My senior dog is drooling excessively and unresponsive. Is it serious?

Too much drool, or hypersalivation, can be a sign of illness. Here are some causes: Heat stroke and heat exhaustion, nausea and anxiety can cause episodes of drooling. 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. Organ disease: Liver and kidney diseases, for example, can cause drooling. As they age, dogs are more likely to get sick. Vets suggest annual checkups to diagnose and treat diseases early. Poisonous plants: Common plants like tulips, azaleas, and chrysanthemums can not only make your dog drool, but also make him sick. Keep your dog from eating them. For a list of poisonous plants, consult the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). Stomachaches: Dogs don’t tend to think before eating. Vets report pulling some strange items from their stomachs, from tennis balls to socket wrenches. This can cause nausea, discomfort and pain. Keep dangerous items away from him. Upper respiratory infections: Drooling can signal an infection of the nose, throat, or sinuses. Dogs that live in homes or shelters with other pets have a higher risk. Stress is also a factor. Only your vet can properly treat an infection. But you can take steps to protect your dog: Keep him indoors, away from other pets, and wash your hands between handling different animals. You’re the best judge of your dog’s behavior. If he’s acting strange for more than a day, he seems stressed, or he is not eating and playing as usual, it’s wise to see a vet.

Poor Lola. Unless she is foaming at the mouth, there is excessive drool from her mouth, vomiting, refusing to eat, or acting abnormal then I would watch her closely. If the drool is continuing tomorrow or becomes excessive, then I would consider taking her to your emergency vet. Drooling can be a sign of toxin ingestion but they usually are drilling excessively and it isn’t just from one side of the mouth. She could be drooling due to nausea, a tooth problem, oral ulcers, tumors in the mouth and much more. Your vet will be able to help determine the cause if she continues. I hope this helps.

It sounds like to me that Charlie may have severe dental problems causing this excessive drooling and not wanting to eat. He could also have a GI illness causing his symptoms. I would take Charlie into a vet first thing in the morning for an exam.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Drooling can be a sign of nausea and this with a decreased activity level can be observed with many conditions such as gastroenteritis, dietary indiscretion, kidney disease, pancreatitis, among many other possibilities. I recommend that you have Rufus evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to check for these possibilities and others depending on the findings on exam. Treatment would be based on findings. Good luck and have a great day! Hoping for a speedy recovery!

It sounds like there are a couple of things going on with Scout at the moment. The drooling and blood from his mouth suggests a dental problem, which can be common in older dogs. It would also cause him to not eat as much, and he would eat the softened food because it won't hurt his teeth as much. As for the thick mucus from his eyes, that can be a sign of an eye infection. Finally the panting can be a sign of being hot or something more serious such as heart disease. It's very concerning to me that you think there is blood in his drool and his eating has decreased. You need to take him into the vet first thing in the morning, this is not something that can be treated at home or should be left untreated. The vet can treat his myriad of problems. Best of luck, I hope this helps.

I would watch it for 24 hours. Hypersalivation can be caused by many different things, including nausea, licking something that tastes bad, difficulty swallowing, oral pain, among a few others. If Harvey starts vomiting or is refusing to eat or drink, he should be seen as soon as possible. If the hypersalivation is still going on in 24 hours, he should also be evaluated by a vet.

Hypersalivation can be caused by issues swallowing, nausea, or dental disease. Sometimes, twigs or sharp objects can get logded between the teeth or in the palate, so you can take a look in Kola's mouth if he will allow it safely. Unfortunately, their is no "quick fix" as the cause is not known. If you believe that Kola is having trouble swallowing (dribbling water, unable to swallow food) he should be seen immediately, as he may aspirate and can develop pneumonia. Otherwise, you should monitor him closely and have him seen as soon as possible.