Being a parent to a golden retriever is unquestionably one of the most fulfilling experiences out there. Well, who would say no to a laid-back, snuggly, and smart dog that’s a lot of fun. These gentle furry-friends make amazing pets for pretty much anyone, and love to please their pet-parents but sometimes they tend to drool a lot.
So, Why do golden retrievers drool?
It’s a well-known fact that golden retrievers are largely food-motivated animals and that’s why they often start drooling when you bring out treats, drinks, or food. Obviously, they drool at the sight of someone else eating or holding food.
Drooling is a very natural thing that most dogs do, particularly at the sight of treats or food.
Golden retrievers are medium-large dogs, so adults usually have relatively big jaws that either cause or exacerbate excessive drooling. As you may already know, dogs (or canines, to be exact) with larger jaws typically drool more than smaller-jaw animals.
You’ll probably notice that your four-legged friend begins to drool more after he or she drinks, eats, or gets some exercising. That’s no coincidence – this is the point at which they try to relax their jaws in order to cool down or get some rest.
Aside from jaw size and food motivation, there are a few other issues that can cause your golden retrievers to drool excessively. If your ‘golden’ pet has started drooling more lately than usual, then you might want to keep an eye out for the following issues and get your furry-friend examined if the problem persists.
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It’s too hot
Heat exhaustion and dehydration can be scary when you own dogs. If left unchecked, these conditions may cause your pet to be disoriented, develop breathing problems, or even worse, die.
In saying so, your golden retriever may be too hot if she has been panting and drooling a lot recently when the temperatures have been going up. When it’s very hot outside, it can be challenging for dogs to ward off dehydration and stay cool. Drooling just happens because the dog opens her mouth for a prolonged period in a bid to cool down.
Let’s not forget that the golden retriever has an extra coat of fur, which is why they are more susceptible to heatstroke and overheating than other dog species. If too much heat is to blame for drooling, however, your dog may also feel feverish, vomit, and develop redness in the tongue.
Health Problems Could Be The Culprit
You got to love the golden retriever. They are generally a healthy & fit dog breed with a decent lifespan of between twelve and fourteen years.
Be that as it may, golden retrievers can have health problems, especially due to old age, lack of exercise, and poor diet, ranging from heart disease and dysplasia to liver problems. Liver and cardiac issues are serious problems for these dogs, both of which may cause a golden retriever to drool excessively — certainly, more so than normal.
Liver issues, for one, can usurp energy from your furry-friend, leaving them weak and disoriented. That’s why it’s highly recommended that you take your golden retriever for a professional vet check every so often. In this case, drooling may be accompanied by unusual behavior changes, loss of appetite, and unexplained fatigue.
Poisoning
Poisoning is one of the most dangerous causes of too much drooling in golden retrievers. If you can’t seem to pinpoint any particular reason why she has been drooling a lot lately, your dog may have leaked, eaten, or otherwise ingested some sort of toxin, irritant, or poison.
The same could also be said of food poisoning, in which case they may start slowing down, become lethargic, and probably collapse if the dog is experiencing too much abdominal pain.
Gum and Dental Issues.
If your old golden retriever has been drooling a lot, the odds are that she may be suffering from some sort of gum or dental issues. Perhaps she has sustained a hit, kick, or any other injury to her jaw, neck, or the general mouth region. This usually leads to bleeding, swollen, and painful gums, which, in turn, cause her to drool more than usual.
More than that, if there’s too much tartar in your dog’s mouth, this can cause her teeth to rub against adjacent cheeks, resulting in excessive drooling. Pull her lips back in the directions of the ears to check for tartar buildup. Be on the lookout for bleeding, swelling, gum reddening, and brow decaying tooth, especially in the back of the mouth. Something may even be stuck between the dog’s teeth.
Other dental problems that can agitate the dog’s mouth and cause excessive drooling include tooth fractures, tooth decay, and gingivitis.
