Controlling Excessive Dog Drooling

Dog drooling is a natural reflex that may be caused by different stimuli, such as exposure to food. Some dog breeds drool more than others, due to the anatomy of their mouth and the loose skin surrounding the mouth area.

Control Excessive Drooling

In case your dog is a drooling breed, you need to keep a lot of towels around the house.

Excessive drooling may be controlled by tying a bandana around your pet’s neck. This will reduce the amount of secreted saliva and will also be there to absorb the saliva. Fold a bandana in two and place the triangular over the dog’s chest.

A dog that has been working out will drool more than usual, so you can cover his mouth with a towel and dry his mouth.

Dogs may also drool excessively when they are anticipating something or they are excited; put a carpet or a few paper towels under your dog to protect your floor.

Some dogs may drool excessively when they are in the car. Make sure to feed your dog at least 3 hours prior to the car ride.

There are a few homeopathic remedies that can inhibit the secretion of saliva (i.e. lemon extracts), however these must be used with caution as the dog’s mouth may become suddenly dry and this is not healthy. Consult your vet prior to administering any remedies.

Surgery may also control excessive drooling; the excess skin around the mouth area can be removed. However, surgery is not always recommended as this will modify your dog’s facial structure.

Symptoms of Abnormal Drooling

If your dog starts to drool excessively, this may indicate a medical condition. You will notice saliva all around the house. The dog may also display the following symptoms:

Causes of Excessive Drooling

In case your dog has suddenly started to drool, you need to check his mouth for any foreign objects or a cracked tooth.

Other causes of excessive drooling include:

  • Gum infection or dental abscess
  • Poisoning caused by the ingestion of toxic food (i.e. chocolate, alcohol, chewing gum or grapes) or poisonous plants
  • Mouth injuries, lesions
  • Tumors in the mouth
  • Nausea
  • Pain (i.e. stomach pain)
  • Kidney or liver disease
  • Rabies (the dog will also have foam around his mouth)

Consult your vet; if your dog has ingested a foreign object you should try to remove it, but make sure not to hurt your pet.

If you suspect that your pet may be poisoned, you need to rush to the vet to prevent the toxic food to enter the flood flow. Poisoning can be lethal.

Any change in your dog’s drooling pattern can be a cause for concern.

Dog saliva contains a lot of bacteria that may carry diseases and be harmful for children or people with a weaker immune system. You need to clean your home using either apple cider vinegar or other chemicals. Some bacteria and viruses can only be killed by bleach, so use a solution of diluted bleach.

 

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