Which dog breeds drool the most?

Breeds with loose jowls and heavier lips, such as many mastiff-type and hound breeds, naturally drool more than breeds with tighter mouths, simply because saliva pools and drips more easily. If this has always been true of your dog, it is normal for them rather than a new symptom.

Can dental problems cause drooling in dogs?

Yes, dental disease and mouth pain are common causes of a genuine increase in drooling, often alongside bad breath or reluctance to chew normally. A vet check of the mouth and teeth is a sensible next step if drooling has increased without an obvious other cause.

Is sudden drooling in dogs an emergency?

It can be, particularly if it is sudden, heavy, one-sided, or paired with pawing at the mouth, distress, vomiting, or signs of heatstroke. Any of those combinations is worth ringing your vet about promptly rather than waiting to see if it settles on its own.

My dog is drooling more in hot weather, is that normal?

Some increase in drooling alongside heavier panting is normal in warm weather, since dogs cool themselves mainly through panting. If it is excessive, or comes with distress, wobbliness, or collapse, that points towards heatstroke, which needs urgent veterinary attention.

Can anxiety cause a dog to drool?

Yes, nervousness around something like travel, fireworks, or a vet visit can cause a temporary burst of drooling in an otherwise healthy dog. It usually settles once the stressful situation passes, and is worth mentioning to your vet only if it becomes frequent or seems to be getting worse over time.

Why is my dog drooling?

A certain amount of drooling is completely normal for most dogs, especially around food, in hot weather, or if they are a naturally jowly breed. Sudden, excessive drooling, or drooling alongside pawing at the mouth, bad breath, or a change in behaviour, is different and worth getting checked rather than watching indefinitely.

Usually not urgent

This is common and often manageable at home — but see a vet if it persists, gets worse, or comes with other changes.

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Normal reasons dogs drool

Anticipating food is one of the most common triggers, and plenty of dogs drool the moment they smell something they want. Heat is another everyday cause, since dogs cool themselves largely through panting, and heavy panting on a warm day often comes with more saliva than usual.

Some breeds simply drool more as a feature of their anatomy, particularly those with loose jowls and heavier lips, where saliva pools and drips far more readily than in a breed with a tighter mouth. If that has always been true of your dog, it is just how they are built rather than a new symptom to worry about.

Nervousness or excitement can cause a burst of drooling too, particularly around situations like car travel, vet visits, or a stressful event such as fireworks. This kind of drooling usually settles once the situation passes and is not something to worry about if your dog is otherwise their normal self.

When drooling points to a problem

Dental disease and mouth pain are common causes of a genuine change in drooling, often alongside bad breath, reluctance to chew on one side, or pawing at the face. A stick or piece of food wedged between the teeth or across the roof of the mouth is a surprisingly common cause of sudden drooling in dogs who enjoy chewing on things outdoors. Nausea can also cause drooling, sometimes just before a dog is sick, and a foreign object or injury stuck in the mouth can produce sudden, heavy drooling on its own.

Heatstroke is a more urgent cause, particularly in hot weather or after exercise, and comes with heavy panting, drooling, and often distress or collapse. Exposure to something irritating or toxic can also cause sudden drooling, sometimes alongside pawing at the mouth or visible discomfort.

What you can check yourself

If it is safe to do so, gently look inside your dog's mouth for anything obviously stuck, a visible injury, unusually bad breath, or redness and swelling around the gums and teeth. Do not force this if your dog is distressed or resistant, since a painful mouth can make a normally gentle dog snap.

Note whether the drooling started suddenly or has built up gradually, whether it is one-sided, and whether your dog seems otherwise well, off colour, or in obvious discomfort. All of this is useful information for a vet even if you cannot spot anything yourself.

When to call the vet

Ring your vet promptly if drooling starts suddenly and heavily, if it is one-sided, if your dog is pawing at their mouth or seems distressed, or if it comes with vomiting, lethargy, or reluctance to eat. Suspected heatstroke or exposure to a toxin needs immediate attention rather than a wait-and-see approach.

A dog who has always drooled a normal amount for their breed and shows no other change is not usually cause for concern, but any genuine shift from what is normal for your own dog is worth mentioning at their next check-up at the very least.

What to do while you wait for the vet

Keep your dog calm and somewhere safe rather than trying to inspect their mouth repeatedly, particularly if they seem painful or head-shy, since a sore mouth can make even a gentle dog snap without warning. A soft towel nearby to gently wipe excess drool is fine, but do not attempt to remove anything you can see stuck unless it is loose and easy to reach.

Do not offer food, and only offer water if your dog seems otherwise alert and willing to drink normally, since a dog with something caught in their mouth or throat may struggle with swallowing. If you are at all unsure, ring your vet for advice before trying anything yourself rather than guessing.

What can help

Things we stock that owners commonly use alongside a vet’s advice — not a substitute for it.

Fast UK delivery

NanoSanitas Advanced No-Brush Dental Gel for Dogs & Cats

A brush-free dental gel for dogs and cats, formulated with silver nanoparticles and papaya extract to help reduce plaque and freshen breath.

£14.99

Beaphar No-Brush Toothgel with Enzymes for Cats & Dogs

Beaphar no-brush tooth gel for cats and dogs, with liver flavour and an enzyme formula in a 100g tube

£7.34

Beaphar Toothpaste

Beaphar liver-flavour toothpaste for cats and dogs, a 100g enzyme formula free from fluoride and xylitol

£6.20

Fast UK delivery

Absorbent Cotton Gauze Swabs for Pets – Pack of 100

Highly absorbent, low-lint cotton gauze swabs produced in clean conditions — a practical first-aid essential available in three size and ply combinations.

From£4.49

Choose options

Common questions

Which dog breeds drool the most?: Breeds with loose jowls and heavier lips, such as many mastiff-type and hound breeds, naturally drool more than breeds with tighter mouths, simply because saliva pools and drips more easily. If this has always been true of your dog, it is normal for them rather than a new symptom.
Can dental problems cause drooling in dogs?: Yes, dental disease and mouth pain are common causes of a genuine increase in drooling, often alongside bad breath or reluctance to chew normally. A vet check of the mouth and teeth is a sensible next step if drooling has increased without an obvious other cause.
Is sudden drooling in dogs an emergency?: It can be, particularly if it is sudden, heavy, one-sided, or paired with pawing at the mouth, distress, vomiting, or signs of heatstroke. Any of those combinations is worth ringing your vet about promptly rather than waiting to see if it settles on its own.
My dog is drooling more in hot weather, is that normal?: Some increase in drooling alongside heavier panting is normal in warm weather, since dogs cool themselves mainly through panting. If it is excessive, or comes with distress, wobbliness, or collapse, that points towards heatstroke, which needs urgent veterinary attention.
Can anxiety cause a dog to drool?: Yes, nervousness around something like travel, fireworks, or a vet visit can cause a temporary burst of drooling in an otherwise healthy dog. It usually settles once the stressful situation passes, and is worth mentioning to your vet only if it becomes frequent or seems to be getting worse over time.

Sources

Written against guidance published by UK veterinary and welfare organisations. Always confirm specifics with your own vet.

Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.