No one wants to keep wiping dog drool, especially for new pet keepers which brings the question of whether Border Collies drool a lot?
All dogs drool to some extent, and border collies are no exception. But while it’s completely normal to expect a lot of drool from this breed, excessive drooling may well be worth inspecting a little further.
Today you will learn:
- How to identify an excessive drooling
- Causes of your border collies drooling
- Actions to take with excessive drooling
Keep reading to take a deep dive into a Border Collies drool to better understand the reasons why drooling happens along with how Border Collies drooling measures up against other breeds.
How Much Does a Border Collie Drool In normal Conditions?
As an extremely energetic breed, your collie socializes well and will almost always be running or fetching a stick. In normal settings, you can expect a lot of drool, and more so if you offer treats when there’s a promise of food.
This moderate drooling is an anticipatory mechanism that prepares the digestive system and is necessary for your pet’s health.
Reasons, why your border collie would be drooling on a normal occasion, include;
Hungry Before Dinner
Just like waiting on those special potatoes that mom only makes at thanksgiving, Border Collies drool a lot when waiting on their next meal. Known as the Pavlov reflex, this drool can result from smelling, seeing you take out kibbles, or even watching you eat.
Also Read: >> What signs tell you that your Border Collie is hungry?
Excitement When Playing
Being excited will lead to a drooling border collie. This is another neuro-physical reaction to her favorite activities. Male and female collies in sexual heat will salivate at the sight or smell of each other.
A game session or a walk through the park will make your pet’s drool start flying.
stressed Or anxious
Although not a normal situation, drool is a sign that your dog gets distressed. In the face of aggression, such as another dog or when in an intimidating environment, your border collie can drool moderately.
A clingy breed, borders tend to develop separation anxiety when left alone.
Teething Problems
When border collie puppies are growing teeth, they’ll experience pain that makes them drool. Toothaches or any oral discomfort, in general, will make any dog drool, sometimes excessively.
How Much Drool Is a Lot of Drool?
While border collies drool, you can expect a lot less saliva than breeds with flat heads and lip conformations such as mastiffs, bloodhounds, and Saint Bernard’s.
The downside with drool is when it becomes flown all over the place when your pet shakes her head. Many dog owners learn to live with it, keeping a drool rag nearby to prevent the slobbery saliva from getting into everything else.
Excessive drool from your border can be a sign of various conditions. Without a proper examination, it can sometimes be difficult to determine the underlying cause of too much drooling.
Common causes include oral discomfort, tummy trouble, foreign body obstruction, or gastrointestinal disease.
Other causes for concern are if the drool gets accompanied by tear production and if your dog is drinking water more than usual. These can be signs that your pet is trying to dilute some form of toxicity.
What Are the Causes of Excessive Drooling For Border Collies?
A Border Collie’s excessive drooling in some instances may indicate further looking in order to rule out potential medical conditions.
A few causes behind this may be;
Excessive drooling that can get considered abnormal could be pointed to;
- Esophageal irritation, obstruction by foreign object or disease
- Stomach upset or nausea
- Fever
- Poisoning
- Dental problems
- Symptoms of rabies
Tummy Troubles
Substances that upset your border collie’s stomach may induce drooling. Nausea can result from motion sickness, which is why you may discover a lot of drool and slobber during car rides.
Stomach troubles may also develop from your dog consuming substances that should not be eaten. Toxic substances such as cleaning chemicals or poisonous plants will result in slobber or excessive drooling.
Other symptoms such as lethargy, vomiting, shaking, and tearing will also accompany such instances.
Throat and Mouth Problems
Drooling can also be a sign of your dog potentially choking or swallowing something they shouldn’t have. Saliva builds up from the problem with swallowing which leads to a build-up of slobber that must then exit through the mouth.
Sore throat, cracked teeth, or growth within the mouth are also symptoms of mouth problems.
