Excessive dog drooling

Question
My sister has a Chocolet Lab she just noticed a large puddle of drool where she was laying.  Is this something that would require an emergency trip to the vet?  Any idea what would cause this?

Answer
Hi Ted!If your dog is suddenly drooling more than usual,it could be because he has a foreign object lodged in his mouth.Silver of plastic or wood are frequent causes of drippy mouths.Foreign material stimulates the salivary glands and can make a dog or cat quite drippy.You may be surprised at what you find.If you do find an object in the mouth and can't readily remove it yourself,take your pet to the vet.

Those rich leftovers may suit your palate,but they can have messy and uncomfortable effects on your dog.Drooling is one of the first signs of dietary distress.Watch what you feed your pet if you don't want a drooling or sick animal.

Even dogs that normally dry about the mouth can get somewhat drippy and queasy when riding in a car or boat.To prevent this,vets recommend feeding your pet nothing or very little for a few hours before traveling.(Giving them water is okay.)Once you're under way,opening a window or letting your pet up front can help.Taking frequent rest stops will also help keep his tummy calm.

                  FOR DOGS ONLY
If your dog is a natural drooler whose fur frequently gets a little damp,tying a bandana around his neck will help protect him.To make a bandana bib,fold a bandana in half and tie it so the triangular side covers your dog's chest.Bandanas are like fashionable bibs.A lot of show dogs wear them before they show.

Even dogs that usually drool just a little can get uncommonly wet when they're in high spirits and running around.To keep your pet (and those he comes in contact with) slobber-free,use a paper or terrycloth towel to wipe his mouth.In addition,if yuor pooch has been excitedly slobbering over another dog's head,good doggy eriquette demands that you wipe off both dogs.Friends will appreciate it if  you take a towel along when you go to the park.

The mere idea of food can make even the driest dog a veritable Niagara of enthusiastic anticipation.To keep your floors dry,you should roll out placemats when mealtime rolls around.A large placemat under your dog's bowl can help keep the place dry.

              WHEN TO SEE THE VET
Your pooch has always been a dry pet,but lately he's been dribbling so much that if the NBA doesn't draft him ,the drought-busters will.Sinse the causes of sudden drooling can range from a chipped tooth to poisoning,it's a good idea to call your vet right away.Dental problems are the most common cause of drooling in pets that don't normally salivate heavily.The cause could be  a gum infection,a loose tooth or anything that causes pain in the mouth.More serious is the risk of poisoning-from household chemicals,for example-of which drooling may be the first symtom.Drooling also may be caused by rabies or other diseases.So if your pet is suddenly drooling and not acting like his usual self,call your vet immediately.

You should ask your vet on some more advice.I hope this helps lots!Nicole.D.