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Drooling

Pug Dog Drooling

Overview

All dogs drool to some extent; however, some breeds drool more than others based partly on jaw and lip structure and partly on outside factors that influence the production of saliva. Since Pugs have compressed jaws, large and loose lips, and are prone to overheating, they tend to drool more than some other breeds.

This section will answer all of your questions about Pug dog drooling including how much is normal, the top reasons for excessive drooling, and ways to help prevent common issues that may occur when a Pug's face stays moist.

What is Saliva?

Canine saliva has a lot more going on with it than you may initially assume. While it is comprised of 95% water, the other 5% contains:

Electrolytes (helps maintain the balance of fluids in the body)

Mucus (serves to moisten air as it enters the body, traps some inhaled particles such as allergens and helps protect the body due to containing some antibodies, enzymes & proteins to help rid germs from the body)

White blood cells

Epithelial cells (this is what is accessed when extracting DNA samples)

Glycoproteins (proteins that have sugars attached to them)

Enzymes (such as amylase, which is involved in the very beginning stage of chemical digestion before the food even reaches the stomach)

Antimicrobial agents (such as lysozyme, which comes into play when dogs lick their wounds; this promotes blood clotting)

Proteins, such as histatins, which also helps a dog when tending to an injury;this promotes the migration of new skin cells

Saliva is constantly being produced via the salivary glands; it is swallowed and almost immediately replaced. This is an ongoing, never-ending process. There are some things that can trigger the salivary glands to produce more than normal (more ahead).

What is the Difference Between a Pug Having Saliva and Drooling?

Both saliva and drool are the same substance. The terms of 'saliva' and 'drool' refer not to what they are but how much there is and if it remains in the mouth or flows out of it.

If there is an overproduction of saliva and it puddles up in the folds of the lips and/or dribbles, drips or flows out of a dog's mouth, it is then referred to as drool. The Pug breed has thick lips and facial folds, so if a Pug is drooling, the liquid may puddle up in his mouth folds; whether or not it then dribbles to the floor, the fact that it accumulated to the point of leaving the mouth classifies it as drool.

In some cases, the drool that leaks out of a dog's mouth may be thicker than his normal saliva due to pooling of the mucus or a higher mucus count than normal which would lead to a thicker liquid.

Is it Normal for a Pug Dog to Drool?

Some level of drooling is completely normal for all dogs, including the Pug. And, since the Pug has rather loose and big lips, a compressed jaw, and tends to keep his mouth open when engaged in physical activity, minor drooling is completely normal. Some Pugs also drool when sleeping; while minor nighttime drooling is normal, this may also be linked to stenotic nares (pinched nostrils).

How Much Drool is Normal for a Pug?

Of course when a Pug licks their human, it's normal for that kiss to be very wet; some refer to this as 'sloppy kisses'. And it's common for a Pug to have some spittle and little bits of drool flying out of his mouth if he's running or otherwise engaging in exercise. When the mouth stays open, more drool can spill out, so some drooling during hot weather is expected as well, though excess saliva can be a warning sign of overheating and should not be ignored (more ahead).

Also, it really is true that some dogs drool in anticipation of food, either seeing it being prepared or hearing the sounds of preparation. Really enthusiastic Pugs may drool a bit just hearing the words 'Dinner time' or another term that lets them know that food is on its way.

In addition, the salivary glands, which produce saliva and thus lead to drooling, can be triggered by excitement; so it's not uncommon for a Pug to drool a bit more than normal if he is really excited by something.

In general, minor to moderate drooling that happens occasionally is no reason for concern.

And, it is normal for a Pug's face to be a bit damp from drool; however, this is something that should be routinely tended to to prevent common issues seen when skin folds remain wet including skin yeast or fungi infections. Details are ahead under 'Hygiene for Drooling Pugs'.

Excessive Drooling

If there is an overflow of saliva (an excessive amount being produced to the point that it dribbles or drops from the mouth), this is referred to as ptyalism or hypersalivation.

It's a good idea to take note of what is normal for your particular Pug in regard to drool, so that it is clear to you if there is a sudden increase. In some cases, this can be a minor issue, but in others it can be a serious red flag of an emergency situation.

Signs of excessive drooling include bubbles of spit foaming all around the mouth, large streaks of drool hanging down or falling from the mouth, and enough drool that the chin is soaked or there is a puddle under the Pug's head.

Common Reasons for Excessive Drooling with Pug Dogs & Remedies

Motion sickness - Drooling when traveling in a car or via other transportation is very common with dogs and is one of the top signs of motion sickness. There are other signs as well that may or may not be present including vomiting, restlessness, and whining.

This sort of drooling should not be ignored since it is a clear indication that a dog is under some level of duress. And, fortunately, there are several things you can do to resolve this.

1. Let one hour pass between a meal and being placed in the car.

2. But, do offer a small dry snack 15 to 20 minutes before heading out.

3. A small bit of sugar before the car trip can help keep the tummy calm. This can be a small jelly bean, a few pieces of a children's sugary cereal or just a pinch of plain table sugar.

4. Place your Pug in a canine car seat, preferably a raised booster seat. This helps in two ways. First, it helps stop a Pug's body from swaying around with each deceleration, acceleration, and turn. Second, it helps keep a Pug raised up high to comfortably see out of the windows and feel the fresh air rushing in from a partially opened window.

5. For long car rides, take a break very 20 minutes or so. The goal is to give your Pug a respite from driving before they get sick. Stop in a safe area and bring your Pug out on leash and harness to relieve themselves, stretch their legs, have a drink and a small dry snack, and essentially 'reset' before being placed back in the car.

Heavy breathing - The deeper a dog breathes and the more he pants, the more the mouth stays hanging open. This leads to saliva dripping out of the mouth as opposed to being swallowed. Brachycephalic breeds like the Pug tend to breath heavier than other dogs when active or during warm/hot weather.

