Owning a dog is just like caring for a child, you’ll need to ensure that they’re in good health and with all the love they deserve. However, there may come a time where they get sick or show various signs of diseases, such as drooling and diarrhea. As for my case, my dog was drooling excessively and has diarrhea, which caused much worry!
That’s why I quickly looked it up and realized there were various causes and how to treat it immediately. So if your dog is suffering from both these symptoms, read on to learn why and what you should do.
My Dog Is Drooling Excessively and Has Diarrhea: Why?
All dogs drool for many reasons, especially when happy or excited, especially when they know they’re getting some treats! Just like us humans, producing saliva is the normal response to one’s stimulation, lubricating the mouth and preventing tooth decay and various gum diseases. It’s needed to break down your food for digestion, too!
But when does drooling become too much? If you notice that your dog has been drooling excessively, it can actually be a sign of a serious condition. When drooling excessively AND suffering from diarrhea and an upset stomach, chances are that your dog may be suffering from ptyalism.
Ptyalism is the excessive production of saliva, which can happen in other animals and humans. Also known as hypersalivation, these are caused by:
- Irritation from eating foreign objects such as sticks, toys, or stones
- Injuries around the mouth
- Excessive emotions, especially anxiety, intense, or traumatic ones
- Motion sickness
- Difficulty in swallowing
- Inflamed tonsils
- Medication or allergic reactions
- Toxic exposure or poisoning, which leads to foaming in the mouth
- Seizures or tumors
- Mouth defects
- Salivary gland disorders
- Kidney failure
Many of these causes, such as poisoning, allergic reactions, and medication, can lead to both hypersalivation, upset stomach, and diarrhea. It’s important to learn about the different causes to identify the reason behind diarrhea and excessive salivating. Once identified, you’re able to take action.
The symptoms of ptyalism include:
- Drooling more than usual and without any apparent cause or stimuli
- Behavioral and appetite changes
- Inflammation around the mouth from over moisture
- White foamy consistency of saliva
- The increased salivation can also be accompanied by vomiting, diarrhea, and/or various symptoms of serious sicknesses
So while salivation is totally normal, excessiveness of it, along with diarrhea, can mean an emergency situation that requires action immediately. I’ll be talking about diagnosis and treatment for these two serious symptoms in the next section.
What To Do For Your Dog
Once you notice such symptoms, the first thing to do is to rule out rabies. If your dog has his shots and doesn’t suffer from other rabies-related symptoms, it’s highly recommended to take him to the vet, who will perform tests and exams to check what causes the salivation and diarrhea.
Fortunately, ptyalism can be treated and your dog can make a good recovery, depending on what caused it.
- If your dog has a foreign object in his mouth, the vet can remove it in one appointment. Medication might be needed to treat and prevent throat infections.
- For inflamed or abscessed salivary glands, this is often treated with medication or removal, if necessary. Tumors, congenital mouth defects, or tonsillitis would require surgery, depending on the intensity of the case.
- As for kidney failure or infectious diseases, the vet will check the condition’s severity and progression. Dialysis and other forms of treatment and medication will be required, if ever
If you are unable to seek treatment immediately, cleanse the dog’s mouth using antiseptic solutions while keeping the skin around the mouth as dry as you can. But if you notice foaming around the mouth that accompanies with diarrhea, this should be treated as an emergency situation. You must NOT panic and take them to the nearest available veterinarian to run tests and immediate treatment to ensure a speedy recovery.
Learn more about identifying serious illnesses in dogs and what to do with this helpful video:
Wrapping It Up
Your dog’s health is a priority and you need to ensure that you watch out for any signs and to take action if needed ASAP. If you notice him drooling too much and suffering from diarrhea, it’s time that you take him to the vet to see what medications and treatments need to be given. That way, your dog stays happy and healthy for a long time.
I hope this article on dog drool and diarrhea gave you an idea on what to do. So if you start to think, “my dog is drooling excessively and has diarrhea”, start taking action and follow these steps now.
If you have any questions or want to share your tips and experiences on your dog’s health, then comment below. Your thoughts are much appreciated.