Home Dog Drooling

Why Is My Dog Drooling So Much?

By the Dog Health Handbook team · Updated · Fact-checked against current veterinary references (see sources)

Key takeaways

  • Some drooling is normal, especially in loose-lipped breeds.
  • Sudden heavy drooling can mean poisoning, a stuck object or a mouth injury.
  • Drooling with a swollen belly, heat exposure or trouble swallowing is an emergency.
  • Toad exposure: rinse the mouth with running water and call your vet.
  • Caustics or batteries: don't make your dog vomit. Call for help.

Table of Contents

Research Causes Drooling and not eating What to do At the vet FAQ Sources

Dog General Diseases and Symptoms QuickLinks

Lyme Disease Overview Lyme Disease Symptoms Lethargic Dog Fever and Temperature Shaking and Trembling Not Eating Drooling Bad Breath Poisoning Chocolate Grapes and Raisins Xylitol

Some drooling is normal. Many dogs drool when they see food, and breeds with loose lips, such as Mastiffs, Bloodhounds, Saint Bernards and Bulldogs, drool a lot every day.1,2 Drooling becomes a concern when it is new, sudden or much heavier than usual for your dog.2 Vets call it ptyalism or hypersalivation. It happens either because the dog makes too much saliva or because he can't swallow it normally.3,4 Causes range from nausea and car sickness to mouth pain, poisoning, a stuck object, heatstroke and nerve problems.5,1 This guide explains the causes, the emergency signs, and what to do.

Go to your vet or an emergency vet now if your dog is drooling and:

  • It started suddenly and is heavy, or your dog may have chewed or licked a toad, plant, battery, cleaning product or insecticide1,6,7,8
  • Has a swollen belly, seems uncomfortable or restless, or is retching without bringing anything up (possible bloat)1,9
  • Has been in the heat, or is panting hard and weak (possible heatstroke: start cooling with cool or cold tap water on the way, see heatstroke first aid)10,1
  • Can't swallow, is gagging or pawing at the mouth, or is regurgitating food11,2
  • Is trembling, wobbly, having a seizure, or has uneven pupils or a head tilt1,2,8
  • Is vomiting, lethargic or in obvious pain1,2

What the Research and Guidelines Say

  • Dental disease is very common. In a UK study of more than 22,000 dogs, it was the most commonly diagnosed disorder, and painful mouths are a common cause of drooling.12,2
  • Some burns don't look like burns. Alkaline products such as drain openers, dishwasher detergent and batteries can burn the throat and esophagus without obvious mouth damage, and the full extent of a battery burn may take up to 24 hours to appear.7,13
  • Car sickness is often outgrown. Motion sickness is more common in young dogs, and many outgrow it by about 1 year of age.14

Why Is My Dog Drooling So Much?

Normal or harmless causes

  • Loose lips and jowls in breeds that drool1,5
  • Expecting food or treats2
  • Excitement, fear or stress, such as at the vet or during fireworks5
  • Car sickness, which is more common in young dogs14

Mouth problems

  • Dental disease, broken teeth and sore, inflamed gums2,3 See dog bad breath.
  • Something stuck in the mouth or between the teeth, such as a bone, stick or splinter2,3
  • Mouth tumors, which can also cause bad breath and reluctance to eat. Melanoma is the most common in dogs.3,15 See oral cancer in dogs.

Nausea and swallowing problems

  • Nausea from an upset stomach, often with poor appetite, vomiting or diarrhea2 See upset stomach in dogs.
  • An object stuck in the esophagus, which causes sudden heavy drooling, gagging and regurgitation. Bones are the most common culprit.11
  • Bloat, a life-threatening twisting of the stomach in which drooling comes with a swollen belly and unproductive retching1,9 See bloat in dogs.

Poisons and irritants

  • Toads. Licking or mouthing some toads causes instant frothy drooling, head shaking and pawing at the mouth, and severe cases can have heart rhythm problems and seizures. The cane toad, found in Florida, Hawaii and Texas, is the most dangerous in the US.6
  • Caustic products and batteries, which cause drooling, refusal to eat and burns in the mouth or throat.7,13
  • Some houseplants, including dumb cane, pothos, peace lily and philodendron, which irritate the mouth.16
  • Some insecticides, which cause drooling with small pupils, vomiting and tremors.8
  • Human pain relievers.17

Other causes

  • Heatstroke.10
  • Seizures. Many dogs drool before, during and after a seizure.1 See seizures in dogs.
  • Facial nerve paralysis, which causes a drooping lip, drooling on one side and an inability to blink. It is often of unknown cause and is more common in Cocker Spaniels and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels over about 5 years old.18
  • Liver problems, including a liver shunt in young small-breed dogs, where drooling may come with odd behavior after meals. This is a less common cause in dogs than in cats.19,20
  • Rabies, a rare but fatal infection that causes behavior changes, drooling and trouble swallowing. Keep your dog's rabies vaccination up to date, and don't put your hands in the mouth of any dog that is drooling and acting strangely, especially if its rabies vaccination isn't up to date. Call your vet first.21,22,4

Drooling and Not Eating

A dog that drools and won't eat often has a painful mouth, nausea, something stuck in the mouth or throat, or a burn from a chewed battery or chemical. All of these need a vet check.2,13 See dog not eating.

