Drooling: (Ptyalism), hypersalivating, cannot swallow, tooth or mouth disease or injury, toxicity
What we will do
- Gather Historical Data: Besides having a dog that is craving the freshly cooked steak you have on a plate, the causes of drooling are many! Some of the causes are minor while other are very serious. Patients (both dogs and cats) can appear to be drooling because they are unable to swallow or they have poor control of their lips on one side of their mouths. A toxicity or mouth irritant can cause excessive salivation. We see plenty of pets with an object stuck in their mouth that is causing excessive drooling. One of the most common reasons we see dogs and cats show up on emergency for drooling is a problem within the mouth itself. Loose teeth, objects stuck in the mouth, and, sadly, tumors within the mouth are common occurrences.
- Gather Current Data: We will perform a through physical examination and we often need to sedate or anesthetize patients suspected to have a problem within the mouth. Depending on the patient’s overall condition, we may recommend bloodwork and x-rays (radiographs).
- Treatment: Treatment will vary depending on the cause of the drooling and if there are other conditions the patient has, such as dehydration, weight loss, lethargy, and if the patient is unable to eat or drink at home.