Home Remedies for Dog Drooling

Drooling is a natural behavior in dogs, but excessive drooling can sometimes be a cause for concern. It's on the carpet, on your favorite T-shirt, in the car, on the couch - everywhere! While some dogs are naturally more prone to drooling due to their breed or genetics, for example, Pugilists, St. Bernards, Bulldogs, Great Danes and Newfoundlands have looser lips and drool more. However, excessive drooling may indicate an underlying health problem or discomfort. You may be wondering what is causing your puppy to drool excessively and what remedies can be used to reduce the amount of drooling. In this article, we will explore some effective and safe home remedies for dog drooling that can help improve your dog's comfort and overall health.

What Is Dog Drooling?

Dog drooling, also known as drooling disorder or hypersalivation, is the excessive production of saliva by dogs. It is a natural bodily function of the canine family and serves a variety of purposes. A dog's salivary glands produce saliva, which aids in the initial digestion of food. Saliva contains enzymes, such as amylase, that help break down carbohydrates into simpler sugars. This process begins the chemical breakdown of food before it reaches the stomach. And saliva contains antibacterial substances, including lysozyme and immunoglobulins, which help protect the mouth and throat from harmful bacteria and viruses. These components of the immune system play an important role in warding off oral infections. This can become a problem when excessive saliva interferes with your daily life and that of your dog. Before we start talking about home remedies for dog drooling, it is important to stress again that the best solution for any dog-related problem that you are unsure how to treat is to take your dog to the veterinarian or call your veterinarian for advice.

If your dog is drooling clear mucus, the consistency and amount may vary. Clear, sticky drool may be a normal variation and does not necessarily indicate a problem. Monitor your dog's behavior and overall health, and make sure your dog has no symptoms other than drooling and that his behavior is not abnormal before treating drooling, then you can follow the home remedies.

When Is It Normal for Dogs to Drool?

Drooling is a natural behavior in dogs, and it can occur in a variety of situations. The following are some common situations in which drooling is considered normal for dogs:

• If your dog drools when he is about to be fed or smells a tasty treat.
• Dogs may salivate when they are physically exhausted
• Motion sickness, eating something they shouldn't, or experiencing digestive problems. 
• The dog is anxious or stressed, which can happen in situations such as car rides, vet visits, or thunderstorms. 
• Certain breeds are more prone to drooling due to their anatomy. For example, breeds with loose jaws such as Bulldogs or St. Bernards typically drool more than other breeds. 

What are the Home Remedies for Dog Drooling?

When you are sure that your pet is drooling excessively due to oral problems and has no other serious symptoms such as vomiting or diarrhea, you can treat them at home by following these treatments However, when you are unsure of the severity of the discomfort or if there is something you can do to help at home, it may be helpful to contact your veterinarian.

1. Provide Fresh Water

Make sure your dog has access to clean, fresh water at all times. The average daily water requirement for a dog is 30 ml of water per kilogram of body weight. Of course, this depends on age, energy levels, the dog's activity, and whether he is a nursing bitch.
It has been noted that dehydration triggers a reaction in which the body produces too much saliva. This happens because the dog's body tries to lower its body temperature by any possible means. Without available water, the dog's brain sends signals to the salivary glands to produce more saliva and tries to lower the body's temperature by overproducing saliva.
If a dog, especially in hot weather, becomes dehydrated due to heat stroke, the overall balance of salivation can be affected, resulting in excessive salivation or dry mouth. Dehydration causes saliva to thicken and become sticky, which may lead to decreased saliva flow and dry mouth.

Dehydration can lead to excessive drooling, so it is important to keep your dog hydrated.

2. Lemon Extract (A vitamin supplement)

Mixing a few drops of lemon with water can also control dog drooling.

Lemon extract works by making your dog's mouth a little dry, thus minimizing the tendency to salivate.

However, lemon is not recommended for dogs because it contains psoralen compounds that can cause a variety of problems in dogs, including upset stomachs, vomiting, lethargy, diarrhea, and even skin cancer.

If you want to use this home remedy, we recommend that you first consult your veterinarian for more advice on how to mix the extract in a way that will not affect your dog's health.

3. Maintain a Cool Environment

Dogs may drool excessively when they're overheated. Because when a dog's body is exposed to a hot environment, the dog's brain sends signals to the salivary glands to produce more saliva and tries to lower the body's temperature by overproducing saliva.  Ensure your dog has access to a cool, well-ventilated area, especially during hot weather.

