It might be quite a surprise for you if you notice that your dog starts to drool uncontrollably all of a sudden, although there are breeds that will have a higher tendency to drool, like the Mastiffs or St. Bernards. The good news is that this article should tell you everything you need to know about the reasons behind your dog drooling.
I’ve spent some time reading into the main reasons that would make a dog start to salivate all of a sudden and in excessive amounts, as well as the most common fixes for this obnoxious problem. Most of the time, it shouldn’t scare you that your pup is starting to drool. Even so, it shouldn’t hurt to make sure everything is OK, especially if the pet is also acting strangely. So here is what you should know about salivation in dogs.
So why is your dog drooling in excessive amounts all of a sudden? And is this something you should worry about?
What you should understand right from the start is that drooling is not only harmless most of the time, but it also has its usefulness. But I’ll get into that later on in this article. Now, let’s see what sudden salivation and in large amounts actually means.
Although temporary, among the common causes of sudden drooling in pups are stomachaches and nausea. And this shouldn’t surprise you. After all, this is what happens to humans experiencing these symptoms as well. Your pet might also experience either lethargy or vomiting, or sometimes both, when it has ingested something it shouldn’t have, according to Companion Animal Hospital. If this is your case, take it to the vet as soon as possible, to ensure it gets the proper treatment.
You might also like my articles about:
- Why dogs are constantly swallowing saliva
- Why are dogs constantly licking their lips
- Why are dogs not eating while their stomachs make noises
An issue that should be treated more urgently is a dog salivating when a foreign object is stuck somewhere in its throat or mouth. If the object blocks the airways of the pet, things can become dangerous really fast, which is why you shouldn’t lose any time with home remedies and take the pup to the closest vet to fix the issue.
A dog becoming overheated can also be the thing causing it to start drooling suddenly and excessively. Keep in mind that this would be one of the last things that dogs will try when nothing else will help them regulate the temperature of their bodies.
An upper respiratory infection is another cause of sudden drooling in dogs. Although any dog can catch one of them, these types of illnesses will be more likely to affect pups that have been in kennels, shelters, or other group settings. These types of infections will usually affect the sinuses, throat, or nose of the pet. The veterinarian is the only one who can help you when this is the reason behind your dog’s drooling and fast treatment will more than likely make the pet better in no time.
Can drooling and salivation be a symptom of underlying stress in pets?
Puppies that are too stressed out might show their emotions in a bunch of different ways, one of them being, of course, salivation. Actually, both excessive licking and drooling are listed as symptoms of anxiety for dogs by veterinarians all over the world.
If stress is the reason for your dog’s drool, then you might also notice other symptoms of stress in pets. Among the most common ones are:
- Rapid blinking or dilated pupils
- Barking outside of normal occasions
- blowing of the coat or increased shedding
- Panting
- Whining
- Trembling
- Tail tucked between legs
- Rigid posture
- Pacing
Would a dog drool when his end is near? Can You tell when this happens?
During the final days of a dog’s life, some symptoms may occur, one of which being excessive drooling. Of course, as I said before, drooling is also among the common reasons for imminent vomiting and nausea, but these can happen due to one of the many reasons. Although nausea is most of the time not fatal for a dog and is likely to go away, if the pet’s health is in severe decline, this can be a symptom of things getting close to an inevitable end.
It will also happen when your pet starts to lose its ability to swallow. This is why the gathering of saliva in the dog’s mouth can indicate the dog reaching its final hours.
So why is your dog actually drooling? This is how you find out
Drooling will happen due to one of the many reasons, spanning from harmless to fatal. This is why a clear diagnosis right from the start will be almost impossible, so you will have to keep your dog under observation to see any changes in salivation habits. Below you will find a few symptoms to watch out for:
- Kidney disease or full-blown kidney failure will also cause diarrhea, vomiting, bad breath, increased urination, and thirst.
- Dental disease will show symptoms like bleeding or inflamed gums, bad breath, or discolored teeth
