Content
- Is it normal for the dog to babe?
- something is wrong in the mouth
- other problems
- Symptoms accompanying salivation
- Diagnosis
- Types of treatment
If you have a dog at home, you've probably noticed that sometimes you drool a little. Canine drool is a normal phenomenon, as the animal's salivary glands are constantly functioning to help it while it feeds, contributing to the digestion process.
However, your dog may salivate more than he should, becoming a constant that may indicate a problem that should be attended to by a veterinarian.
If you ever wondered, why does my dog drool so much, in this Animal Expert article we explain what may be happening, so that you have all the necessary information that will allow you to understand what is happening with your pet.
Is it normal for the dog to babe?
In addition to the drool resulting from the digestion process, which is usually completely natural, some dog breeds drool constantly due to the drooping shape of its lips and mouth, as is the case of the Great Dane, the São Bernardo, the Boxer, among others.
Also, some external stimuli can also cause an excess of salivation, which is called ptialism. It is possible that the ptialism when the dog smells a food he likes, since the anticipation of eating makes him drool.
We also have situations that generate a nervous state or fear in the dog and which makes them drool more, as well as strong emotions, the idea of going out to play, very hot weather or nausea caused by a very long trip.
something is wrong in the mouth
However, when salivation persists for too long without the dog having received any stimulus of this type, it is time to worry or start to rule out possible factors that may be causing the problem.
It is necessary to detect what is causing the salivation problem not only because it can dehydrate the animal, but also because it is usually a sign that something else is not right in the dog's body.
The first thing you should do in the face of excessive salivation is to carefully assess whether there is something inside your dog's mouth that is causing the problem, such as:
- a foreign object: Perhaps your dog has swallowed something that is bothering him from his stomach to his esophagus, or that the object is stuck in his teeth or gums.
- tooth diseases: Inflammations, infections, broken teeth and other diseases related to the oral cavity can cause the dog to salivate more than normal.
- tumors: If you detect any abnormal lumps in any region of the mouth, consult your veterinarian immediately.
- Inflammation: gingivitis and stomatitis, which are accompanied by other symptoms, can cause excess salivation.
In any case, you should give your dog basic care (such as trying to extract the foreign object from his mouth, as long as it is safe), and then take him to the veterinarian.
other problems
If what causes your dog's salivation is not due to any problem in your oral cavity, then we are now ready to explore other possible causes:
- Anger: if salivation is accompanied by foam in the mouth and abnormal violent behavior, your dog needs immediate medical attention.
- Poisoning: among the symptoms of poisoning are salivation, agitated breathing, dilation of the pupils and nasal passages, among others. It can happen not only with the ingestion of poison, but also through other substances such as household cleaning products, etc.
- sting: may have been bitten by an insect, frog or reptile.
- Food poisoning: the dog may be allergic to certain foods.
- neurological disease: can prevent the animal from carrying out the process of swallowing saliva normally.
- Nausea: whose cause must be diagnosed.
- Use of tranquilizers.
- Problems with the metabolism.
Symptoms accompanying salivation
When excess salivation is not the result of stimulation by food or caused by a state of nervousness, it is usually accompanied by others symptoms that are worrying.
- Bad breath
- Strange lump in the oral cavity
- Fatigue
- Somnolence
- vomiting
- Problems with swallowing and eating
- breathing difficulty
Diagnosis
When it comes to any of the problems we mentioned, the veterinarian should perform a series of tests to discover the real cause, such as:
- A complete physical exam
- If there are any lumps in the mouth, lips or gums, a biopsy will be needed.
- Examination of the oral cavity and teeth.
- Blood tests to rule out anemia and infections.
- In case of suspected metabolic problems, a urine test and a chemistry profile will be necessary.
- Tests to check the condition of the liver.
The veterinarian will determine the best treatment based on the dog's symptoms.
Types of treatment
It is clear that the type of treatment that should be applied it will totally depend on the cause that produces the excessive salivation. on the dog.
if it comes to dental diseases, it may be necessary to remove the invasive mass or prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs and antibiotics in the case of infections. Your doctor will likely recommend an oral care routine for your dog.
When being in the presence of a tumor, only the biopsy will be able to determine the state of advancement of the same, with which the possibilities to find the appropriate treatment will be analyzed.
In view of the suspicion of a foreign object in the digestive tract, an endoscopy will need to be performed, and after doing so the veterinarian will determine the best way to extract the object.
These are some of the treatments that can be applied. Always remember to give your friend the medical care he needs, don't wait for the situation to get worse before taking him to the vet.
This article is for information purposes only, at PeritoAnimal.com.br we are not able to prescribe veterinary treatments or perform any type of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case it has any type of condition or discomfort.