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It’s completely normal for australian shepherds to drool, but you might be noticing sometimes your aussie is excessively drooling. What’s the reason for this?
Is it normal for australian shepherds to drool a lot sometimes or is something wrong?
Why Do Australian Shepherds Drool:
Australian shepherds will drool more than usual when they’re anticipating something. This could be one of their favorite treats or the dinner they’ve waited patiently for. If their drooling is excessive it could be anxiety, an oral health issue or if they ate something they shouldn’t have.
In this post you’ll discover:
- 9 reasons why australian shepherds drool more than usual
- When your aussies drooling is something to worry about
- 4 tips to help stop australian shepherds from drooling too much (Tip #2 can help in many situations!)
- And much, much more
Let’s jump right in.
Table of Contents
9 Reasons Why Australian Shepherds Drool More Than Usual
1) Anticipation
When your australian shepherd is anticipating that you’re about to feed them they may start to drool more than usual.
Salivating is completely normal if they’re about to eat something when they’re hungry or when they’re about to eat something they really enjoy.
Even people salivate when thinking about food they’re really looking forward to eating later or smelling something they really enjoy.
So when your aussie smells a favorite treat of theirs, is patiently waiting for you to put more food in their bowl, or when you’re about to share some table scraps it’s normal to see them drool more.
2) Upset Stomach Or Nausea
If you notice that your australian shepherd is drooling a lot and also vomiting, pacing or panting, then it could be a sign of an upset stomach or nausea.
An upset stomach can come from motion sickness, stress, eating something that doesn’t agree with them or sometimes more severe health issues.
It’s important to pay attention to any other symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy or changes in appetite along with excessive salivation.
This is because it may be a signal that they need medical attention.
If your australian shepherd is drooling excessively and it’s not related to food then you should take them to the veterinarian ASAP.
3) Anxiety
Whenever your aussie does something to an excessive extent it can be a sign they’ve developed higher than usual levels of anxiety.
Things like excessively pacing, barking, howling, licking, whining or drooling.
Anxiety can be caused by many things such as being left alone, changes in routine, loud noises or unfamiliar environments.
If your aussie is drooling excessively and you can’t seem to pinpoint an obvious reason then it’s possible they’re experiencing anxiety which is causing them to salivate more than usual.
In these cases it’s important to pay attention to other signs of anxiety such as pacing, panting, whining or barking.
It may also be helpful for you to think about what might have happened recently that could have caused them added stress or anxiety.
This way you can better help them or try not to do it again in the future if possible.
If their anxiety is more pronounced when you leave they may have separation anxiety.
Which requires structure and training to help them overcome these negative feelings.
Related Reading: Australian Shepherd Anxiety: Symptoms, Causes & Solutions
4) Oral Health Issues
One of the most common reasons why an australian shepherd will drool excessively is if they have oral health issues.
Dental problems such as tartar buildup, gum disease, tooth decay or fractured teeth can all lead to excessive salivation.
And unfortunately, studies have shown that roughly 90% of all dogs will experience some form of periodontal (gum) disease by the age of 2.
If your australian shepherd is drooling more than usual and you haven’t been able to pinpoint a specific reason then it’s possible that they’re experiencing some oral health problems.
In this case you’d want to take them to the veterinarian for a check-up so they can determine what might be wrong and how to best treat it.
5) Toxins
If your australian shepherd is drooling excessively it’s possible they’ve been exposed to some toxins.
Toxins can come from many different sources such as plants, foods, household cleaners or even insecticides.
Some of the most common signs of toxicity in dogs include excessive salivation, vomiting and diarrhea.
If your aussie is drooling excessively it may be worth checking around to make sure they haven’t gotten into anything toxic while you weren’t looking.
It’s also important to pay attention to other potential symptoms of toxicity such as vomiting or diarrhea because these could indicate a more serious problem.
If you suspect that your aussie has been exposed to any type of toxin then it’s important for them to see the veterinarian.
6) Heat Exhaustion/Stroke
Another potential reason why your australian shepherd might be drooling excessively is because they’re experiencing heat exhaustion or a stroke.