Is your dog too anxious?
Anxiety is another fairly common cause of drooling in canines in general. Golden retrievers are known for being more energetic and playful than other pet animals. They are also eager to please and quite intelligent while at it, which is why dog training for golden retrievers is usually a cinch.
Golden retriever’s intelligence and eager personality can be both a blessing and a curse. They’re more likely to sense when something is wrong. In some cases, they may even notice when you are going through a tough time.
Unfortunately, this can also make your dog go too anxious and panicky. They want their best friend (aka you) to be in their best state, and they won’t be happy when you aren’t. Anxiety can also kick in when a new pet has been brought in, when you move to a new place, or make any other major change.
That being said, drooling is usually a side effect of anxiety in golden retrievers (and many other animals, for that matter). You’ll probably see that your dog is more likely to drool when you’re getting ready to leave the house for school, work, and whatnot.
While anticipation for food is the primary cause of drooling, mouth cancer, stomach pain, nausea, myasthenia gravis (weakness of muscles in the mouth), and contagious diseases like rabies are other potential culprits.
Is My Dog’s Drooling Dangerous?
Drooling is a normal part of a dog’s life. Maybe your pooch suffers from separation anxiety, has a fear of thunderstorms, or suffering from a passing stomach upset. It’s also a normal response to the smell or sight of food. But can too much drooling be dangerous to your golden retriever?
In most cases, drooling is harmless, but it can be more serious if associated with a highly contagious disease. Think of rabies, which typically results in a very frothy drool. So, you should take your golden retriever to a vet immediately if she’s drooling after getting into a scratchy fight with a potentially rabid wild animal. Other potentially dangerous causes of excessive drooling include:
● Toxins: If your golden retriever has not gone through dog training, they may develop a habit of nibbling on undesirable stuff. Too bad, certain plants (e.g., poinsettias) and some medications can trigger possibly dangerous drooling mêlée — and so do snake and spider bites.
● Neurological illness: Possible causes of excessive drooling that should be checked out immediately include seizures, tetanus, botulism, and other neurological diseases.
● More than stomach upset: Drooling along with stomach pain can be a symptom of a much more serious underlying gastrointestinal illness, such as gastric ulcers, esophagus cancers, or Hiatal hernias.
● Mouth conditions: Mouth abscesses, cuts, oral tumors or ulcers, and gum disease are usually the culprit for excessive drooling. This is a telltale sign that your golden retriever is due for dental work.
How Do I Stop My Golden Retriever From Drooling Too Much?
Most cases of drooling in golden retrievers end up being anxiety-caused, food-motivated, or minor irritation. Even so, you shouldn’t leave your pooch’s comfort and health to chance. The last thing you want is to jeopardize her well-being by sweeping aside the drooling as normal.
So, how do you prevent, minimize, or stop your dog from drooling?
If a frothy, slobbering mouth is unusual for your golden retriever, it pays to take your dog to the vet for a full check-up. But that isn’t the only solution; here are other suggestions that can help when it comes to dealing with drooling:
● Stay on top of your dog’s oral health: Gum disease, injury to the mouth, gingivitis, and other dental issues can cause abnormal drooling. It may also indicate nerve damage in the brain or around the salivary gland. In either case, your dog must get proper dental work
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● Get a handle on anxiety: you may use over-the-counter medication to treat separation anxiety and reduce fearfulness. Dog training and doggie daycare may also help, as well as using distraction methods like toys, dirty laundry, etc.
● Protect your dog from overheating: Make sure your dog stays well-hydrated, provide plenty of shaded areas, and groom her often to get rid of loose fur.
● Put poisonous or toxic items out of your pet’s reach: Also, use dog training to teach commands like “leave it” so she can know what not to lick, eat, or lap.
When all is said and done, it’s best to take your golden retriever to a veterinarian if you think her drooling is abnormal. They will take a closer look and treat any problem that may be causing it.