips and cause the animal to accumulate a large amount of saliva without even realizing it.
My dog drools a lot from ptyalism
Some external stimuli can also cause excessive salivation, which we know under the name of ptyalism or hypersalivation This occurs when the Our dog's salivary glands produce more saliva than the animal can swallow, and excess moisture in the mouth and lips can cause inflammation and irritation. Ptyalism may occur when the dog smells a food it likes, as the anticipation of waiting to eat it causes drooling.
My dog drools a lot from emotions
that generate in the dog states of nervousness or even fear. When we talk about states of nervousness, we are not referring to negative states, but to a particular moment that can excite the animal. Examples of this are sexual arousal with a female or a male, listening to the leash to go for a walk or seeing someone you know. On the other hand, very hot weather or dizziness caused by a long trip can also stimulate them. On this occasion, we are talking about drooling in dogs that is normal and momentary,unlike the previous section.
You may also be interested in this other article where we talk about Why does my dog get excited when I get home?
My dog drools a lot due to discomfort in the mouth
When salivation persists for too long without the dog receiving any of the above mentioned stimuli, it is necessary to detect what is causing the salivation problem not only because can dehydrate the animal, but also because it is usually a sign that something else is wrong with the dog's body.
The first thing to do with excessive drooling is to carefully assess whether there is something inside your dog's mouth that is causing the problem, such as:
- Problems Swallowing and Eating: Your dog may have swallowed something that is bothering him from his stomach or esophagus or object is caught in your teeth or gums.
- Tooth Diseases: Inflammation, infection, broken teeth and other ailments related to the oral cavity can cause your dog to drool more from account. We leave you this other post on our site with some Tips to take care of your dog's teeth that may interest you.
- Presence of tumors: If you detect any abnormal lump in any area of the mouth, consult your veterinarian immediately.
- Inflammation: Gingivitis and stomatitis, which are accompanied by other symptoms, can cause excess salivation. Here you can find more information about Gingivitis in dogs and Stomatitis in dogs.
In any of these cases, you should give your dog primary care (such as trying to remove the foreign object in his mouth, as long as this is safe), and then take him to the vet.
My dog drools a lot from dehydration
Although sometimes saliva is not an alarming sign, on other occasions it is. In this case, if we ask ourselves why my dog drools, the answer may be due to dehydration. In dogs, such dehydration is accompanied by lack of appetite, vomiting with or without diarrhea, dry nose, loss of skin elasticity, panting and low energy levels, dry sunken eyes, and dry white gums.
To avoid dehydration in your dog, you should control the amount of liquid he ingests throughout the day and, just in case Always carry a bottle of water. This dehydration, in addition, can also be a consequence of heat stroke. To learn more about heat stroke in dogs, its symptoms and what to do and treatment, visit this other post.
My dog drools a lot from poisoning
Another reason why dogs drool can be intoxication or poisoning. In the case of poisoning, this may occur because our dog has eaten a food to which it may be allergic and it generates itching, vomiting and tremors In the case of poisoning, the main symptoms are:
- Heavy breathing.
- Cardiac arrhythmia.
- Stiff limbs.
- Disorientation.
- Dilation of the pupils and nostrils, among others: if you want to know more about the causes and treatment of Dilated Pupils in dogs, we leave you this other article.
It can occur not only with the ingestion of poison, but also other substances such as household cleaners, for example. In any case, this situation can be lethal for your dog, so you should take it to the vet urgently so they can help.
Other causes of excessive salivation in dogs
After having seen the main causes of drooling in dogs, we are now going to name other causes of excessive salivation in dogs:
- Nauseas: either due to illness or indigestion.
- Neurological diseases: can prevent the animal from swallowing saliva normally.
- Stings: from an insect, toad or reptile.
- Contact with nettles: it may happen that our furry friend accidentally rubs or bites a nettle and, to calm the itching that feel in the mouth, begin to salivate and uncontrollably bite everything around him.
- Tranquilizers: If your dog is receiving relaxing medications, it could be that they are having an excessive effect and his muscles are are relaxing more than usual
Why does a dog with rabies drool?
If what is causing your dog's drooling is not due to any problem in his oral cavity, then it is time to explore other possible causes. One of them is rabies, and if excessive salivation is accompanied by foaming at the mouth and abnormal violent behavior, your dog needs immediate medical attention, so you should take it to a vet.
Rabies is a deadly viral disease that is transmitted through the saliva of an infected animal to other animals and even humans. Drooling in dogs with rabies is due to excitement and aggressiveness, along with seizures and inability to chew.
What to do when my dog drools a lot? - Diagnosis
When it comes to any of the problems that we have been mentioning, the first thing we have to do and, always when in doubt, is to take our furry friend to a veterinarian. Said veterinarian will carry out a series of tests to discover the real cause, such as:
- A complete physical exam.
- If there is a lump in the mouth, lips, or gums, a biopsy is necessary.
- Examination of the oral cavity and teeth.
- Blood tests to rule out anemia and infections: for more information on Anemia in dogs, don't hesitate to read this article that we suggest.
- If metabolic problems are suspected, a urine test and chemical profile will be necessary.
- Exams to check the condition of the liver.
Your veterinarian will determine the best treatment based on your dog's symptoms.
Types of treatments for dogs that drool a lot
It is evident that the type of treatment that should be applied will depend entirely on the cause that has produced the excessive saliva in your dog. Thus, we find that:
- If it is dental disease: removal of the invasive mass may be required or anti-inflammatories and antibiotics may be prescribed if necessary. of infections. Your doctor will likely recommend an oral hygiene routine for your dog. Here you can find natural anti-inflammatories for dogs that you may not have known about.
- If it is a tumor: only the biopsy will be able to determine its progress, which will analyze the possibilities to find the right treatment.
- If it is a foreign object in the digestive tract: an endoscopy will be necessary, after doing it the veterinarian will determine the best way to extract the object.
These are some of the treatments that can be applied. Always remember to give your furry friend the medical care he needs, don't wait for the situation to get worse to take him to your trusted doctor
