What's going on when a dog drools?

Dog drooling can be mainly divided into physiological and disease causes. Physiological reasons include hot weather, food temptation, food stimulation, and teething. Disease causes include oral diseases, poisoning, rabies, and oral foreign objects. If a dog drools without any other abnormalities, it may be a normal physiological phenomenon. However, if the dog also shows symptoms such as lethargy, loss of appetite, etc., it is likely caused by disease. In this case, the owner needs to carefully inspect the dog's mouth and take the dog to the pet hospital for treatment promptly.

I. Physiological causes

1. Hot weather

Due to the underdeveloped sweat glands in dogs, they mainly evaporate saliva to dissipate body heat in hot summer or high ambient temperature, which leads to drooling. In this case, the owner can take the dog to a shady and well-ventilated place to rest and provide the dog with plenty of drinking water.

1. Food temptation

When a dog is tempted by food, the salivary glands secrete more actively, resulting in drooling. This is a normal conditional reflex and does not require treatment.

1. Food stimulation

When a dog eats spicy foods such as bitter melon and chili, or licks disinfectants and other irritating substances, it stimulates the secretion of saliva, causing drooling. In this case, the owner should provide the dog with enough drinking water and stop feeding such foods.

1. Teething

When a dog is teething, the growth of teeth stimulates the salivary glands, producing more saliva.加之the dog's swallowing function has not fully developed, it may not swallow saliva properly, resulting in constant drooling. During the teething period, it is recommended to provide the dog with some chew toys or bones to prevent them from biting everything else.

II. Disease causes

1. Oral diseases

Dogs with oral diseases such as stomatitis, periodontitis, and oral ulcers will also drool, and may exhibit symptoms such as reduced appetite, red and swollen gums, difficulty eating, and pain. In this case, the owner can gently open the dog's mouth with their hand to check the oral mucosa and gums, and consult a veterinarian to determine the specific cause of the disease, then adopt appropriate treatment measures.

1. Poisoning

If a dog eats too much and accidentally consumes toxic substances such as chocolate, grapes, onions, or rodenticides, insecticides, and mosquito coils, it will exhibit symptoms of drooling, lethargy, loss of appetite, accelerated breathing, and weak limbs. In the later stages, it may even develop seizures. If you suspect poisoning, take the dog to the pet hospital immediately, as the dog's life may be at stake.

1. Rabies

If a dog exhibits symptoms of drooling, fear of light and water, indiscriminate attacks on people, and seizures, it may be infected with rabies. In this case, maintain a safe distance from the dog to avoid being accidentally injured.

1. Oral foreign objects

If an object is lodged in the dog's mouth, it may cause excessive drooling and constant swallowing. If the object is stuck on the teeth, use a tool to remove it. However, if it is in an inaccessible area, take the dog to the pet hospital promptly for the veterinarian to handle.