Why Do Dogs Drool Around Other Dogs?
DRIP. DROOL. SMEARS. STAINS.
You may have noticed that sometimes when your dog is around another dog, there is an extra and excessive saliva string hanging from their jaw.
If your windows, floors, and car are COVERED in sticky dog drool – it can be really frustrating!
Although it can be annoying and messy, this shouldn’t really be a cause for alarm!
It is a common fact that dogs drool around other dogs because they are either excited or anxious. The fact that your dog’s mouth might be “raining” around other dogs is since each dog has its own scent to which your dog might have an excited or fearful response.
This article aims to rest any of your concerns regarding what you might think of as excess salivation and determine whether your dog needs some professional medical attention.
How to Stop Your Dog from Drooling?
Your first step to solving this problem is to understand it thoroughly.
You must investigate why your dog is drooling? Is it a happy response or a stressed-out situation?
Drooling can be caused by stress or anxiety. Thus such drooling can be combated by anti-anxiety drugs and treatment duly prescribed by your vet to reduce your dog’s symptoms.
Some behavioral techniques can help your dog become less stressed in newer environments. One of the best ways of doing this is to introduce your dog to new environments and other pets very slowly and only allow interaction when your dog is calm.
Of course, to ensure your canine is calm, you must remain so as well. If a situation seems to be getting loud and scary, just take a few deep breaths and focus on getting your dog away from the vicinity. Dogs usually mimic their caregivers, so seeing you be calm will help soothe your dog and help it relax.
If your dog is drooling without the basis of a diagnosed health condition, there isn’t really much that you can do to stop it. In this case, you must learn to live with it, which would mean that you invest in paper or cloth towels to wipe the drool off every now and then.
Photo: FD Richards CC-by-SA no modifications
So, can you Reduce Dog Drool?
It is crucial to keep in mind that though no guaranteed method can help stop your dog’s drooling.
There are some tried and tested ways to reduce the amount of drool your dog produces. Some dog owners believe that one of the main ways to do this is by giving your canine a wet food diet.
They claim that having dry food makes your furry friends’ glands work in overdrive as they produce larger amounts of saliva that is also waterier than usual, thus causing more drooling.
Is this true? It can be worth testing if the drooling is out of control. Just be sure that you are still controlling calories, so you don’t end up with an overweight dog!
Why do Dogs Drool?
Dogs often drool as a result of an adrenal response to external stimuli. The adrenal gland is responsible for the manufacture of hormones regulating the mechanisms that respond to stress in your dog’s body.
These include the immune system and even blood pressure.
Here are some of the most common reasons explaining why do dogs drool around other dogs.
High Excitement Level
Dogs generally drool when they are excited. If you are in a park and your dog is already pumped up and meets another dog, it can quickly increase the excitement level.
You can tell if your dog is excited if you can see the whites of his eyes. Moreover, the body posture of excited dogs has a characteristically hunched back or stiff body.
Feeling ‘Sick’
Many pet owners can attest to the fact that some dogs feel anxious while traveling in cars or might even suffer from travel sickness.
Motion sickness can cause your dog to feel nauseous. However, if your dog drools excessively even when out of a moving vehicle, it might hint at an underlying medical condition that you should get checked by a qualified veterinarian.
A Fear Response
Drooling dogs are sometimes indicators of fearful dogs. Such dogs can easily be provoked into biting or attacking anything they might feel threatened by.
You can tell if a dog is afraid if he begins to growl, or pulling back its lips. Such dogs should immediately be removed from the proximity of other dogs.
Anxious Disposition
Nervous or anxious dogs tend to drool a lot. As mentioned before, you can either arrange for some prescription anti-anxiety drugs or do some therapeutic behavioral exercises to help your dog feel more relaxed.
Proximity to Food
Even humans drool if they catch a waft of something delicious, and your dog is no different!
Exposure to a New Scent
Unfamiliar or even new scents can inevitably cause drooling. Since dogs have an extremely acute sense of smell, your dog’s drooling behavior is likely a response to something new that it can smell in the environment.
When it comes to wondering why do dogs drool around other dogs, the answer does not have to be something you should worry about.
Are Some Dogs more likely to drool than others?
As no two humans are the same, we can’t expect two dogs to be as well. It has been discovered that some dog breeds tend to drool more than others. These dog breeds include:
- Bulldogs
- Pitbull
- Dogue de Bordeaux
- Boxer (and Boxerdoodles)
- Bernese mountain dogs (and Bernedoodles)
- Great Dane
- Basset Hounds.
Dog breeds that have more enormous and looser-shaped mouths and lips tend to have more saliva seepage. Thus, it is essential that you check what breed your dog is and whether they are likely to produce more drool.
How hard is it to Clean up Dog Drool?
If you know the right way to do things, cleaning up after your dog can be a breeze.
Many pet owners express their frustration when it comes to wiping up dog drool. The liquid texture is grimy and sticky, and somewhat difficult to completely clean from surfaces.
I know some dogs that SMEAR glass and can make windows and shower screens really grotty.
There is no need to despair, just yet. Vinegar and water are a fantastic duo, which can remove even the most stubborn drool stains if used in half and half ratio.
The natural acid in vinegar can eliminate grime and dried drool quickly without leaving streaks or harming the surface.
Other Causes for Dog Drool
Here is a quick list of more ideas to help you understand why your dog may be drooling more than usual:
- Sexual Desire
- Jealousy
- Travel sickness
- Prone to drooling naturally
- Nervousness
In the case of a health concern that you can’t identify, it would be wise to take your beloved dog to a licensed vet as soon as possible.
The next section deals with when you should take serious action.
When Should Drooling be a Concern?
If your dog is displaying behavioral changes and increased amounts of drool, it is best to take him to the vet. Behavioral changes may include (but aren’t limited to) lethargy, diarrhea, or vomiting.
Certain conditions that make dogs drool more are:
- Pseudoptyalism: where dogs have problems swallowing their saliva,
- Rabies: infection by a rabies virus. This is unlikely though, as pet dogs have to be vaccinated, and the virus has become rare,
- Ptyalism: a health condition featuring overactive salivary glands that produce excessive amounts of saliva,
- Heat Stroke: sometimes, dogs display signs of heat strokes that are really scary and can lead to fatal consequences. Other than hypersalivation, symptoms that indicate heat stroke include vomiting, diarrhea, pale gums, and a spiking heart rate. This is an emergency situation, and if your dog is displaying these symptoms, they require urgent professional medical support.
- Dental Disease: infected gums, teeth, or any obstruction by foreign particles can cause your dog to drool. Periodontal diseases can quickly develop to become major health problems such as tumors and should be checked out as soon as possible.
When it comes to your darling canine friends, you can never be too careful. It is always great to seek medical help when you are unsure about the potency of your observations.
Your pooch will thank you for all this love and attention!
Dogs Drooling Around Other Dogs Conclusions
So… why do dogs drool around other dogs?
Since many reasons can cause drooling behavior, it should not be too concerning if you notice your canine bud drooling a little more than usual. Your dog is a social animal who thrives on interaction with its surrounding environment and cannot control his responses to the many stimuli he may find around him.
Your keen observation regarding any bodily changes that you see your puppy experiencing can really help ensure its general wellbeing. Such observation can help catch potentially life-threatening disorders in the early stages.
When it comes to drooling, though, it is safe to say that your dog is perfectly alright! Thus you shouldn’t feel the need to give your dog superfluous medication or even take part in unwarranted treatment. Such steps are only required in specific cases, especially when prescribed by a veterinarian.
So don’t worry; after all, its just a little slimy saliva!
