Drooling is normal for all dogs, and it might even be considered a cute trait by some pet parents as it usually indicates that the dog is feeling happy or excited.
However, with some breeds like Pit Bulls, drooling might start becoming excessive, which causes too much of a mess.
You need to know what causes your dog to drool to determine if it’s normal or it’s due to an underlying health issue that you need to
So, why do Pitbulls drool? Pitbulls drool for normal reasons like during mealtimes or when they’re emotional. They will also drool due to some health problems such as overheating, motion sickness, upset stomach, choking, oral diseases, organ diseases, and rabies. You need to determine the cause to stop the excessive drooling.
Keep reading to learn more about the reasons why your Pit Bull is drooling excessively and what you can do to stop it.
Is It Normal for Pitbulls to Drool?
It’s normal for Pit Bulls to drool, and it mainly occurs because of the way their face is shaped.
They have flat faces with short muzzles, so they tend to breathe through their mouth most of the time. This will cause them to have trouble swallowing their saliva, leading it to build up and dribble down their chins.
You’ll notice that they will drool mostly during mealtimes or when the dog has an emotional response.
However, there are times when your dog’s drooling will become more excessive than normal, which could be an indicator of an underlying health problem.
So, you need to know all reasons why your Pit Bull is drooling excessively to determine whether its behavior is normal and to ensure that it’s healthy.
9 Reasons Why Your Pit Bull Is Drooling Excessively
There are various reasons why Pit Bulls drool excessively. Let’s break them down in more detail:
During Mealtimes
Pit Bulls can be messy eaters as they tend to put their entire face into their food bowls, and they chew with their mouths open. This causes them to drool a lot as well as get food all over the place.
There’s nothing much you can do to stop your dog from drooling while eating; however, you can minimize the amount of mess by tying a baby pip around your dog’s neck and placing a sheet underneath the food bowls during mealtimes.
Emotional Response
Pit Bulls tend to get very emotional in certain situations. They will drool excessively whenever they’re having an intense emotional response, such as happiness, excitement, anxiety, or fear.
It’s very important to be aware of the situations that trigger your dog to get emotional, as the more intense the dog’s emotions are, the more excessively it will drool.
Overheating
Pit Bulls cannot really handle prolonged exposure to hot weather. They are prone to overheating as they don’t have sweat glands to help them regulate their body temperature.
When they’re overheated, they will stick their tongues out of their mouth to cool themselves off, which causes them to drool excessively.
If your dog is getting overheated, you need to help it cool it down quickly by moving it to a cooler area, wiping it down with a wet cloth, and making it drink cold water.
Motion Sickness
Pit Bulls might get motion sickness when riding in moving vehicles for extended periods of time, which often causes them to drool excessively throughout the duration of the ride.
Other symptoms of motion sickness include excessively whining and barking, licking their lips, yawning, vomiting, and staying too still.
In order to prevent your dog from getting motion sickness, it’s recommended to hold the dog throughout the ride to make it less anxious and to keep the ride as short as possible.
Upset Stomach
Pit Bulls might have an upset stomach due to digestive problems or a sudden change in their diet.
This will often cause them to drool excessively along with other symptoms such as decreased appetite, gassiness, bloating, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting,
If you notice that your dog has an upset stomach, you need to consult a vet to determine what’s causing it and what you can do to improve the dog’s diet,
Choking on a Foreign Object
Pit Bulls might try to eat small foreign objects that could get stuck in their mouth or throat, leading them to drool excessively and choke.
If your dog has anything stuck in its mouth or throat, you need to get it out immediately as it might cause the dog to choke and die.
Oral Diseases
Pit Bulls are prone to developing various oral diseases that cause them to drool excessively, such as ulcers, tartar buildup, gingivitis, tooth decay, and even tumors.
Regularly check your dog’s mouth and teeth for any sign of a problem, including swollen gums, discolored teeth, or bleeding. If you notice any of these signs, you should take your dog to a vet to determine the problem and get the appropriate treatment.
Organ Diseases
Pit Bulls are prone to develop other organ diseases that cause them to drool excessively, such as diabetes, kidney diseases, or liver diseases.
Other symptoms of these diseases include panting, severe lack of energy, decreased appetite, frequent nausea and vomiting, and discoloration in the gums.
If you notice any of these symptoms, take your dog to a vet to determine the problem and get the appropriate treatment.
Rabies
Pit Bulls might get infected with rabies which is a viral disease that causes inflammation in the brain. This disease can be fatal to the dog if it doesn’t get treated quickly.
The most obvious sign of rabies in dogs is excessive drooling. You will also notice that that drool is white with an unusual foamy consistency instead of being clear and runny.
Your dog can get infected if it gets bitten by another infected animal. So, if you notice any bite marks on your dog or any other sign of rabies, make sure to take it to a vet immediately to get the appropriate treatment.
How to Stop Your Pit Bull from Drooling Excessively?
Drooling is beyond your dog’s control, and there’s really no way you can stop it completely. However, you might be able to minimize your dog’s excessive drooling, depending on what’s causing it.
- If your dog is drooling because it’s a messy eater, you can tie a baby pip around its neck during mealtimes and place a sheet or a towel underneath its food bowls.
- If your dog is drooling because they have an intense emotional response, you need to figure out which situations trigger that response and get the dog to calm down.
- If your dog is drooling because it’s overheated, you need to help it cool down by moving it to a cooler area, wiping it down with a wet cloth, and making it drink cold water.
- If your dog is drooling because of any health problems, you need to take it to a vet immediately to determine the problem and get the appropriate treatment.
Related Questions
Do Pit Bulls Drool in Their Sleep?
Pit Bulls do drool in their sleep because of their sleeping position. They can’t breathe well through their noses, so they tend to sleep with their head to the side while keeping their mouth open to breathe better. This will cause the saliva in their mouth to build up and dribble down their chins.
What Dog Breeds Drool the Most?
Dog breeds that drool the most include Golden Retrievers, Bulldogs, Mastiffs, Boxers, Bernese Mountain Dogs, American, Bullies, Great Danes, Great Pyrenees, Bloodhounds, Basset Hounds, Coonhounds, Spaniels, and Saint Bernards. These dogs are known to drool excessively, which can cause a mess.
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