Excessive drooling, also known as ptyalism or sialorrhea, happens when a dog produces too much spit or cannot swallow their normal amount of saliva. If you see a sudden onset excessive drooling in a dog, it is important to check for immediate danger.
Many things can make a dog drool a lot. Some are minor worries. Other times, it points to a serious health issue. Knowing the signs helps you act fast to help your pet. This article will look at many dog excessive drooling causes, what to look for, and when a vet visit is truly needed.
Why Do Dogs Drool? The Basics of Saliva
Dogs naturally make saliva. Saliva helps them chew and digest food. It keeps their mouth wet and healthy. Most of the time, this spit stays in the mouth. Dogs swallow it without you noticing.
When a dog drools too much, it means one of two things is happening:
1. Their body is making too much spit.
2. Something is stopping them from swallowing the spit they make.
We need to look at both possibilities to find the real reason why is my dog drooling so much.
Common, Less Worrying Reasons for Drooling
Sometimes, heavy drooling is normal for your dog’s situation. These reasons are usually easy to spot and fix.
Anticipation and Hunger
This is perhaps the most common reason. If your dog knows it is time to eat, they will often start drooling. The smell of food triggers saliva glands. This is a normal reflex.
- Dog drooling after eating or drinking: If your dog drools a little right after a meal, it is usually fine. It means their mouth is wet from the food or water. If it keeps going for a long time, look deeper.
Breed Predisposition
Some dogs are built to drool more than others. Dogs with very loose, floppy jowls and large lips cannot keep all the saliva inside easily.
Breeds known for drooling include:
* Bloodhounds
* Mastiffs
* Newfoundlands
* St. Bernards
For these breeds, a little extra drool is just part of their charm.
Excitement or Overheating
When dogs get very excited, like when you grab the leash for a walk, they can drool more. Also, if a dog is too hot, they pant to cool down. Panting involves a lot of air moving over the tongue, which can cause more saliva to spill out.
Travel Sickness (Motion Sickness)
Car rides can make many dogs feel sick. Nausea often causes hyper salivation in dogs treatment situations where the owner just needs to soothe the dog until the ride ends. They feel queasy, and spit builds up quickly.
Anxiety and Stress
If your dog is worried, they might start drooling. This often comes with other signs of fear. If you notice dog drooling when nervous, look for tucked tails, whining, or hiding. Loud noises, separation, or vet visits can trigger this stress response.
Medical Reasons for Excessive Dog Drool
When drooling is constant, very heavy, or appears suddenly, it points toward a medical problem. These are important medical reasons for excessive dog drool that need attention.
Dental and Mouth Issues
The mouth is the most common area for drooling problems. Pain or irritation in the mouth makes a dog produce more saliva or refuse to swallow.
Common Dental Problems:
* Tooth Root Abscess: A severe infection under the tooth hurts a lot and causes massive drooling.
* Gum Disease (Periodontal Disease): Infected, sore gums make swallowing uncomfortable.
* Broken or Sharp Teeth: Jagged edges can cut the tongue or cheek lining, causing pain and swelling.
* Oral Foreign Body: A stick, bone fragment, or piece of plastic stuck in the gums or between teeth. This often causes sudden, intense drooling.
When a dog has a mouth problem, you often see dog drooling and lip licking as they try to move the irritant or ease the pain.
Gastrointestinal (GI) Issues and Nausea
Anything that makes a dog feel sick to their stomach can lead to drooling. The body produces saliva to prepare for vomiting, or simply as a sign of nausea.
- Gagging or Choking: If something is stuck in the throat or esophagus, the dog will drool heavily while trying to push it down or cough it up. This requires immediate help.
- Bloat (Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus or GDV): This is a life-threatening emergency. Dogs with bloat often look bloated, try to vomit but bring nothing up (unproductive retching), and drool heavily.
- Acid Reflux or Esophagitis: Inflammation or burning in the food pipe causes discomfort and drooling.
Toxin Ingestion
Many common household items are toxic to dogs. If a dog chews or licks something poisonous, drooling is often one of the first and most obvious signs.