4. Monitor Stress and Anxiety

Drooling is a form of reaction to a stressful situation. Sometimes, the brain can send signals to produce more saliva because the dog is under a lot of stress. 

Stress can cause other health issues and changes in behavior, not only excessive drooling. If your dog suddenly starts to poop in the house, stress might be the cause. Reduce stress triggers in your dog's environment and provide a calm, secure space. This can help alleviate anxiety-related drooling.

Numerous situations can lead to stress.

Possible Stress Triggers

No matter if it’s a large dog or a small dog, all dogs can have a stress reaction. Sometimes, that reaction manifests as excessive drooling. Other times it can be a dog that acts weird all of a sudden. Knowing the stress triggers and dealing with them is an excellent version of home remedies for dog drooling.

Possible stress triggers:

• Noises
• New (unfamiliar) places
• New (unfamiliar) scents
• New (unfamiliar) people or other dogs/animals
• Moving from one home to another
• Separation anxiety (leaving your dog alone at home)
• Change in schedule
• Adding a new dog/other pet to a household

5. Elevated Feeding

Elevate your dog's food and water bowls to a comfortable height. This can help reduce strain on the neck and prevent drooling caused by an uncomfortable feeding position.

6. Promote Oral Health

Offer chew toys or dental treats to help clean your dog's teeth and stimulate saliva production. Give your dog a new chew treat to get his brain to focus on it. They must open their mouths to chew and breathe through them as they chew. As a result, they will be distracted, their teeth will get a good natural cleaning, and excessive saliva production will be reduced. However, avoid toys that are too hard and may damage the teeth.

7. Check for Mouth Injuries

A common cause of sudden excessive drooling is a foreign body or an injury to the mouth. You can look at your dog's mouth and see if there is something that looks strange. Dogs can be injured by chewing hard food. Broken bone can wedge itself into the gums and cause acute localized gingivitis. The body responds to this type of problem by producing excessive saliva to remove the foreign body.

• Catarrhal stomatitis and blistering stomatitis, rinse the mouth and inject vitamin B complex and vitamin C at the same time
• Ulcerative stomatitis, anti-inflammatory metronidazole or oral spray
• Mycotic stomatitis, with the application of mycoplasma ointment
• In the early stages of salivary gland inflammation, apply ichthyoid to the surface, and apply penicillin and streptomycin combined with intramuscular injections, or take carbamates internally.
• For drooling caused by drugs or poisons, emetic drugs such as apomorphine 3mg should be given to induce vomiting. Wash the stomach with 0.1% potassium hyperacid solution or warm water, and also choose appropriate antidote drugs to detoxify.

8. Regular Dental Care

Maintain good oral hygiene by brushing your dog's teeth regularly. This can help prevent dental issues that may contribute to excessive drooling. If a dog has dental problems, the amount of saliva coming out of the dog's mouth will increase significantly. It's not just the teeth that are a problem, but the health of the entire mouth.

However, if your dog is unable to clean their teeth with the regular brush for various reasons, we can step in and do the job for them. You can purchase a teeth cleaning powder and add it directly to your dog's food, and giving it to your dog twice a day is the best option. It can help alleviate any dental problems your dog may have and reduce drooling.

9. Use a Drool Towel or Bandana

Keep a towel or bandana handy to wipe your dog's mouth when excessive drooling occurs. This can help keep your dog's face and surroundings clean.

10. Replenish Electrolytes

If a dog accidentally eats toxic substances, such as food like onions, human medications, and cleaning agents, it can cause symptoms of poisoning in dogs. Dogs with poisoning will drool a lot and have symptoms such as rapid heartbeat, vomiting and diarrhea.

If the dog is slightly poisoned, you can pour a lot of water and give the dog hydrochlorothiazide tablets to promote urine discharge to reduce the toxins in the body, if the poisoning is serious it is recommended to take the dog to the hospital in time to induce vomiting and gastric lavage.

In order to avoid electrolyte imbalance caused by severe vomiting and diarrhea when the dog is poisoned, it is recommended to rehydrate the dog in a timely manner, and after a slight recovery take Puainta's pet electrolytes can be used for continuous rehydration to restore the dog's bodily functions.

