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Best Home Remedies for Dog Drooling

Best Home Remedies for Dog Drooling

Dog drooling is a normal phenomenon that you have to contend with as a dog parent. While drooling is beyond the control of our dogs, it can be quite annoying and difficult to manage.

So, if you are a new dog owner or a soon-to-be dog parent, you may want to know what causes excessive drooling in your pup and remedies you can use to reduce the amount of drool that you have to deal with.

First things first, you should note that drooling in dogs is a normal response to stimulation and often play an important role in lubricating a dog’s mouth while breaking down food for digestion.

It also aids in the prevention of tooth decay and gum diseases in dogs.

Some breeds also tend to drool more than others due to their mouth conformations. Basset Hounds, St. Bernard, Bulldogs, Great Danes, and Newfoundland, for instance, have loose hanging lips and tend to drool more.

Related Post: Dog Breeds with Droopy Jowls

However, if your dog is drooling excessively that it is interfering with his eating and drinking ability, activity level, or you have to continually clean up his slobber from your floor or furniture, then you have to be worried—and for valid reasons.

First, it can be an underlying health condition. Secondly, when your dog is producing a lot of saliva and he is unable to swallow it (effectively and naturally), it may cause irritation and inflammation in his mouth and lip area. 

So, what can you do when your pup is drooling excessively? What are the best home remedies for dog drooling?

Well, the most important thing you should understand first if you want to control drooling issues in your dog is the cause. It is what dictates the remedies or treatment plans to use on your dog.

Potential causes of Drooling in dogs 

There are many causes of excessive drooling in dogs. Some are normal but some can indicate underlying health issues:

  • Food: Dogs tend to drool a lot when they are expecting meals or treats. Saliva aids digestion, so the thought of food can get your pup’s mouth watering. If your dog is drooling excessively around mealtime, you should note that it is a normal thing and nothing should worry you.
  • Mouth Anatomy: Breeds like Mastiff, St. Bernard, Bulldogs, Great Danes, Newfoundland, and Bloodhounds tend to drool more because of their facial structures. They have loose lower lips and drooping jowls that can’t hold saliva effectively.
  • Teething: Puppies may also drool while teething—which often starts at about 8 weeks. If you see notice your puppy drooling in his sleep, you shouldn’t get worried much because it is a sign that he is teething.
  • Dental Problems: Tartar buildup, gingivitis, inflamed gums, periodontal disease, etc can cause excessive drooling.
  • Mouth irritation from foreign objects: Stones, sticks, or toys may become lodged in your pup’s mouth, causing excessive salivation and painful inflammations.
  • Mouth Injuries: Scrapes, cuts, and bites inside your dog’s mouth will lead to excessive drooling. In most cases, his gums will become purple or red and may be accompanied by breath odor in case of infection.
  • Heatstroke: Spending too much time in the sun can cause symptoms like lethargy, unresponsiveness, and drooling.

Related Post: 12 Best Goggles for Pugs

  • Growths: Bumps and lumps caused by warts and cancerous tumors can cause drooling.
  • Anxiety/Motion sickness: If your dog is not used to riding in the car, he may suffer nausea, which increases saliva production.
  • Caustic agents: Lapping household cleaners, lemon, or anything acidic can irritate the lining of your dog’s mouth, causing excessive drooling.
  • Gastrointestinal issues: GI problems like gastric influx may send fluids back to your pup’s esophagus and mouth, resulting in drooling.
  • Throat infections: A dog will also salivate more if he develops a sinus or throat infection.
  • Medication: Certain medications can cause excessive salivation
  • Ingesting poisonous plants and animals: Tulips, chrysanthemums, and azaleas can make your dog drool excessively when ingested. Similarly, certain types of frogs, toads, spiders, and scorpions are poisonous and will cause drooling if your dog consumes them.
  • Infectious diseases: Rabies and distempers can cause excessive salivation and foaming at the mouth.
  • Organ Diseases: Liver and kidney diseases can also cause excessive salivation.
  • Salivary gland inflammation: Abscess or any disorder of the salivary glands may also cause excessive salivation.     
  • Seizures: Some types of seizures may cause excessive drooling and foaming at the mouth.
  • Allergic reactions: Severe allergies may cause increase salivation and other symptoms

Home Remedies for Dog Drooling

With so many causes of drooling, the type of home remedy to use will depend on what is causing the drooling.

