While some drooling is normal for many dogs, excessive drooling can be a sign of something more serious. As a pet parent, understanding the difference between normal slobber and a potential emergency is crucial for your furry friend’s well-being.
If your dog is experiencing unusual or excessive drooling, don’t hesitate to contact the experienced team at Vetcetera Animal Hospital. Our emergency vet specialists are available to help determine if your pet needs immediate attention and provide the care they need when minutes matter.
Do dogs drool excessively when sick?
Dogs often display excessive drooling as one of the first signs of illness or distress. When a dog is sick, their salivary glands produce excess saliva as the body’s natural response to various conditions. This excessive drooling, known as hypersalivation or ptyalism, can be triggered by issues ranging from mild motion sickness to serious internal problems.
When should I worry about my dog drooling excessively?
- Sudden onset of excessive drooling: If your dog normally has a dry mouth and starts producing noticeable amounts of saliva, this warrants close monitoring and potentially veterinary care.
- Drooling accompanied by other symptoms: When excessive drooling occurs alongside an upset stomach, lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, or unusual behavior, consider this a red flag requiring immediate emergency vet attention.
- Changes in drool consistency or color: Normal dog drool is clear; if you notice yellow, green, bloody, or unusually thick saliva, this indicates a potential emergency.
- Drooling with facial swelling or pawing at the mouth: These symptoms together often indicate dental issues, oral injuries, or foreign objects that may require urgent care.
- Excessive drooling after potential exposure to toxins or foreign bodies: If your dog has access to chemicals, certain plants, or other toxic substances and begins drooling excessively, seek emergency care immediately.
5 Causes of Drooling in Dogs That Constitute a Visit to the Emergency Vet
Severe Dental Disease and Mouth Injuries
Advanced dental disease and oral injuries frequently trigger excessive drooling that requires a visit to the emergency vet. Dogs suffering from severe periodontal disease often experience intense pain, gum inflammation, and tooth abscesses that can lead to dangerous infections. Broken teeth with exposed nerves, oral lacerations, burns, or embedded foreign objects like sticks or bones can also cause sudden hypersalivation.
Poisoning and Toxic Ingestion
Excessive drooling is the body’s natural attempt to dilute or expel the harmful substance from the mouth and digestive system. Poisoning situations require immediate emergency vet intervention, as toxins can quickly damage vital organs and potentially become life-threatening.
What Toxins Cause a Dog to Drool Excessively
- Household chemicals and cleaning products: Common items like antifreeze, rat poison, and certain cleaning solutions contain chemicals that trigger intense salivation and can cause severe organ damage if ingested.
- Toxic plants: Many common houseplants and garden varieties, including lilies, sago palms, and azaleas, can cause excessive drooling as an early sign of toxicity when chewed or ingested by curious dogs.
- Certain foods: Chocolate, xylitol (found in sugar-free products), grapes, and onions can all trigger hypersalivation as part of their toxic effects, along with more serious symptoms that require emergency intervention.
- Medications: Human drugs, including pain relievers like ibuprofen and acetaminophen, can cause drooling followed by serious health complications if your dog accidentally consumes them.
- Pesticides and lawn treatments: Products used to treat lawns or control pests often contain chemicals that cause immediate drooling and require emergency veterinary care if your dog is exposed.
Heat Stroke and Hyperthermia
This dangerous condition occurs when a dog’s body temperature rises significantly. The drooling is your dog’s desperate attempt to cool down as their temperature regulation systems become overwhelmed. Heat stroke constitutes a true emergency vet situation. It requires immediate intervention, as organ failure and death can occur quickly without proper treatment.
Gastrointestinal Issues
When a foreign object becomes lodged in your dog’s digestive tract, it can cause stomach acids to back up. The resulting hypersalivation typically appears alongside symptoms like repeated swallowing attempts, retching, abdominal pain, and lethargy. These conditions constitute true emergency vet situations that may require immediate surgery to prevent complications like intestinal rupture or peritonitis.
Neurological Issues and Seizures
Neurological conditions and seizures can disrupt the nervous system’s control over saliva production or the muscles responsible for swallowing. When excessive drooling appears alongside these neurological signs, immediate emergency vet care is essential. Brain-related emergencies can progress rapidly and may lead to permanent damage without proper treatment.
What to Expect at the Emergency Vet
- Triage assessment: Upon arrival, emergency veterinary staff will quickly evaluate your dog’s vital signs and the severity of their condition to determine treatment priority.
- Detailed history taking: The emergency vet will ask specific questions about your dog’s drooling. Be prepared with as much information as possible to help guide their diagnosis.
- Physical examination: The veterinarian will perform a thorough examination, paying special attention to your dog’s mouth, throat, and signs of systemic illness.
- Diagnostic testing: Depending on the suspected cause, the emergency vet may recommend blood tests, x-rays, ultrasound, or other imaging to identify the underlying issue.
- Treatment plan: Based on findings, the emergency vet will develop and implement a treatment plan that may include IV fluids, medication, detoxification procedures, or even emergency surgery in some cases.
- Hospitalization decision: The emergency vet will determine if your dog needs to remain hospitalized for monitoring or if they can return home with you after initial intervention.
Conclusion
Recognizing when excessive drooling requires emergency veterinary care can save your dog’s life. While some drooling is normal, sudden or severe hypersalivation should never be ignored. Understanding the potential causes and knowing when to seek help empowers you to make critical decisions for your pet’s well-being.
Don’t wait if you notice alarming changes in your dog’s drooling patterns or overall health. Schedule an appointment with Vetcetera Animal Hospital for immediate evaluation and treatment. For more helpful pet health information and updates, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and X to stay informed about keeping your furry family members safe and healthy.
