In the last few hours I have noticed that my dog has been drooling excessively, especially since she never really drools. What could cause this?

• A. All these
• B. Oral ingestion of insecticides
• C. Dental disease
• D. Anxiety & nausea

Answer: (A)

Drooling in dogs can come from several different pathways, any one of which could be happening in a short time frame. Ingestion of insecticides can irritate the mouth or cause systemic toxicity that increases saliva production, leading to excess drooling. Dental disease is a very common cause of drooling because tooth pain, gum inflammation, or mouth ulcers trigger increased saliva as a protective or distress response. Anxiety and nausea also promote salivation as part of the body’s reaction to stress or stomach upset. Because each of these scenarios can lead to drooling, choosing the option that includes all of them is the best answer. If drooling is sudden and appears with other signs such as vomiting, vomiting, tremors, coughing, or if you suspect toxin exposure, contact a veterinarian or a poison control resource promptly.