Why does my dog drool?
Saliva is the result of a natural process in the body: glands in the mouth produce saliva to lubricate food and aid in digestion. Excessive salivation is called ptyalism and is common in some animal species, including dogs.
Some dogs drool for purely physical reasons: the constitution of their mouth and lips causes saliva to fall out. On the other hand, there are also many external stimuli that can cause a dog to drool: the smell of food, excitement, a hot environment...
When drooling is occasional, there is no problem, but there are also dogs that drool regularly.
Why do they drool? These are the most common causes of drooling in dogs:
- If a foreign body is in his mouth in contact with the tongue or gums, this can produce in the dog excess salivation. If you notice that your dog has something in his mouth, try to remove it; if you can't, or if you think he might bite you, talk to your veterinarian.
- wounds or ulcers inside the mouth.
- Contact with certain chemicals and insect bites can also cause mouth sores, such as irritation, redness and pain. To counteract this, your body reacts by producing more saliva.
- Dental diseases, infections and inflammation.
- Oral tumors.
- Gingivitis: this is a very common oral problem, but it should not be ignored or considered benign.
- Stomatitis: causes redness, irritation, mouth ulcers, etc. in and around the mouth.
Dogs also sometimes drool because of certain health problems, usually related to the digestive system. These include nausea, stomach problems, swallowing problems and metabolic problems.
If you notice that your dog is drooling, it's best to pay attention to the signs and symptoms he or she is exhibiting in order to determine whether or not the problem is serious. Of course, contact your veterinarian as soon as possible. You should be concerned if your dog has:
- Swelling or lumps in the mouth, inside or out.
- Bad breath.
- Difficulty or even inability to swallow.
- Constant drooling (for several hours).
- Weakness and lethargy.
- vomiting
- breathing problems
- any unusual behavior
- Any object stuck in the mouth
- Any broken or pulled teeth
- Health problems, such as motion sickness, food poisoning, twisted stomach...
As you can see, many problems can trigger drooling in dogs. To find out why dogs drool, it is therefore necessary to go to the veterinarian as soon as possible. This is the only way to get a reliable diagnosis and to solve the problem.
Treatment for drooling in dogs
If you've already been to the vet and know why your dog is drooling, the treatment will be tailored to the problem that is causing it. Some of the most common treatments for drooling dogs are:
- Dental cleaning. If a lump is detected, surgery may even be necessary.
- Extraction of foreign bodies.
- Anti-inflammatory drugs and antibiotics.
- Investigation and treatment of nausea, if present.
- Endoscopy to look for foreign bodies in the esophagus and stomach, or to diagnose megaesophagus in dogs.
Megaesophagus is a condition in which the esophagus is enlarged and weakened, making it difficult for food to travel to the stomach. Endoscopy is a procedure that uses a thin, flexible tube with a camera at the end to examine the inside of the esophagus and stomach. - Tests to diagnose liver and kidney disease.
Here are some preventive measures you can take:
- Vaccinate your dog against rabies. Really, don't skip the vaccinations he needs, or the deworming.
- Give your dog good dental hygiene.
- Take him to the vet periodically to check his oral health.
- Avoid exposing your dog to toxic or caustic compounds.
Do all dog breeds drool?
The causes of canine drooling we've discussed can affect any dog. But the truth is that some breeds of dogs are prone to drooling, not because they have health problems, but because they do it naturally. Generally, this is related to their physiognomy, they are large dogs, with pronounced cheeks and thick lips, such as:
- Saint Bernard
- English Bulldog and French Bulldog
- Great Dane
- Labrador
- Basset hound
We hope we've helped you better understand why dogs drool and find a solution to your dog's drooling. See you next time!
