Sometimes you take your furbaby home after a walk or exercise session and observe some frothy saliva around its mouth. As we all know, dogs foaming from the mouth are often linked to canine seizure or at worst – rabies. However, they are not the only causes of mouth-foaming in dogs. Now, why else would my canine friend be foaming from its mouth? Should I be concerned when I notice thick foam around my furry friend’s mouth? What is the best course of action to take as caring pet parents? All these and more will be revealed as you continue reading.
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Why Is My Dog Foaming From The Mouth?
The possibility of dogs foaming from the mouth because of rabies is always there, however, proper vaccinations have drastically reduced the cases of dogs having rabies. There are a plethora of reasons why dogs foam in the mouth, medical reasons may not be far from the truth, but it may have absolutely nothing to do with dreaded rabies. Possible reasons include:
1. Physical Activity
The number one and most common reason why your pooch might start to foam from the mouth is as a result of vigorous physical activities which result in excessive salivating. The heavy breathing plus excess drooling can cause things to become a bit bubbly, giving your pup that semblance of foaming from the mouth. This may appear a bit yucky, especially when your pooch is the type that loves to get hugs and kisses, but it does not portend danger to their health.
2. Stress Or Anxiety
Stress or anxiety is the second likely reason for dogs foaming from the mouth. When dogs feel unsettled, they often start drooling excessively. As we know, drooling happens to be prompted by a nervous reaction. When playing, an anxious or stressed dog may start panting, and combined with drooling, this may lead to foaming. The foaming is expected to subside as the dog calms down.
3. Illness
We have seen a wide range of illnesses that may lead to dogs foaming from the mouth. Less serious among them is a stomachache. When a dog ingests something that doesn’t seem to agree with its stomach, it will try to get rid of it by any possible means, and this may include panting and spitting. If the bad taste persists and the stomachache won’t go away, the combination of drooling and panting may result in foaming from the mouth. The foaming is expected to disappear once the dog manages to get rid of the offending food item.
More serious illnesses that can lead to dogs foaming from the mouth are rabies and seizure. A dog having a seizure is likely to pant and drool excessively; this will lead to a foam build-up around its mouth. Foaming in this instance is not a serious issue, but the dog needs to visit the vet who will conduct checks to determine the underlying cause of the seizure.
It is common knowledge that the most obvious sign of rabies is foaming from the mouth in addition to erratic behaviors. Immediate veterinary attention should be sought once you suspect rabies as the cause of mouth-foaming in dogs.
4. Dental Issues
Another underlying cause of dogs foaming from the mouth can be poor dental hygiene. If a dog is experiencing pains from gingivitis or cavities, salivation and excessive drooling may occur, and this combination always leads to a build-up of foamy bubbles.
5. Poison
A dog that ingests poison will foam from the mouth while trying to get rid of it. Needless to say that this is an emergency situation; thus, if you suspect that poison is the reason your canine friend is foaming from the mouth, immediate veterinary attention is needed.
6. Trouble Swallowing
Identifying this may be a bit tricky for pet parents, but a dog that is experiencing difficulty in swallowing may start foaming from the mouth. The culprit may be something lodged at the back of the pup’s mouth or throat, like a piece of toy or stick.
7. Other Medical Reasons
Apart from seizure and rabies, there are still other medical causes of dogs foaming from the mouth. Liver or kidney disease can lead to seizures which can cause mouth foaming. Mouth foaming can be equally caused by underlying effects of epilepsy, stroke, neurological issues, or low blood pressure. Others include tumors and oral trauma (this is also known as stomatitis – a painful inflammation of the gums and mouth).
What Causes Seizures In Dogs?
Many factors can lead to seizures in dogs, they include:
- Ingestion of poison
- High or low blood pressure
- Liver disease
- Electrolyte issues
- Kidney disease
- Head injury
- Anaemia
- Stroke
- Encephalitis
- Brain cancer
Read Also:Â Pet Vaccination Schedule For Your Cats And Dogs
What To Do For A Dog Foaming From The Mouth
In cases where you suspect that a foreign object lodged in the throat is the reason for the mouth-foaming, inspect the dog’s mouth to look for the offending object and bring it out if possible. However, if you cannot manage it on your own, the vet has to be brought in immediately.
In fact, pet parents should make appointments with the vet once they notice excessive foaming from their dog’s mouth. If other alarming symptoms are observed and the dog seems to be really suffering, it should be taken to the emergency veterinarian. At the vet’s clinic, the expert will conduct checks to get to the root cause and may recommend IV fluids and other techniques to get the dog stabilized. With the dog stabilized, the vet will ask you several questions about the signs and symptoms the dog has been displaying at home; this gives the professional a clearer idea of what might be causing the mouth foaming.
The vet may decide to conduct some tests like urinalysis, blood work, and biochemistry profile; this is in a bid to acquire baseline data. These tests will provide the vet with clues and dictate his next line of action.
When To Call In The Vet
Pet parents should know exactly what to do in helpless situations like when they notice their dogs foaming from the mouth. Home remedies are not usually recommended in such cases except when you are sure that it is just an offending object lodged in the dog’s mouth, and you can easily get it out.
However, whenever you observe your canine friend foaming in the mouth, and you cannot place your hand on any reason why it is happening, your best bet is to take the ailing dog to the vet’s clinic. If it turns out that the foaming was actually caused by a serious medical problem, early diagnosis and treatment may save your beloved pup’s life. So let’s be guided.