Drooling in a French Mastiff

Cause for Drooling

• This breed drools because of the structure of the mouth. The lower lip is too loose to keep the saliva within the mouth and direct it into the throat. Hence, the saliva accumulates in the mouth and tends to overflow. When the dog eats, the body responds by producing more saliva, which helps to lubricate the food as it passes from the mouth into the esophagus. Furthermore, the saliva contains enzymes that help in digestion of food. Hence, when French mastiffs finish eating, they have abundance of saliva in the mouth leading to drooling. The same also occurs when the dogs drink water.

Surgical Intervention

• According to a veterinary surgeon in New South Wales, Dr Andrew Marchevsky, as reported on the website Dogs Life, a surgical procedure known as cheiloplasty can rectify the drooling in breeds such as the French mastiff. The surgery involves stitching the bottom lip to a little pocket created in the upper lip. This keeps the saliva inside the mouth, but ends up giving the dog a permanent smile.

  Another option is to surgically remove some of the salivary glands or tie them up, so that they cannot produce saliva. This helps to reduce the amount of saliva produced. This surgical option is best suited for dogs where the drooling causes dermatitis or infections.

Is a French Mastiff Right For You?

• If you can tolerate the drooling, this breed makes an excellent guard dog without the associated aggressiveness. It is affectionate, patient and calm and loves to be with its family. While the breed is a little difficult to train, and requires obedience training as a pup, it will adore you with all its heart. A French mastiff also requires moderate exercise every day, otherwise it can get bored, which may lead to problematic behavior, such as chewing things in the house. It is also patient and affectionate with children, but given its size, it is best not to leave the dog alone with small children, as even a small collision can result in injuries to the child.

Grooming

• The French mastiff requires brushing once a week to ensure that shedding occurs minimally. Bathe the dog every 10 to 15 days to prevent it from getting a doggy odor. Keep the ears clean to prevent build-up of yeast, and also wipe the eyes several times a day to prevent matter from accumulating at the inside corner of the eye or getting cherry eyes.

Health Issues

• The French mastiff breed is prone to several diseases, such as bloat, obesity, osteoarthritis, hip dysplasia, bone cancer, hypothyroidism, nephritis, degenerative joint disease and epilepsy. Check the genetic line with the breeder before getting your puppy. Speak to the breeder about any health issues that may be a cause of concern as your French mastiff is growing up. Of course, be prepared to handle the drooling. There is no escaping that!