Toxins that Cause Drooling:
* Insecticides or Pesticides: Found in garden products.
* Certain Plants: Some houseplants are toxic if chewed.
* Medications: Human pain relievers or sedatives.
* Toxic Foods: Xylitol (a sugar substitute), grapes, or chocolate can cause systemic illness, starting with nausea and drooling.
If you suspect poisoning, call your vet or an animal poison control center right away.
Side Effects of Medications
Certain drugs can cause hypersalivation as a side effect. This is often seen with medications used to calm anxiety or those that affect the nervous system. If the drooling started right after starting a new pill, talk to your veterinarian.
Neurological Problems
Sometimes, the problem is how the brain controls the mouth and swallowing muscles.
- Seizures: Before or after a seizure, dogs may drool excessively.
- Nerve Damage: Damage to the facial or throat nerves can make it hard for the dog to move its tongue or close its mouth properly, leading to drool spilling out.
Tumors and Growths
Lumps or masses inside the mouth, throat, or esophagus can physically block the normal flow of saliva or create sores that produce more spit. Older dogs are more prone to oral tumors.
Deciphering the Signs: What to Look For
To help your vet figure out the cause, note when and how your dog is drooling.
| Sign to Watch | What It Might Mean | Urgency Level |
|---|---|---|
| Drooling only before food | Normal anticipation | Low |
| Drooling after exercise/heat | Overheating | Medium (needs cooling) |
| Drooling combined with gagging/retching | Choking, Bloat, or Severe Nausea | High/Emergency |
| Drooling with red, swollen gums | Dental pain or foreign object | Medium to High |
| Drooling with lethargy or weakness | Possible poisoning or severe illness | High |
| Drooling with nervous shaking | Anxiety or stress | Low to Medium |
| Drooling that drips continuously, non-stop | Blockage or major nerve/mouth issue | High |
If you notice sudden onset excessive drooling in dog accompanied by distress, do not wait to call the clinic.
Lip Licking Behavior
Pay close attention to dog drooling and lip licking. Lip licking is a common calming signal dogs use when they are stressed, worried, or feeling nauseous. When combined with heavy drooling, it strongly suggests the dog feels unwell or anxious about something happening in its mouth or stomach.
Treatment Options for Excessive Drooling
Hyper salivation in dogs treatment depends entirely on the root cause. Treatment ranges from simple environmental changes to complex medical procedures.
Addressing Minor Causes
For excitement or mild anxiety drooling, management is simple:
* Routine: Keep feeding times consistent.
* Environment: Reduce stressful triggers during travel or vet visits. Sometimes carrying a favorite blanket helps calm a nervous dog.
* Cooling: Ensure access to cool water and shade if drooling occurs after play.
Treating Dental and Oral Problems
If the vet finds dental disease, treatment involves:
1. Cleaning and Extraction: A professional dental cleaning under anesthesia may be needed. Severely infected teeth may need to be pulled.
2. Foreign Object Removal: If a stick or toy part is stuck, the vet will remove it, often requiring sedation or minor surgery.
Managing Gastrointestinal Distress
If nausea is the culprit, treatment focuses on settling the stomach:
* Anti-Nausea Medication: Your vet might prescribe drugs like Cerenia.
* Dietary Change: Switching to a bland diet temporarily can soothe an upset stomach.
* Emergency Care for Bloat: GDV requires immediate, life-saving surgery.
Poisoning Protocol
If toxins are involved, treatment involves decontamination (if safe), administering activated charcoal to bind poisons, and supportive care like IV fluids to flush the system. Time is critical in these situations.
What About Home Remedies for Dog Drooling?
It is important to stress that home remedies for dog drooling should only be used for minor, non-medical causes. If you suspect illness, injury, or poisoning, home care can delay needed treatment.
For mild anxiety drooling, you might try:
* Calming Pheromone Diffusers: Plug-in diffusers can help create a calmer space.
* Calming Chews: Supplements containing L-theanine or melatonin can help mild nervousness before known stressful events (like a short car ride).
