Dog drooling – when should I see a vet?

Updated 2026-09-30 · 1 sources

Based on: PDSA

Contact a vet today

This can have a serious cause – contact your vet today if any of the warning signs below apply, or if you are unsure. Possible causes include dental disease, something stuck in the mouth, mouth pain, nausea, poisoning, stress, overheating and stomach issues.

When to contact a vet What to do now

Contact a vet if you see any of this

Drooling suddenly increases or becomes continuous
Vomiting, diarrhoea or lethargy
Your dog appears distressed or in pain
You think your dog may have eaten a toxic substance or poison
You think your dog might be suffering from a GDV
You think your dog might be suffering from heatstroke

What you can do now

Contact your vet.
Note when it started, how often it happens and what else you see.
Take a photo or short video to show the vet.
Keep fresh water available.

Don't

Do not give any human medicine.
Do not wait if it gets worse.

What it can mean

Drooling is normal for dogs, but excessive drooling can indicate an underlying health problem.^[1] Possible causes include dental disease, something stuck in the mouth, nausea, poisoning, stress, overheating and stomach issues.^[1]

Other signs that can come with it

Vomiting
Diarrhoea
Lethargy
Distress or pain

Possible causes

Dental disease
Something stuck
Mouth pain
Nausea
Poisoning
Stress
Overheating
Stomach issues

What the experts say

“Some breeds, such as Mastiffs, Bulldogs, Newfoundlands, Saint Bernards and Bloodhounds seem to slobber more, because the shape of their mouth means it escapes out more easily.”
— PDSA [1]

If your pet is struggling to breathe, has collapsed, is having a seizure or can't stand up: go to the nearest vet now.

Not sure how serious it is?

OkPaw asks a few quick questions about your pet and tells you in 30 seconds whether it can wait. Free on Google Play for Android.

OkPaw is on Android now – an iPhone version is on its way.

Common questions

Is drooling normal for dogs?

Drooling is normal for dogs, but excessive drooling can indicate an underlying health problem.^[1]

What can cause excessive drooling?

Possible causes include dental disease, a foreign object in the mouth, nausea, poisoning, stress, overheating or stomach issues.^[1]

When should I contact a vet?

Contact your vet immediately if your dog's drooling suddenly increases or becomes continuous, if you notice vomiting, diarrhoea or lethargy, if your dog appears distressed or in pain, or if you think your dog may have eaten a toxic substance or poison.^[1]

Sources

PDSA

How this page was made: written with the help of AI from the sources below, then checked claim by claim against those sources. Urgency levels follow OkPaw’s fixed safety rules. It is guidance, not a diagnosis. How we write our pages

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