Dogs can suffer from either of these conditions when it’s hot outside and they’re not used to being in the heat for extended periods of time.
It’s important to keep an eye on your aussie when it’s hot outside.
This way you can bring them inside if they’re showing any signs of heat exhaustion or stroke.
Many dogs aren’t the best at knowing their limits when it’s hot outside so you have to be their voice of reason.
If your australian shepherd is drooling excessively during the summer months then it may be a good idea to limit their time spent outdoors.
7) Foreign Objects Stuck
If your australian shepherd has a foreign object stuck in their mouth or throat this could absolutely cause them to drool more than usual.
Dogs are notorious for getting into things that they shouldn’t and sometimes this leads to them having objects lodged between their teeth or stuck somewhere else within their mouth.
It’s also important to pay attention to other potential symptoms such as pawing or rubbing at their face, gagging or coughing, whining or barking excessively and even vomiting.
If you suspect your australian shepherd has a foreign object stuck in their mouth then it’s important to take them to see the vet.
The sooner they can get it removed the better because if left untreated these objects could cause permanent damage.
8) Rabies
Unfortunately, while not super common, dogs can get rabies and this is another potential reason why your aussie might be drooling excessively.
In most cases, your pup would have had to come in contact with another animal’s saliva that had rabies in order to get it.
It affects their nervous system which causes increased salivation.
It’s important to note that not all symptoms of rabies are the same for every dog.
But, some common signs include fever, seizures and paralysis of the throat muscles which could lead to excessive salivation (amongst other things).
9) Potential Health Issue
If your australian shepherd has been drooling excessively for an extended period of time and you can’t seem to find the reason why then it’s possible they may have an underlying health issue.
Infections in their throat, sinus or nose could make them drool more or even serious conditions like kidney or liver disease are possibilities as well.
If you notice other behavioral changes in addition to their excessive drooling it’s a good idea to have a vet take a look at them.
4 Tips To Help With Australian Shepherd Drooling
1) Improve Dental Hygiene
One of the best ways to help reduce your australian shepherd’s drooling is to improve their dental hygiene.
This can be done by brushing their teeth regularly (at least once a week) and/or giving them chew toys that will help clean their teeth.
In many cases, creating a simple tooth brushing routine can prevent many, if not all, cases of periodontal (gum) disease.
It’s also important to get into the habit of checking their teeth regularly for any issues such as redness, swelling or pus.
This can help identify potential problems before they become too serious and/or painful for your aussie.
2) More Preparation
If your australian shepherd drools excessively when they’re anxious or stressed then you may be able to help reduce this by preparing them more for things that make them nervous.
For example, if you know they get carsick easily then take them on short car rides before longer ones and gradually increase their time spent in the car.
You can also try bringing along their favorite toys, playing some soothing music or giving them some good exercise beforehand.
These things can help in other situations as well outside of car rides if your aussie gets anxious in other scenarios.
3) Keep Potentially Dangerous Items Out Of Reach
Whether it’s small items that can get lodged in their throat or potentially poisonous items, do your best to keep them out of your pup’s reach.
Start building the habit of putting things up in high places that your aussie can’t get to or keeping certain items in cupboards.
Out of sight = out of mind.
You can also use baby gates to keep them out of certain rooms or to keep them in their own room during the night.
This way they don’t accidentally get into any trouble while you’re sleeping.
4) Have a Vet Take a Look
If you’re concerned about why your australian shepherd drools so much, have a vet take a look.
They may be able to give you some advice, give them the help they need, or refer you to another specialist if they think there’s something else going on that needs further investigation.
Other posts you might find interesting:
8 Best Dog Beds for Australian Shepherds | Beds That Last
11 Reasons Australian Shepherds Shake, Shiver & Tremble
11 Reasons Why Australian Shepherds Are So Needy & Clingy
9 Reasons Australian Shepherds Eat Poop + How To Stop It
Sources:
Periodontal (Gum) Disease in Dogs
Why Do Dogs Drool? When It’s Natural and When It’s Cause for Concern