Why does my Labrador drool?

If your Labrador has been drooling a lot recently then you might be wondering why it is happening and what you can do about it. In this post, I will show you a number of possible causes and what you can do about it.

So, why does my Labrador drool?

There are a number of possible causes. Common causes would include being too hot, anticipating food, anxiety, dental and gum problems, having something lodged in its teeth, eating or licking something poisonous and illness. 

And, what can I do to stop it?

The best thing for you to do about it will depend on the cause of its drooling. Some things that you can do are to keep it cool, to check its teeth for any foreign objects, to prevent it from eating or licking things that might be causing bad reactions and to look for other signs of abnormal behavior. If you are unsure, the best option would be to take it to a vet.

It’s important to take the time to figure out why your Labrador might be drooling excessively since it could be due something that is causing it harm. Figuring out the cause will also help you to reduce the excessive drooling much more easily.

Possible reasons for your Labrador’s excessive drooling

Below are some common reasons why Labrador drool and what would make them more likely to be the reason why yours drools.

It’s anticipating food

The reason why it has been doing it might be due to anticipating food. If your Labrador tends to drool excessively when it’s about to get food or when it sees food then it is most likely because its mouth is watering since it’s expecting (or hoping) to be eating soon.

This type of drooling isn’t very uncommon. To prevent it you can try preventing your Labrador from seeing food until it’s time for it to eat and you can try giving it food in areas where you don’t mind the excessive drooling. It might also help to get it to stay in another room when you are eating.

It’s too hot

It might also be the case that it has been doing it due to being too hot. If your Labrador’s excessive drooling has come at a time when the temperature has increased, where you live, then being too hot could be the cause.

It can be difficult for Labrador to stay cool. If it’s hot outside, where you are, then you should take measures to ensure that your Labrador is able to stay cool. To do this you can make sure that it has access to lots of water to drink, give it access to lots of shaded areas and you can groom it more regularly so that there aren’t lots of loose hairs on its fur.

Dental and gum problems

A possible cause of your Labrador’s excessive drooling could be due to having issues with its teeth or gums. It could be that tartar buildup is rubbing against its cheeks causing it to drool. You can check this by pulling its lip back towards its ear and looking for brown decaying teeth, overly red gums, swelling or bleeding.

If you think that dental issues could be causing the excessive drooling then your best option would be to take it to the vet where they will be able to inspect it more closely.

It might also be the case that it has something stuck between its teeth that is causing it to drool. You should inspect your Labrador’s teeth for any foreign objects or you can get your vet to do it.

Poison

It could be that your Labrador has eaten or licked something poisonous. If this is the case then the drooling is more likely to come suddenly and it might be accompanied with foaming in the mouth if it is more serious.

Situations, where this can occur, would be when it eats something like an insect or a plant that it shouldn’t or when it licks something like a nettle that it shouldn’t have. If you think that this could be the cause of the excessive drooling then you should take it to the vet as soon as you can.

Illness

There are also some illnesses that can cause excessive drooling. If your Labrador has been showing other symptoms of illness such as vomiting, a lack of appetite or a sudden change in its behavior then illness could be the cause. If you think that this could be the case then take your Labrador to a vet to get it looked at.

Things to look for

Below are some things to consider when trying to figure out why your Labrador has been doing it.

The first thing that you can do is to check where it is going before the drooling occurs. Perhaps it’s licking or playing with something that is causing the excessive saliva such as a poisonous insect. Maybe it’s eating things like plants that it shouldn’t.

It would also help to consider the timing of the drooling since the timing could have something to do with it. If it happens when you are away, it could be separation anxiety. If it happens after you let it outside then it could be eating the wrong things. If it happens when it gets hot then it could be due to the heat.

You should also take the time to inspect its mouth since this is a likely cause of the excessive drooling. 

Ways to deal with your Labrador’s excessive drooling

Below are some options you have when dealing with your Labrador’s drooling.

Keep it cool

If you think that the heat is a likely cause of your Labrador’s excessive drooling then you should take measures to ensure that your Labrador is able to stay cool.

To do this you can do things such as giving it access to lots of water, giving it access to lots of shade, grooming it more often you could also lower the air conditioning temperature in your house.

Reduce its access to poisonous things

Another thing that you can do is to limit its access to things that it might be eating or licking. You can do this by blocking off certain areas of your yard.

You could also try doing “leave it” training with it as shown in the video below.

Once you have been able to teach it the “leave it” command you can tell it to “leave it” when it’s about to eat, lick or drink something that it shouldn’t.

Take it to the vet

If you cannot figure out why your Labrador has been drooling a lot, it has started doing it suddenly or it seems like it could be ill, the best option would be to take it to the vet. By doing so, you should be able to get expert advice tailored towards your particular Labrador and to rule out the possibility of it being due to illness or a medical condition.