Excessive Drooling In Dogs

 

 

Estimated Read Time: 6 ½ minutes

Summary: If you’re concerned about dog drooling, this blog looks at the reasons why dogs drool. We’ll find out what the dog drooling causes are, whether there are home remedies for dog drooling, and how much drooling is excessive…

 

Drooling has been made somewhat a charming trait in dogs when portrayed in movies. Take Bloodhound Fang in the Harry Potter franchise - his comical, cowardly, saliva-heavy facial expressions provide light relief and lend themselves wonderfully to his popular, gentle but large master Hagrid. But, dribble is quite a different matter when one’s the owner of a drooling dog…

Why Do Dogs Drool?

Saliva, which is made up of 98% water, is actually essential for your pup’s overall health. The same goes for humans. The other 2% of saliva is made up of enzymes, electrolytes and antibacterial compounds and one enzyme in particular (amylase) triggers the entire digestive process.

Amylase helps break down food whilst saliva as a whole keeps the mouth moist, softens food, and enables safe, comfortable swallowing. Saliva also protects the tooth enamel and helps reduce the likelihood of gum disease by aiding the removal of food particles from the teeth.

Whilst the production of saliva is normal, an excessive amount is not…

Excessive Drooling In Dogs

If your dog is drooling noticeably, where it’s overloading the mouth, this means so much is being produced that your dog is not able to swallow it all. Hyper-salivation or excessive drooling can be caused by:

Excitement or anxiety; some doggies start salivating when they get excited, agitated or nervous.

Food response; like humans, when our pup’s smell something super good their body may start producing saliva in anticipation of something tasty. 

Nausea; If your pooch gets car sick or is feeling poorly, this may cause the salivary glands to start overworking and cause drool.

An injury; if your dog has an ulcer, a cut or has burned their mouth this may cause the body to produce excess saliva. 

Growths; oral cancer tumours, warts and other growths can trigger hyper salivation.

Heatstroke; dogs that are suffering from heatstroke will drool and pant excessively.

Breed predisposition; dog breeds like Bernese Mountain Dogs, Bloodhounds, Bulldogs and Mastiffs have saggy lips and are renowned for their drooling as their mouth isn’t physically effective at holding saliva in. 

Caustic agents; if your dog licks or consumes something acidic or caustic (like lemon juice), this can irritate the mouth lining and cause them to dribble.

Dental issues; oral health complications like inflamed or infected gums, loose teeth, gingivitis or periodontal disease due to a build-up of plaque and tartar can all trigger excessive drooling in dogs. 

A foreign body; your dog may have a stick or some plant remnants stuck in the back of their mouth. This is quite a common cause of drooling in dogs so check their mouth out for things that shouldn’t be there if your dog is drooling.

A gastrointestinal issue; acid reflux can send unwanted fluid back up the oesophagus (throat) and initiate hyper salivation and conditions like an enlarged oesophagus and hiatal hernias can do the same thing.

You may also notice other symptoms alongside your dog’s drooling. They may have a loss of appetite and/or difficulty swallowing (particularly if they’re experiencing gastrointestinal problems), pawing at their face or cautiously eating dry food if their teeth hurt. If they’re in pain, most dogs behaviours change and they may begin acting strange; they can either become aggressive, defensive, lethargic or reserved.

Dog Drooling: How To Help

If you’re concerned about your dog’s drooling, you need to have them assessed by a vet to rule out any health issues that could be causing the dribble. 

If an underlying cause is found (like a dental issue or gastrointestinal problem) treatment can vary from simply cleaning the teeth or a course of medicine to clear an infection. 

If you own a dog breed that is predisposed to drooling, there’s not a lot you can do other than embrace it - they can’t help it if their mouth is shaped the way it is! And hey, it is only a bit of drool! 

The same goes if the reason for their drooling is the smell of yummy food… Unfortunately, you’ll just need to grab a towel and extend as much empathy as you can toward your pooch. They do have the most advanced, sensitive noses in fairness! 

If your dog’s drooling is triggered by anxiety, you can consider doggy calming aids or discussing the issue with your vet. The same goes for car sickness - there are anti-nausea medications made for dogs you can obtain from your vet and administer pre-car journey. 

It’s important for your dog’s overall health to stay on top of their oral hygiene and dental care every day, just like we do with ours as humans! Bacteria build up in the mouth can make its way into the body and cause serious illness. So, as well as preventing drooling, good oral care can also help preserve the health and wellbeing of your dog. Read our blog one Why Canine Dental Care Is So Important here. 

If you have a rubbish-curious pooch or a dog that likes to try everything in their mouth, make sure you keep harmful substances locked and out of the way. You could also consider baby-locking your bin can if Fido’s one for rummaging. This will prevent them from tasting things they shouldn’t which can provoke hyper salivation. Remember to check their mouths regularly for objects that shouldn’t be hanging out in there too (like fir cones or sticks)!

Also, make sure your dog has clean, freshwater accessible to them at all times to help prevent heatstroke, which not only causes drooling but can be life-threatening. Read our blog on How To Save Your Dog From Heatstroke here.   

Sources

Author Weir, Malcolm DVM, MSc, MPH and Buzhardt, Lynn DVM "Dealing With Drooling" VCA Hospitals https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/dealing-with-drooling

Author Geier, Elizabeth "Why Does My Dog Drool?" Rover https://www.rover.com/blog/why-does-my-dog-drool/