Should I Worry About My Dog’s Drooling & Frequent Thirst?

First off, when your dog is frequently thirsty, there’s sure to be a medical condition behind it. Excessive drooling, frequent drinking, runny nose, or too much sleeping are symptoms of common tooth infections or several other serious diseases.

To determine the exact cause and corresponding management or medical treatment, it’s therefore best to have your dog examined by a veterinarian. Tooth infections or root abscesses are common among dogs and your vet will usually conduct an oral exam to determine if these are causing your dog’s abnormal thirst and drooling.

The same symptoms could also point to a kidney disease, especially if your dog is an old one. As dogs age, their kidneys become susceptible to damage caused by bacteria or certain toxins. In this case, excessive drooling may be caused by nausea. If your dog has a damaged kidney, expect him/her to feel crummy.

To rule this out, your vet may perform a urine exam on your dog. Another possible cause for excessive thirst and drooling in dogs is liver disease, which may also cause him/her to lose appetite or feel nauseous and lethargic. Liver disease is also common in older dogs and blood exams may be performed by your vet to detect this.

Lastly, mouth cancer may also account for your dog’s excessive thirst and drooling. Vets usually perform an oral exam to rule this out. Whatever you suspect the condition is, it’s best to consult your vet.