What to Do if Your Dog Starts Drooling

  • Look at what's around: a chewed plant, battery, cleaning product or toad in the yard. Bring any packaging to the vet.13,7
  • Toad exposure: rinse your dog's mouth right away with plenty of gently running water, with the head tilted down and the water pointed out of the mouth, not down the throat, then call your vet.6 If your dog is collapsed or having a seizure, don't rinse; go straight to an emergency vet.
  • Caustics or batteries: don't make your dog vomit. Call your vet or a pet poison helpline right away.7,13
  • If your dog is calm and you can do it safely, look in the mouth for a stuck object, but don't reach in or pull out anything lodged in the throat; your vet should remove it.11 Don't put your hands in the mouth if your dog may bite, is acting strangely or could have been exposed to rabies.4
  • For drooling that has gone on for days, note when it started, whether it seems worse on one side, and any possible poison exposure or chewed objects, and book a vet visit.2

What Your Vet Will Do

Your vet will examine the mouth, teeth and throat, often under sedation, and check the face nerves and belly.3,4 Depending on what they find, they may suggest blood tests, X-rays or a camera exam of the esophagus. Treatment depends on the cause, such as dental treatment, removing a stuck object, anti-nausea medicine or treatment for poisoning.3,11

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I worry about my dog drooling?

When it is sudden, heavy or new for your dog, or comes with vomiting, pain, trouble swallowing, weakness or a swollen belly.

Why is my dog suddenly drooling like crazy?

Common causes are nausea, something stuck in the mouth, mouth pain, or licking a toad or toxic substance. Call your vet.

Do dogs drool when they feel sick?

Yes. Nausea is a common cause of drooling, often with poor appetite, vomiting or diarrhea.

What toxins cause drooling in dogs?

Toads, caustic cleaners, batteries, some houseplants and some insecticides. Call your vet or a pet poison helpline.

Why is my dog drooling from one side of the mouth?

It can be a tooth or mouth problem on that side, or facial nerve paralysis. See your vet.

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Sources and further reading

This article was written and fact-checked on October 19, 2026 against current veterinary references and specialist guidelines:

  1. PDSA vets and vet nurses. Drooling in Dogs. PDSA Pet Health Hub, October 2023.
  2. PetMD Editorial; reviewed by Higgs V, DVM. Excessive Drooling in Dogs. PetMD, updated March 11, 2024.
  3. Reiter AM, Dipl. Tzt., DEVDC, DAVDC. Disorders of the Mouth in Dogs. Merck Veterinary Manual (pet owner version), full review May 2018, last updated June 2026.
  4. Mulherin BL, DVM, DAVDC (reviewed by Carnevale J, DVM, DABVP). Salivary Disorders in Small Animals. Merck Veterinary Manual (professional version), November 2024.
  5. Merck Veterinary Manual. Table: Causes of Excessive Salivation in Dogs. Merck Veterinary Manual (pet owner version), undated table.
  6. Gwaltney-Brant SM, DVM, PhD, DABVT, DABT. Toad Poisoning. Merck Veterinary Manual (pet owner version), full review October 2020, last updated September 2024.
  7. Gwaltney-Brant SM, DVM, PhD, DABVT, DABT. Household Hazards. Merck Veterinary Manual (pet owner version), full review October 2020, last updated May 2026.
  8. Gupta RC, DVM, PhD, DABT. Insecticide Poisoning. Merck Veterinary Manual (pet owner version), full review October 2020, last updated April 2025.
  9. American College of Veterinary Surgeons. Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus. ACVS animal owner resource, last modified October 30, 2023.
  10. PDSA vets and vet nurses. Heatstroke in Dogs. PDSA Pet Health Hub, September 2023.
  11. Walters P, VMD, DACVIM, DACVECC. Disorders of the Esophagus in Dogs. Merck Veterinary Manual (pet owner version), full review May 2018, last updated September 2024.
  12. O’Neill DG, James H, Brodbelt DC, Church DB, Pegram C (reported by VetSurgeon). The most common health problem in dogs is dental disease (reporting: Prevalence of commonly diagnosed disorders in UK dogs under primary veterinary care, BMC Vet Res 2021). VetSurgeon.org, February 17, 2021.
  13. ASPCA. The Dangers of Batteries and Your Pets: What You Should Know. ASPCA, April 4, 2018.
  14. VCA Animal Hospitals. Motion Sickness in Dogs. VCA Animal Hospitals, undated.
  15. Llera R, BSc, DVM; Bellows J, DVM, DAVDC, ABVP; Pinard C, DVM. Oral Tumors in Dogs – Melanomas. VCA Animal Hospitals, last updated March 6, 2023.
  16. ASPCA. These Houseplants Can Cause Trouble for Your Pets. ASPCA, October 13, 2025.
  17. Morrison BJ, DVM. NSAID Toxicity in Dogs. PetMD, September 14, 2022.
  18. Weir M, DVM, MSc, MPH; Williams K, BSc, DVM, CCRP. Facial Paresis and Paralysis in Dogs. VCA Animal Hospitals, last updated September 25, 2026.
  19. American College of Veterinary Surgeons. Portosystemic Shunts. ACVS, last modified January 13, 2025.
  20. Center SA, DVM, DACVIM. Disorders of the Liver and Gallbladder in Dogs. Merck Veterinary Manual (pet owner version), full review May 2018, last updated June 2026.
  21. Rupprecht CE, VMD, PhD. Rabies in Dogs. Merck Veterinary Manual (pet owner version), full review February 2018, last updated September 2024.
  22. Texas A&M CVMBS Pet Talk (quoting McCool K, DVM). Vaccines are Key: Protect Your Pet from Rabies. Texas A&M University, September 19, 2019.

About this article

Last updated : new page, written using Merck Veterinary Manual, PDSA, PetMD, VCA, ASPCA and ACVS guidance.

This page is for general information and is not a substitute for an exam by your veterinarian.