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Why Does My Dog Drool So Much?

Remember the slobbering Saint Bernard from the movie Beethoven? OK, maybe your dog doesn’t drool that much! But is it still a problem? There’s normal, healthy slobber that helps your dog eat and digest. And then there’s Niagara Falls. Too much drool, or hypersalivation, can be a sign of illness.

Here are some causes and suggested treatments:

Breeding: Bloodhounds, Newfoundlands, mastiffs, and Saint Bernards are breeds with loose upper lips or “flews,” causing them to drool more than others. Keep a hand towel around, maybe even a bib.

Mouth disease and tooth decay: Tarter buildup can rub against the inside of your dog’s lip, causing drool. To check, pull his lip back toward his ear. Do his teeth look like concrete? Are they brown? Are his gums red, swollen, or bleeding? If so, try a professional cleaning and then daily brushing. Your vet can check for gingivitis, mouth ulcers, and tumors as well.

Heat stroke: Short-nosed breeds, such as pugs, Boston terriers, boxers, and bulldogs, are more likely to have heat stroke. They just don’t pant as well as other dogs. If you think about it, your dog wears a fur coat, even in the summer, so it doesn’t take much for him to get overheated. Dogs that are stuck in the sun or run without access to water may also suffer from heat stroke and drool.

To avoid this, always have fresh, clean water available and shady places for him to cool off. On very hot days, keep him indoors, limit exercise, and never leave him in a parked car. Call your vet right way if you suspect heat stroke -- it can be dangerous.

Motion sickness and anxiety: If the only time your dog gets in the car is to go to the vet for shots, of course he’ll be nervous or nauseated.

Open-mouth panting and breathing, which are signs of anxiety, can cause your dog to drool. To make him more comfortable, try putting him in a pet harness or canine seat belt in the back seat without driving anywhere. Then slowly work up to backing out of the driveway and driving around the block. Repeat the routine as needed to ease carsickness. Ginger pills, sold at health food stores, are another solution. Talk to your vet about other remedies.

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