Excessive Dog Drooling

Dog drooling excessively is not normal (although some dogs do drool a lot more than others!) If a dog suddenly drools excessively, it is usually a sign indicating that he is in pain or injured. For example, there may be something stuck inside his mouth, or he has a broken tooth. However, it may also mean that he is suffering from some health problem. This page looks at some common causes of excessive drooling in dogs.

It is true that all dogs drool - especially when there is yummy food in front of them. Some breeds that have heavy lips such as bloodhounds and St. Bernards drool quite a lot because the loose skin around their mouths acts like a receptacle that traps saliva until it overflows.

If your dog drools and slobbers, there is nothing you can do except put some wiping towels at convenient locations through the house.

However, if there is a change in the "drooling pattern" of your dog (e.g. a normally "dry" dog suddenly starts drooling excessively), then you have to pay attention. Sudden excessive drooling usually means that the dog is not feeling too well. In extreme cases, excessive drooling can also lead to dehydration.

Signs of Abnormal Dog Drooling

Besides having puddles everywhere in your house, your dog may show some of these signs:

Hard and listless breathing.
Head shaking.
Scratching and pawing at her mouth.

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Causes of Excessive Dog Drooling

The cause of excessive dog drooling may be easy to identify if it is coming from inside the dog's mouth. If your dog is drooling abnormally, therefore, the first thing to do is to use a flashlight to examine his mouth. You may discover that the drooling is caused by any of the following:

Foreign Objects

Perhaps the most common cause of dog drooling is that something is stuck in the dog's gums, embedded in his tongue, or caught between his teeth. It may be a piece of string, a bit of bone fragment, a fish hook, etc. If you find a foreign object in your dog's mouth but are unable to remove it, seek veterinary help immediately.

Gum or Dental Disease

Dogs with gum disease such as tartar and gingivitis, as well as dogs with dental problems such as a bad or fractured tooth will also drool excessively.

One way to check if your dog has gum or dental disease is to smell his breath. Usually dogs with gum disease or a bacterial infection in the mouth will have really bad breath!

Injuries

Injuries inside the mouth can also cause excessive dog drooling. Check for blood in the mouth and gums. Bleeding gums usually are bright red or even purple.

Tumors

Tumors that occur in a dog's mouth (e.g. melanoma) can cause a dog to drool excessively. There are of course other signs that indicate the dog may have a tumor in his mouth, such as bad breath, bleeding from the mouth, and difficulty eating.

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If you cannot find anything unusual in your dog's mouth, consider the following possible causes of drooling:

Nausea

Many dogs will drool more than usual when they are traveling by car, because they suffer from motion sickness. The motion upsets their stomachs, causing them nausea which in turn causes them to drool excessively.

Pain

Dogs drool when they have pain. There are many reasons why a dog is in pain; for example, bloating, poisoning, infections such as ear infections or urinary tract infections, just to name a few. If you suspect that your dog is drooling because of pain, check for other telltale signs that may confirm your dog is in fact in pain.

Liver disease

Dogs suffering from liver disease may also drool excessively. Liver disease is a serious health condition and should be treated by a veterinarian without delay.

Rabies

Perhaps the most serious and scariest cause of sudden excessive drooling is rabies. Luckily, this is very rare.

When to See a Vet Immediately

You should get immediate veterinary assistance when:

you cannot remove a foreign object from the dog's mouth;
you have reason to believe that your dog is drooling because of pain or poisoning;
your dog has a broken or fractured tooth;
you can see pus in the dog's mouth;
your dog's mouth is bleeding which cannot be stopped;
your dog's breath smells really awful.

Although excessive drooling rarely calls for emergency veterinary treatment, it is a sign indicating that something is wrong with your dog. It is therefore essential that we address the problem and try to identify the underlying cause.

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