Foreign bodies that can get caught in your dog’s mouth, such as a bone in the teeth, can cause drooling. Tartar build-up on your border collie’s teeth and under the gums can lead to sensitive, bleeding, or swollen gums.
The lack of proper oral hygiene causes canine periodontal disease, which in turn results in drooling.
Gums that are irritated or a mouth infection will lead to a slobbering Border Collie. Dental problems can be minimized with home care and regular vet visits. You can minimize the risk of dental issues by regularly brushing your dog’s teeth to reduce tartar build-ups.
Give your border collie sufficient dental chews and have periodic vet visits. Vets are able to identify drooling causes such as damaged or cracked teeth, mouth ulcers, and diseases including cancer can be checked out.
Canine Stress and Anxiety
Hypersalivation is the medical term for excessive drooling caused by psychological trauma. Your border collie could be undergoing fear, nervousness, timidity, or anxiety.
Drooling caused by stress can be easily controlled with conditioned learning. Encouraging your dog to play with other dogs and walking through familiar routes are both ways that may help to reduce your dog’s anxiety.
This video will teach you additional ways to help your dog feel more comfortable;
Saliva Gland Problems
Your dog may be drooling due to abscessed or inflamed salivary glands. Antibiotics or anti-inflammatories can get prescribed by your vet. Your border collie’s doctor can also recommend surgery as a last-resort attempt to remove problematic glands which as a result will cure excessive drooling.
The same goes for other oral conditions that will induce excessive drooling. Tonsillitis and benign tumors can get removed surgically, alleviating the drool issues.
Other Conditions That Can Cause Excessive Drooling In Border Collies
Some health conditions exist where drooling is a symptom. These include the aftermath of a seizure or heat stroke. Your border collie will be panting and drooling in an attempt to cool down. A neuromuscular condition such as botulism, tetany, or palsy will lead to excessive slobbering.
Severe conditions that share drooling as a symptom also include liver disease, rabies, and kidney disease.
It pays to keep an eye on your pet slobbering, although such conditions will be accompanied by other signs. Some situations call for emergency medical intervention, and new or increased drooling should get reported to a professional vet.
In the event that you become aware your dog is overheating, ensure that the temperature remains below 100° F and then check every hour for signs of movement.
Read Also: >> How much shedding can you expect with Border Collies?
What to Do If You Suspect Excessive Drooling
In any case, it’s difficult to determine the causes of excessive drool without a vet’s examination. Your dog’s medical history, blood work, and other screening tests can provide exhaustive answers that will help to discover successful solutions.
If attending the vet is not possible for you then taking a look yourself can be more helpful than you think. Questions to ask yourself may be:
- When was the last feed?
- Does my dog have underlying health conditions?
- Is my pup generally scared and anxious?
- Are we in a place we have never been?
- Is the weather really hot or cold?
- Have they eaten, choked, or swallowed something they shouldn’t have?
If drooling is suspected to be related to gastrointestinal discomfort or nausea, start your dog on 10 mg Pepcid AC or famotidine every 12 hours. This helps with any stomach-related underlying issues related to drooling.
You can source Pepcid AC over the counter at all pharmacies. More treatment or procedures will then depend on the results of your vet’s tests.
Saliva is an important aspect of your dog’s digestion. A little slobber will get produced once in a while in anticipation of something delicious. Disagreeable tastes, such as medication, will elicit the same reaction.
Drool isn’t something you should worry about from your collie, except when it’s excessive, unexplained, and sudden.
Read Also: >> Are Border Collies good family dogs?
Conclusion
Most often than not, drooling in your border collie is a signal of response to stimuli or stress. While food or other natural desires like excitement will have the drool flying, drooling can point to isolation or anxiety.
A pooch that feels trapped, or has abandonment issues, will be soaked in drool by the time you return home.
It’s sudden and excessive drooling that should make you book an appointment with the vet, sometimes on an emergency basis. All in all, a border collie shouldn’t normally drool that much when she’s active and healthy.