Never try to give human medication or attempt to force-feed a dog that is drooling due to suspected blockage or severe pain.
Deciphering When to Worry: When to See a Vet
Knowing when to worry about dog drooling is crucial for your dog’s safety. Not all drooling requires an emergency room visit, but some signs mean you must go immediately.
Emergency Situations (Go Now!)
Contact your emergency vet immediately if you see any of the following:
- Sudden, unstoppable drooling combined with pawing at the mouth or drooling blood. This suggests a severe injury or foreign object.
- Drooling paired with pale gums, weakness, or collapse. This can signal severe blood loss or shock.
- Heavy drooling with retching (trying to vomit but nothing comes up), especially if the abdomen looks swollen or hard. This is a sign of bloat.
- Drooling after known exposure to chemicals, plants, or human medications.
Urgent Care Situations (Call Today)
Schedule an appointment for today or tomorrow if you notice:
- Drooling that lasts for hours without an obvious cause (like a meal or heat).
- Drooling accompanied by refusal to eat or drink.
- Visible swelling in the face, jaw, or neck area.
- Bad breath combined with consistent drooling suggests serious dental infection.
Monitoring Situations
If the drooling is mild, occasional, and your dog is otherwise acting completely normal (eating well, playing, normal energy), you can often monitor for a day or two. If it persists without explanation, make a routine appointment.
Comprehending Oral Anatomy and Drool Production
To grasp why drooling happens, it helps to know a little about the mouth’s anatomy. Saliva is made in glands located under the tongue and near the ears.
The Role of Salivary Glands
When these glands are overstimulated—by pain, acidity, or nerve signals—they pump out extra fluid. If the ducts that carry this saliva to the mouth become blocked, the fluid backs up, forcing the dog to drool heavily.
How the Tongue and Lips Function
A healthy dog’s tongue rests comfortably in the mouth, and its lips form a seal to keep saliva in. When the dog is sick, painful, or has swelling around the jaw (edema), this seal breaks. Even if saliva production is normal, the dog cannot hold it in, leading to heavy drooling.
Age Factors in Excessive Drooling
The age of your dog can offer clues about the cause of increased salivation.
Puppies:
Puppies often drool when teething as their gums become sore. They might also chew on things they shouldn’t, leading to minor mouth injuries or foreign body ingestion.
Adult Dogs:
In healthy adults, look closely at diet, stress, and recent activity. Dental disease becomes a common issue starting around three to four years of age.
Senior Dogs:
Older dogs are at higher risk for serious issues like oral cancer, severe periodontal disease that loosens teeth, and age-related neurological decline that affects swallowing coordination. If an older dog suddenly starts drooling excessively, a vet check is essential.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Can I wash my dog’s mouth out if they ate something bad that caused drooling?
A: No. Do not try to rinse or force anything into your dog’s mouth if you suspect they ate something toxic or if they are choking. This could cause them to inhale fluid (aspiration) or make them bite you out of pain. Call the vet immediately for instructions.
Q: My dog drools when I leave the house. Is this separation anxiety?
A: Yes, drooling is a common physical sign of separation anxiety, along with pacing, barking, or destroying things. If this is the only symptom, focus on training to address the anxiety, perhaps using calming aids or consulting a behaviorist.
Q: How quickly should I see a vet if my dog is drooling and seems lethargic?
A: If drooling is combined with lethargy (extreme tiredness), weakness, vomiting, or pale gums, treat it as an emergency. These signs mean the dog is very ill, possibly due to internal bleeding or poisoning.
Q: Is there a simple test I can do at home to check for mouth pain?
A: Gently lift your dog’s lips to look at the gums and teeth. If you see severe redness, bleeding, an object stuck, or a lump, contact your vet. Do not force your dog if they resist, as they may bite.
Q: Why does my dog drool more after drinking water now?
A: This can happen if the water is very cold, temporarily irritating the mouth. More seriously, it can mean there is a swallowing issue (dysphagia) where the throat muscles are slow to move the water down. If this continues, it warrants a check-up.