11. Vomiting Pills

When a dog has a painful abdominal reaction due to gastroenteritis and other diseases, it will cause nausea and vomiting, resulting in increased saliva and sometimes yellow water. If the situation is not very serious, it is recommended to feed the dog some active probiotics supplement to regulate the gastrointestinal tract and help the dog recover.

If the dog has repeated vomiting, it is recommended to feed Pulsatilla cimetidine tablets to stop vomiting in time, inhibit gastric acid secretion and avoid intestinal damage caused by excessive peristalsis of the stomach and intestines.

12. Puppy Teeth Replacement

When the dog enters the tooth replacement period at the age of 3-4 months, the new teeth will grow out to constantly stimulate the salivary glands, it will lead to increased saliva production, coupled with the imperfect swallowing function of puppies. So it leads to the dog drooling.

This situation dog drooling is normal, but if you find that the dog's gums are red and swollen due to tooth replacement, you need to feed your dog cefadroxil tablets and anti-inflammatory medication to avoid infection and abscesses.

13. Avoiding Foods or Chew Toys that are Likely to Cause Drooling

Some types of food that may cause drooling in dogs are:

1. Chewy or sticky foods: These include foods like peanut butter, cheese, and meatballs.
2. Spicy or hot foods: Dogs may drool when they smell or taste something spicy or hot.
3. Greasy or oily foods: Foods like french fries or hamburgers can cause drooling.
4. Sharp or crunchy foods: Foods like chips or crackers may cause your dog to drool.

Causes of Excessive Drooling in Dogs

There are several reasons why dogs drool. In addition to the few normal common causes described above, the following are some common factors that need attention and may cause excessive drooling in dogs:

Dental Problems

Dental conditions like gum disease, tooth decay, or oral infections can cause pain and inflammation, leading to increased salivation and drooling in dogs.

Read more: Mouth Ulcers in Dogs: Causes, Symptoms& Treatment

Poisoning or Ingestion of Toxins

Certain toxins or poisonous substances can cause drooling in dogs as a symptom of poisoning. If you suspect your dog has ingested something toxic, contact your veterinarian immediately.

Seizures

If a dog has a seizure, it may cause them to drool.

Inflammation of the salivary glands

If your dog has any internal disease issues, this may also cause drooling.

FAQ

Why Does My Dog Drool in the Car?

Dogs may drool in the car for several reasons, and it can vary from one dog to another. Here are some possible explanations for why your dog drools in the car:

• Motion sickness
• Excessive heat
• Excitement or anticipation
• Anxiety or stress: Dogs that are anxious or stressed in the car may drool as a response to their emotional state. Car rides can be unsettling for some dogs due to unfamiliar surroundings, noise, or previous negative experiences.
• Breeds with excessive drooling: Some dog breeds are prone to drooling more than others due to their anatomy. Breeds such as St. Bernard, Mastiff, or Bloodhound have loose jowls or lips that can cause excessive drooling, which may be more noticeable during car rides.

Why is My Dog Drooling Excessively and Licking Their Paws?

Excessive drooling and paw licking in dogs can have various causes. 

1. Dental problem
2. Nausea or gastrointestinal problems
3. Allergies
4. Anxiety or stress
5. Pain or discomfort
6. Skin infections or irritations

It's important to observe your dog's behavior closely and consult with a veterinarian for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment. They can perform a thorough examination, ask specific questions about your dog's medical history, and recommend any necessary tests or treatments to address the underlying cause of the excessive drooling and paw licking.

Do Bernese Mountain Dogs Drool?

Yes, Bernese Mountain Dogs are known to drool. They have loose, jowly lips, and like many large breeds, they tend to produce more saliva, which can lead to drooling. Not all Bernese Mountain Dogs drool excessively, but some individuals may have a tendency to drool, especially after eating or drinking or when they're excited or hot. It's a good idea to keep a towel handy to wipe their mouths if necessary, particularly if you have a particularly drooly Bernese Mountain Dog.

Do Dogs Drool in Their Sleep?

Yes, dogs can drool in their sleep. Drooling is a natural behavior in dogs, and it can occur during various situations, including while they are asleep. The amount of drooling can vary from dog to dog, and some breeds may be more prone to excessive drooling than others. Some dogs may drool more when they are in a deep sleep or experiencing vivid dreams. Additionally, factors such as age, health conditions, and certain medications may also affect the amount of drooling a dog experiences during sleep.