When a dog is sick (vomiting), drooling, and experiencing diarrhea at the same time, it’s an alarming combination.
These symptoms often appear suddenly and can point to digestive upset, infections, poisoning, or pain.
We outline the common causes of vomiting, drooling and diarrhea in dogs, what you can do at home, and when to seek veterinary help.
Table of Contents
Dog Sick Drooling and Diarrhea — Why It Happens
A dog that is sick, drooling, and has diarrhea is usually dealing with irritation or dysfunction somewhere in the digestive tract, and in many cases, nausea is involved as well. These symptoms commonly arise from eating something toxic, sudden dietary changes, gastrointestinal infections, parasites, or pain affecting the mouth or abdomen.
Sometimes, the drooling comes from nausea while the diarrhea stems from inflammation lower in the gut. In other situations, both symptoms are triggered by the same underlying cause, such as poisoning or pancreatitis.
Because several serious conditions can create this combination of symptoms, it’s important to pay attention to how quickly things develop, how your dog is behaving overall, and whether symptoms are worsening.
Dog Sick Drooling and Diarrhea — Common Causes
Dietary Indiscretion (Garbage Gut)
Dietary indiscretion is one of the most common reasons a dog becomes sick, drools excessively, and develops diarrhea. Dogs are natural scavengers, and eating spoiled food, garbage, dead animals, or unfamiliar human foods can irritate the entire digestive tract.
When the stomach becomes upset, nausea triggers hypersalivation, leading to drooling. As the irritants move into the intestines, inflammation develops, causing loose stools or watery diarrhea.
You may also notice vomiting, pacing, loud stomach gurgling, or mild abdominal discomfort.
While many cases resolve with supportive care, garbage gut can also introduce harmful bacteria or toxins, so monitoring your dog closely is essential.
Read more: Dog Sick Diarrhea and Not Eating (What it means for your dog)
Gastroenteritis
Gastroenteritis refers to inflammation of both the stomach and the intestines — a condition well-known for causing vomiting, nausea, drooling, diarrhea, and general sickness in dogs.
This often happens due to sudden diet changes, infections, parasites, stress, or even food sensitivities.
Drooling usually indicates nausea or abdominal discomfort, while diarrhea is the natural result of irritated intestines trying to clear out the inflammation.
Dogs with gastroenteritis may seem lethargic, have poor appetite, burp excessively, or drink more water than usual.
The condition can progress quickly, especially in small dogs, puppies, or seniors, making hydration a major concern.
Toxins and Poisonous Substances
Ingesting toxic plants, chemicals, medications, or human foods like xylitol, grapes, or certain cleaning products can cause intense drooling and diarrhea within minutes to hours.
Toxins irritate the mouth, stomach, and gut. This can cause dogs to drool heavily as their bodies try to flush out the harmful substance.
At the same time, toxins disrupt normal digestion, leading to rapid-onset diarrhea, vomiting, tremors, or severe lethargy.
Signs such as pawing at the mouth, collapsing, or extreme restlessness require immediate emergency treatment.
This is one of the most serious causes behind these symptoms and should always be taken seriously.
Pancreatitis
Pancreatitis — inflammation of the pancreas — is a painful condition that can make a dog extremely sick. It’s commonly triggered by eating fatty foods, table scraps, or having a sensitive digestive system.
Dogs with pancreatitis often drool because pain and nausea are overwhelming. Diarrhea develops as the irritated pancreas disrupts digestion and inflames the intestinal tract.
Other signs include vomiting, a hunched posture, a painful belly, shaking, or refusing to eat.
Pancreatitis ranges from mild to life-threatening, and untreated cases can lead to dehydration, organ damage, or shock.
Foreign Object Ingestion
If a dog swallows a toy piece, bone fragment, cloth, or other non-food item, it can cause nausea, drooling, and diarrhea as the object travels — or becomes stuck — in the digestive system.
The drooling typically comes from nausea, a natural response to obstruction or stomach irritation.
Diarrhea occurs as the intestines attempt to push the object through, sometimes causing inflammation or partial blockage.
If the object becomes lodged, other symptoms like abdominal pain, vomiting, and restlessness follow.
A complete blockage is life-threatening and requires urgent veterinary care.
Mouth Pain or Dental Problems
Dental infections, broken teeth, mouth ulcers, or something stuck between a dog’s teeth can cause intense drooling accompanied by behavioral changes.
While diarrhea might seem unrelated at first, dogs often swallow excess saliva or refuse food due to pain, which can trigger digestive upset and loose stools.
You may also notice bad breath, pawing at the mouth, blood-tinged drool, or difficulty chewing.
Mouth issues worsen quickly and can spread infection, making prompt care important.
Read more: Dog Throwing Up and Diarrhea (Is it serious?)
What to Do If Your Dog Is Sick, Drooling, and Has Diarrhea
If your dog is showing all three symptoms — sickness, drooling, and diarrhea — start by keeping them calm and restricting food for 8–12 hours to let the stomach settle (unless your dog is a small breed, puppy, or diabetic; they need more frequent meals).
Offer small amounts of water or ice cubes to prevent dehydration.
Creating a bland diet plan can help once the stomach settles. Cooked white rice with boiled chicken or turkey is gentle on the digestive tract and often helps firm up stools. Feed small, frequent portions instead of large meals.
If your dog is nauseous, drooling, and reluctant to eat, avoid giving treats, fatty foods, or anything new.
Keep a close eye on their energy levels, gum color, behavior, and how frequently they need to go outside.
You can also check the environment to see if they may have eaten something toxic, raided the trash, or chewed unfamiliar objects.
If diarrhea continues for more than a day, worsens, or includes blood or mucus, your dog needs medical attention.
Avoid giving human medications — many are dangerous or poisonous to dogs.
When to Call or Visit Your Vet
You should seek veterinary care immediately if your dog is drooling and has diarrhea and any of the following are present:
- If your dog begins vomiting repeatedly, refuses water, or appears weak, it’s time for urgent care. Vomiting combined with diarrhea can lead to dehydration extremely quickly.
- Contact a vet right away if your dog shows signs of abdominal pain, such as whining, a hunched posture, trembling, or refusing to move normally. This could indicate pancreatitis or an obstruction.
- Any sign of toxins — such as seizures, sudden collapse, pale gums, or excessive drooling with distress — warrants emergency treatment.
Dogs that ingest medications, chemicals, or poisonous foods must be evaluated quickly. - If diarrhea lasts more than 24 hours, includes blood, or your dog seems to worsen instead of improve, veterinary help is essential.
Read more: Dog Diarrhea No Other Symptoms (What it means)
Key Takeaway
When your dog is sick, drooling, and has diarrhea, it’s often a sign of digestive upset — but it can also indicate toxins, pancreatitis, or something serious.
Watching for changes in appetite, energy, and behavior helps determine how urgent the situation is.
Gentle home care may help mild cases, but ongoing symptoms, worsening behavior, or signs of pain mean it’s time to see the vet.
With quick attention and supportive care, most dogs recover well and return to their normal selves soon.