Without further ado, here are potential home remedies that you can leverage for your pup’s drooling issues.  

1. Coconut oil and Herbal Tea Rinses

If drooling is a result of mouth injuries, you can clean and help the injuries heal by rinsing your pup’s mouth with strongly brewed herbal tea.

Teas have soothing anti-inflammatory effects that can reduce itching and discomfort of injuries.

We also highly recommend the use of coconut oil because it is rich in medium-chain fatty acids that are potent for fighting bacteria, fungi, yeast, viruses, and parasites.

2. Ginger Tincture or Pill

If your dog is drooling because of motion sickness, some fresh ginger (ginger tea, powder or tincture) can help.

In this study, ginger was found to be as effective as Dramamine—the same drugs vets use to treat nausea and motion sickness in dogs—and had few side effects.

Ginger anti-nausea property is due to the presence of gingerol and shogaol, the compounds that give ginger its distinct taste and aid the digestive process.

Ginger also boasts potent anti-inflammatory effects, which can go a long way in soothing your pup’s digestive tract, reducing nausea.

3. Doggie Bibs/Bandana

Tying a doggie bib or bandana around your pup’s neck will help you control the amount of secreted saliva and give your dog something to absorb his excess saliva as it falls.

All you need to do is put the bib or bandana over your dog’s chest.

With a bib, your dog’s drool doesn’t stand a chance to splatter and mess your floor or seats as you will be able to wipe it down on time. It also looks good and stylish on your dog.

Choose bandanas that are made of cotton or any other material with great absorbing properties.

Avoid nylon and synthetic materials as they don’t wick away moisture effectively and may cause rashes on your dog’s skin.

Check this post for the best options: 12 Best Dog Drool Bibs in 2020

4. Brushing

Dogs with oral hygiene issues also tend to drool more.

Things like inflamed or bleeding gums, pain in his mouth, and tartar rubbing against your dog’s inner lips can cause drooling.

And this is where regular brushing may help—brushing your dog’s teeth more often (and taking care of oral hygiene in general) can reduce his drooling tendencies.

While brushing your pup’s teeth may seem like a challenge, particularly for new dog parents, if you follow the right steps and do it on a regular basis, it will be much easier—and your dog will be much healthier and happier. 

5. Treats

If your dog tends to drool more while in the car, consider feeding him a few hours (about 3 hours) before a car ride.

Besides, instead of letting him stress about your departure, consider giving him a few treats or toys when making an exit.

Soon, they will associate your departure with getting nice treats, and will no longer be anxious, eliminating his drooling problem.

6. Lemon Extract

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

Lemon extracts work by making your dog’s mouth dry a bit, minimizing his drooling tendencies.

However, lemon is not recommended for dogs because it contains psoralen compounds, which can cause all sorts of issues in dogs, including upset stomach, vomiting, lethargy, diarrhea, and even skin cancer.

If you want to use this home remedy, we suggest that you first talk with your vet for more advice on how you can mix the extract in a way that it won’t affect the health of your dog.

7. Easy access to water during hot summer months

You can help your pup prevent heatstroke during hot summer months by ensuring that he has easy access to fresh, clean water.

You should also avoid leaving him in the sun on hot days or alone in your parked car.

When it comes to ensuring that your dog has access to freshwater, we recommend dog water fountains because they ensure a constant circulation of water and allow your pup’s water to stay clean and fresh for longer durations without your intervention.

8. Positive environments

Always ensure that your dog stays in a less stressful environment.

Try to minimize loud noises, music, distressing situation, cluttered environments, or anything that can startle your pup.

Always ensure that your pup has plenty of room to stretch and move freely, exercise, interact and play with people as well as a quiet place of his own where he can relax.

