A Brain Tumor & Salivating in Dogs

Although it may seem innocent enough, excessive salivation in dogs can be a symptom of a much larger problem. If your canine friend appears to have a sudden problem controlling his saliva, it is crucial to examine possible causes of the issue; these may include seizures, a brain tumor or both.

  1. Salivating and Seizures

    • Excessive salivation is one of the primary symptoms present when a dog is having a seizure. There are four primary stages of symptoms \when a dog has a seizure. In the first stage, known as the prodome, there may be evidence of change in the dog's behavior. The second stage, the aura, includes symptoms such as salivating, restlessness, wandering, trembling and whining. In the third stage, the ictal stage, even though the dog is still salivating he may lose consciousness or experience teeth gnashing, uncontrollable urination or paralyzation. In the final stage, the post-ictal, the dog may also experience confusion, pacing and temporary blindness or deafness.

    Brain Tumor

    • For a dog experiencing seizures, this may be just the tip of the iceberg, as seizures are very often symptoms of a brain tumor. In addition to seizures, other symptoms that present in a dog with a brain tumor include weakness, head tilting, ataxia and circling. Once a brain tumor is suspected in a dog, certain measures, such as a CT scan and an MRI, are necessary to make the final diagnosis.

    Treatment Options

    • Depending on the extent of the tumor, a treatment plan will be necessary in order to determine how to proceed. If the tumor is operable, surgery may be necessary, although this can be very expensive. Radiation and chemotherapy are other treatment options that may be required. Yet another option is palliative therapy, which includes the use of phenobarbital and other anticonvulsants that work to try to control the seizures while also shrinking the tumor.

    Prognosis

    • The prognosis depends largely on the type of cancer and the stage at which the cancer is when it is identified; the type of treatment chosen can play a large role as well. For example, a dog that receives only palliative therapy has a much lower survival rate (most live only 2-4 months). Dogs that undergo surgery have a better survival rate, though it is still less than a year (6-10 months). If the surgery is followed by radiation therapy, the survival time is typically extended to 14-18 months.