Why Is My Pug Drooling Excessively for No Reason?

Despite their wrinkly faces and breathing difficulties, pugs are not known for excessive drooling. If there is no obvious cause, such as tasty food nearby, excessive saliva may be a symptom of a medical condition or irritant. Most explanations for drooling are fairly benign and can be treated easily by a veterinarian, but it is worth investigating some of the more serious causes to ensure the best treatment for your pug.

  1. Gum Problems

    • Pugs have voracious appetites and are prone to eating anything and everything in their path. This can lead to various problems, but excessive drooling may be caused by a foreign object becoming embedded in the dog's gums. This activates the saliva glands, which attempt to sterilize the object. If the object is sharp or deeply embedded, the best solution is to seek the advice and treatment of a professional veterinarian.

    Motion Sickness

    • Drooling, while traveling, may indicate motion sickness. Stress from being in unfamiliar surroundings, anticipating a trip to the vet or simply not being able to see the horizon can cause excessive drooling and even vomiting. If the drooling is not stress-related, try opening a window near the pug to allow fresh air to alleviate the symptoms. Make sure the dog can see the road and is facing forward and don't feed the dog, before traveling, other than maybe a couple of ginger snaps to combat the nausea.

    Bleach Poisoning

    • Ingesting household bleach is highly toxic to any dog, but pugs enjoy consuming foreign objects and liquids even more so than most breeds. Excessive drooling is a symptom of bleach poisoning and is usually accompanied by retching, vomiting and severe stomach pain. Owners who suspect bleach poisoning should contact a vet immediately.

    Rabies

    • Rabies is rare in North America, but unlucky pugs could still catch the deadly disease if bitten by a wild animal, such as a raccoon or skunk. One of the first signs of rabies is excessive drooling as the disease makes it difficult for the animal to swallow properly, thus forcing saliva to escape out of the mouth. As well as a foam-like drool, other signs of rabies are unusually irritable behavior, sensitivity to light, seizures and difficulty walking.