All these factors/things will go a long way in minimizing his stress or anxiety, minimizing his drooling tendencies.

9. Examining Your Dog’s mouth for oral foreign bodies

Sticks, bones, and plastic toys can also get lodged in your dog’s mouth and cause excessive drooling.

To be certain that this is the cause of your dog’s drooling issue, consider examining or monitoring your pup’s mouth closely for foreign objects, cuts, and scrapes so that you can catch the problem as soon as possible.

Besides drooling, a foul breath odor may also develop if the object remains lodged in your dog’s mouth.

Some dogs may also rub their faces on the ground or paw at their faces.

If your dog is not cooperative or if you notice deep cuts or any weird thing in your dog’s mouth, consult your vet immediately. 

10. Drying your dog’s mouth

Your dog will tend to drool more after a walk, training, work out or play.

Drying his mouth with a towel can help reduce his drool.

We recommend this drool rag from HugeHounds for this purpose. It is made of soft but highly absorbent material that will wick away your dog’s drool easily and feel great on your dog’s jowls.

It also comes with drool-catching pockets to take care of even the stickiest drools.

11. Thuja

If your dog’s drool is due to bumps and lumps caused by warts, we suggest that you try Thuja as a home remedy.

Many dog owners have reported significant success in using Thuja to treat warts and a wide range of skin disorders like rashes, cysts, and eruptions.

12. Get Dog Furniture Protectors

If you have ruled out underlying health conditions and tried the above strategies without significant success, just accept your dog’s fate and shift your focus to protecting your valuables from dog drool.

Dog furniture protectors are always our go-to dog drool solutions. They are soft, inviting to your pup, washable, and provide the much-needed protection between your dog’s drool and your favorite couch or bed.

If your canine friend enjoys sleeping in multiple places, consider getting a protective throw and if he prefers sleeping in your couch’s corner or on one of your chairs, choose a cover that is specifically designed for chairs or couches.

Check this post for all those options: 16 Best Dog Proof Couch Covers (Including Clear Options)

And if you love giving your dog occasional rides in your car, consider keeping a dog blanket in your car.

A dog blanket for car will not only help you catch drool and other doggie mess but will also keep your pup warm throughout the trip.

Expert Tip: Invest In Apple Cider Vinegar

If you have a dog with excessive drooling issues, you must be prepared to remove drool spots from your floors, furniture, and car’s interior, especially before you invest in protective covers.

Dog drool is not only unsightly but also contains lots of bacteria that may carry diseases and be detrimental to your children’s health or people with weak immune systems.

The best way to get dog drool off your furniture, floor, bed, or car seat is to clean it right away. But life happens and the drool may dry, leaving you with a lot of post-drool stress. This is where we recommend using apple cider vinegar solution.

Mix equal parts of vinegar solution with hot water and combine it with a few drops of your favorite dish soap.

Dab the area with the solution and repeat a few times if drool still remains after the first dab.

Consider spot-testing the surface you want to dab with the solution: stripped finish or paint is sometimes unsightly than the drool itself.

Apart from vinegar, enzymatic cleaners are also perfect for clearing dry dog drool and sucking up doggie stains and odors from your floor, carpets, upholstered surfaces.

Check the best options here: 15 Best Enzyme Cleaners for Dog Urine

Conclusion

As a dog parent, you must ready to deal with sloppy wet kisses once in a while.

However, there are a few home remedies that you can leverage to minimize dog drool and help your pup live a happy, healthier, and cleaner life.

While the level and causes of drooling in dogs vary, we hope that you will find a remedy that works for your dog.

If your dog’s problem persists, we recommend taking him to a vet for an accurate diagnosis.

A vet is the best person that can determine if your dog has any underlying condition and recommend a suitable treatment plan.

Disclaimer: Any of the home remedies for dog drooling we have suggested in this post should never be treated as a substitute for professional veterinary service. If your vet has a severe drooling problem, please take him to a local vet immediately for a hands-on examination.

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