If a dog is seen to be producing thick saliva, or to be foaming at the mouth, many people think immediately of Rabies. While thick saliva or foaming at the mouth is a symptom of Rabies, this is a disease which is actually fairly uncommon today, so please do not be alarmed if you see these symptoms in your dog.
One reason why dogs may salivate excessively is due to excitement or anxiety. For example, many dog owners claim that their pets salivate before a show, when they are experiencing a lot of tension. This is due to an overly high rate of activity in the glands within the dog's mouth which produce saliva, and should clear when the dog's heart rate reduces and the dog becomes calmer.
Excessive salivation in dogs can also occur if the dog gets too hot. Dogs left in hot cars for a period of time, or who exercise heavily, can foam at the mouth or produce thick saliva as a way of cooling themselves down. You may have noticed that your dog pants, with its tongue hanging out of its mouth. This is the dog's way of cooling itself down, and the excess saliva or foam is an aid in this procedure.
Dogs can also produce thick saliva because they have put something into their mouth which they shouldn't have. Some toads and snakes emit a gas or liquid as a defense mechanism when picked up by a predator such as a dog, and the dog will produce excess saliva as a way of clearing this unpleasant substance from its mouth, and of preventing it from entering the stomach. While the substance emitted by the toad or snake is usually harmless, you should contact your vet if your dog demonstrates any unusual symptoms or behavior within the following days.
Dogs with allergies can also produce thick saliva as part of an allergic reaction. For example, if a dog is allergic to mushrooms, and bites on, chews, or carries a mushroom in its mouth, the dog's defenses will mistake the mushroom for something deadly, and react in a way to prevent the mushroom from entering the body. The production of thick, excess saliva is a symptom of this.
One reason why dogs may salivate excessively is due to excitement or anxiety. For example, many dog owners claim that their pets salivate before a show, when they are experiencing a lot of tension. This is due to an overly high rate of activity in the glands within the dog's mouth which produce saliva, and should clear when the dog's heart rate reduces and the dog becomes calmer.
Excessive salivation in dogs can also occur if the dog gets too hot. Dogs left in hot cars for a period of time, or who exercise heavily, can foam at the mouth or produce thick saliva as a way of cooling themselves down. You may have noticed that your dog pants, with its tongue hanging out of its mouth. This is the dog's way of cooling itself down, and the excess saliva or foam is an aid in this procedure.
Dogs can also produce thick saliva because they have put something into their mouth which they shouldn't have. Some toads and snakes emit a gas or liquid as a defense mechanism when picked up by a predator such as a dog, and the dog will produce excess saliva as a way of clearing this unpleasant substance from its mouth, and of preventing it from entering the stomach. While the substance emitted by the toad or snake is usually harmless, you should contact your vet if your dog demonstrates any unusual symptoms or behavior within the following days.
Dogs with allergies can also produce thick saliva as part of an allergic reaction. For example, if a dog is allergic to mushrooms, and bites on, chews, or carries a mushroom in its mouth, the dog's defenses will mistake the mushroom for something deadly, and react in a way to prevent the mushroom from entering the body. The production of thick, excess saliva is a symptom of this.
