Vizslas were bred as hunters and pointers. They used to accompany their owners to hunt, so they usually drool while hunting. There are other reasons why Vizslas drool. Some reasons are usual, while there are some that you need to check out. Read on to find out the common reasons why your Vizsla is drooling.
Reasons Why Your Vizsla Might Be Drooling
Here are the usual reasons why your Vizsla might be drooling:
It Enhances Their Ability To Smell
Vizslas drool when they are outside with other wild animals such as birds and rabbits. They are bred to be pointers, giving them strong instincts to find and retrieve wild animals. Drooling enhances their ability to smell, which helps them find and point to wild animals.
Expecting for Food
Vizslas have an excellent appetite for food. Whenever they are expecting, smelling, and waiting for food, it’s normal for them to drool. Salivation helps them prepare their body to eat food which makes swallowing easier. It signals the stomach on food intake, and saliva also consists of enzymes helpful in breaking down food.
Strong Emotions
A stressful situation such as a fight with another dog, fireworks, or anything strange and uncomfortable may result in drooling. A new toy or playmate may trigger your Vizsla to drool. They may also start drooling when they feel excited or aroused in general.
Physical changes such as when female Vizslas are into heat may also cause drooling. This is also possible for male Vizslas when they come close to female Vizslas in heat.
Ptyalism
Salivation is a normal reaction for dogs, especially whenever they are excited or anticipating a treat. Salivation is necessary to lubricate the mouth, break down food during ingestion, and avoid tooth decay and gum diseases. But it’s another story when your Vizsla excessively drools caused by saliva overproduction, a condition called Ptyalism.
Veterinarians define Ptyalism as excessive salivation or hypersalivation in dogs. It occurs when there’s more saliva produced than the capability of the dog to swallow. It can irritate your Vizsla’s mouth and lips. There are different causes of Ptyalism in dogs. It can be because of systemic disorders, problems in their mouth or throat, or rabies. It’s necessary to rule out these conditions by consulting your Vizsla’s veterinarian.
What You Need to Observe
You should observe your Vizsla and detect if there’s an excess in salivation more than the usual or if there’s a change in his saliva consistency. If you noticed the following symptoms, seek professional help:
- Behavioral changes
- Expressing irritation around the mouth
- Change in saliva consistency; having a white and foamy consistency
- Excessive drooling, in frequency and amount
- Drooling for no reason
- Too much moisture in the lips and mouth causing inflammation
- Losing appetite or refusal to eat
- Redness in the mouth
- Vomiting, diarrhea, or other serious illness
Owners should know Ptyalism’s cause to know the right action to take, and it won’t happen again. Here is the following cause of Ptyalism in dogs you should be aware of:
- Inflammation of salivary glands
- Systemic disorders, such as kidney failure
- Mouth tumors
- Seizures
- Congenital disabilities in the mouth
- Infectious diseases such as rabies or distemper
- Poisoning
- Allergies
- Medicines
- Swollen tonsils
- Blockage or irritation of the throat
- Nausea or motion sickness
- Emotions such as stress, anxiety, or nervousness
- Injuries inside the mouth
- Irritation from an object
After knowing the symptoms and cause, the crucial thing to learn next is how to treat Ptyalism. First, cleanse your Vizsla’s mouth with an antiseptic solution and keep the mouth dry until you seek professional help. Remember to treat severe symptoms such as foaming in the mouth as an emergency because it can be a sign of food poisoning.
Foreign objects in your Vizsla’s mouth can be treated in a single visit to the veterinary clinic. Veterinarians may prescribe medications to heal wounds inside the mouth or to heal throat infections.
Medications can treat irritated salivary glands, while tonsillitis and other severe illnesses may require surgery. Salivation caused by kidney failure may require dialysis.
Conclusion
Generally, Vizslas’ reasons for drooling are similar to other dogs. Vizslas have a low tendency to drool. But when they do, it can be due to entirely normal reasons. Owners should monitor their Vizslas’ drooling behavior to determine its cause and know if there’s a need to consult with the veterinary clinic.