So, some level of drooling during exercise or when outside in the summer is normal and expected for Pugs. But, it is important to know what is normal for your particular Pug since panting and thick saliva are also warning signs of overheating which can lead to heat stress or stroke (see next).

Another issue to take note of is breathing issues that cause coughing or gasping which may be linked to brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS), a disorder seen mainly with breeds like the Pug that have compressed jaws and skulls.

If your Pug does drool a bit when taken for their walks or during daily exercise sessions, be sure to keep the area as clean and dry as possible to help prevent fungi or yeast skin infections; details are ahead under 'Hygiene for a Drooling Pug'.

Overheating - Excessive drooling while exercising or simply while outside, particularly on warm or hot summer days, should be monitored since it can point to overheating, an issue not uncommon with brachycephalic breeds like the Pug.

Overheating can quickly lead to heat stress (dog’s body temperature rises to 103 F [39.4 C]) or heat stoke (dog’s body temperature reaches 106 F [41.1 C] or higher) and includes one, some, or all of the following signs:

Rapid panting
Bright red tongue
Red or pale gums
Thick, gooey saliva
Lethargy
Dizziness
Confused behavior
Vomiting - sometimes with blood
Diarrhea

if not treated for this, a dog may slip into a coma and death may occur.

If your Pug is drooling a lot and you believe that it may be due to overheating, you will immediately want to bring him to a cooler area. If you can, go into an air-conditioned building or house. If you cannot reach one, find shade. Offer cool water, but do not let your Pug lap it up too fast.

If there are still signs of distress, it's a good idea to get a reading of body temperature to help assess things. With a normal temp of 101.5 F, 103 F is considered a moderate sign of overheating and 106 F is considered an emergency.

If your Pug's temp is indeed too high, call the veterinarian. Most will advise taking immediate steps to stabilize a dog before he is transported to the clinic. This is usually done by placing cool wet towels over the body (not ice) and using fans to circulate the air.

Teething - It is common for Pug puppies to drool if they are in the teething phase which can begin as young as 3.5 months old and last until the 6 to 7 month mark. Drooling related to teething is often minor to moderate and will resolve once all of the adult teeth have emerged. Severe drooling is not typically common and should be reported to the veterinarian even if the pup is clearly teething.

You can help keep your teething puppy happy by offering lots of satisfying teething toys and chews. Twisted ropes like those found in the Teething Rope Toy Set by Alvi & Remi that are wet and then placed in the freezer for at least an hour can offer lots of cooling relief and a texture that 'scratches' itchy gums.

And, something like the Nylabone Puppy Beef Chew Toy has lots of nubs and ridges that feel good to teething pups plus beef flavoring throughout the toy to entice a puppy to chew on it is always a good choice.

Since drooling during teething usually means months of a Pug's chin and neck being wet, it's important to routinely tend to the area to keep it clean and prevent skin fungi or yeast infections. More details are ahead under 'Hygiene for a Drooling Pug'.

Queasy stomach - Though riding in the car (see previous) and poisoning (in the bullet points ahead for less common reasons for drooling) are linked to a queasy stomach, there are other acute causes. For Pugs, the most common triggers include eating eating the wrong food (high in fat, grease, etc.) or spoiled food (sneaking food from the trash can, etc.). Acute viral 'stomach bugs' is also a possibility.

Help prevent this by keeping forbidden foods out of reach and securely locking trash cans that your Pug may be able to reach into or tip over. Advise all household members and guests what your Pug is and is not allowed to eat.

Minor issues of a queasy stomach with drooling may be helped by offering a dry biscuit or cracker. Cases that spiral into vomiting and/or diarrhea will need to be treated with more serious steps such as withholding food for 24 hours and working to prevent dehydration.

Other, Less Common Reasons for Heavy Drooling

There are other less common but possible reasons why a Pug may suddenly start drooling or have a marked increase in drooling including:

Dental issues and/or disease (abscess tooth, gingivitis, periodontal disease)
Upper respiratory infection
Kidney disease
Tumor
Salivary gland cyst
Foreign body in the mouth or esophagus
Hiatal hernia
Gastric ulcer
Neurological disorders
Reaction to a medication
Poisoning

If a Pug Drools a Lot at Night

Many Pugs drool to some degree while they are sleeping; but, there are some elements to take note of.

Minor drooling is normal and is usually just due to a Pug's mouth being slack and open during deep sleep. Instead of excess saliva being swallowed, it pools in the mouth and eventually drips out and soaks into the dog bed or other sleeping surface. If your Pug's bed is getting drenched from drool, you can place something under his head to catch this; this can be a small dish towel or even cut sections of puppy training pads which are very absorbent.

Monitor your Pug for other possible signs aside from drooling which may point to a more serious issue. This includes heavy snoring, gasping while sleeping, wheezing noises, and sleep apnea (short episodes when breathing stops). Any of these symptoms should be reported to the veterinarian.

Hygiene for a Drooling Pug

Any area of a dog's body that continually stays moist or wet is vulnerable to developing a skin yeast or fungi infection. For Pugs, top areas of concern are the facial wrinkles, armpits, and genital area; though, if a Pug tends to drool a lot, the outer lips folds and the chin are open to this as well.

Signs of a yeast or fungi skin infection include raw, red, or irritated skin, rash, itching, and/or an odd odor.

You can help prevent this sort of issue with your Pug by keeping the areas that get wet with drool as clean as possible. Just as you should be doing in regard to the facial wrinkles, wipe the face and chin with a gentle grooming wipe like Earthbath All-Natural Fragrance Free Wipes several times per day, taking your time to swipe down into any skin folds.

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