If your dog threw up and is now salivating excessively, it’s completely understandable to be concerned.
Vomiting and drooling are two alarming symptoms that, when combined, may indicate a wide range of issues—from mild digestive upset to more serious medical problems.
We outline the reasons why your dog is throwing up and drooling, what these symptoms mean, what to do at home, and when it’s time to see the vet.
Here’s Why Your Dog Threw Up and Is Now Salivating
Both vomiting in dogs and excessive salivation (drooling) are symptoms that can appear suddenly and simultaneously. When your dog throws up, it often irritates their stomach and throat. This can stimulate the salivary glands, leading to increased drooling.
In some cases, drooling even occurs before vomiting as a prelude to nausea. However, persistent or heavy drooling after throwing up might suggest something more serious.
Common Reasons Why Your Dog Threw Up and Is Now Salivating
1. Nausea and Motion Sickness
If your dog threw up and is now salivating, the root cause might simply be nausea. Just like humans, dogs experience nausea before and after vomiting.
Nausea stimulates the salivary glands, resulting in a wet mouth and sometimes foamy drool.
Motion sickness is a classic example where this occurs.
Dogs that are not used to car rides often become nauseated, vomit, and begin to drool excessively during or after the trip.
Signs of nausea in dogs include:
Licking lips repeatedly
Excessive drooling
Pacing or restlessness
Eating grass
Vomiting yellow bile or undigested food
2. Gastrointestinal Upset or Dietary Indiscretion
One of the most frequent reasons a dog vomits and then starts drooling is gastrointestinal upset, often caused by eating something they shouldn’t have.
Dogs are curious creatures and may eat spoiled food, trash, table scraps, or foreign objects.
After throwing up the offending item, your dog might drool excessively because of lingering stomach upset, residual taste, or throat irritation.
Other symptoms may include:
Diarrhea
Loss of appetite
Lethargy
Abdominal discomfort
If your dog continues to drool and vomit, it may suggest that whatever they ingested is still causing irritation or hasn’t passed yet.
Related: Dog throwing up and drooling but acting normal (Here’s why)
3. Ingesting Toxic Substances
A more serious reason your dog is throwing up and now drooling could be due to poisoning or ingestion of a harmful substance.
Certain household items, plants, human medications, or even food like chocolate, xylitol (found in sugar-free gum), or grapes can cause vomiting and hypersalivation in dogs.
If your dog has consumed something toxic, the vomiting is the body’s way of trying to get rid of the toxin.
Salivation often accompanies poisoning due to chemical irritation or neurologic effects.
Look out for additional signs such as:
Trembling or seizures
Extreme lethargy or hyperactivity
Pale gums
Labored breathing
Disorientation
Contact your vet immediately if you suspect poisoning—time is critical.
4. Oral or Dental Issues
Sometimes the problem isn’t in the stomach but the mouth.
A foreign object stuck in your dog’s mouth or throat, such as a bone shard, stick, or toy piece, can cause both vomiting and drooling.
Similarly, dental disease, gingivitis, or a tooth abscess can make a dog nauseous or reluctant to eat.
This discomfort can lead to drooling after vomiting due to the irritation and pain in the mouth.
Signs of oral problems include:
Difficulty chewing
Bad breath
Swollen or bleeding gums
Pawing at the mouth
If your dog is drooling and vomiting, and the issue seems centered in the mouth, a vet exam is essential.
Related: Old dog throwing up and drooling (Explained)
5. Foreign Object or Obstruction
A swallowed foreign object that gets stuck in the esophagus or intestine can lead to vomiting followed by drooling.
Dogs often swallow socks, toys, stones, or even corn cobs—items that can block the digestive tract.
Obstructions are extremely serious and can quickly become life-threatening.
Watch for:
Repeated vomiting with little coming out
Painful or distended abdomen
Inability to keep food or water down
Lethargy
Persistent drooling
If your dog throws up and keeps drooling, especially with signs of abdominal discomfort, go to the emergency vet right away.
6. Heatstroke or Overheating
Excessive drooling and vomiting can be early signs of heatstroke in dogs, especially during warm weather or after heavy physical activity.
Dogs cannot sweat like humans and primarily regulate body temperature through panting and drooling.
When a dog overheats, they may begin to vomit and salivate heavily as their body becomes distressed.
Other warning signs include:
Rapid panting
Bright red tongue or gums
Weakness or collapse
Elevated body temperature
Seizures (in extreme cases)
Move your dog to a cool place, offer small amounts of water, and seek immediate veterinary care.
Related: Dog throwing up, drooling and shaking (Here’s why)
7. Pancreatitis or Other Internal Conditions
Conditions like pancreatitis, liver disease, or kidney failure can trigger vomiting and drooling in dogs.
Pancreatitis, in particular, causes inflammation of the pancreas, leading to severe abdominal pain, vomiting, lethargy, and salivation.
These internal conditions often develop over time but may suddenly worsen, producing a combination of symptoms.
Other possible signs:
Loss of appetite
Diarrhea
Hunched posture
Fever
If your dog throws up and starts drooling, especially if they look unwell or in pain, don’t delay a vet visit.
What To Do if Your Dog Threw Up and Is Now Salivating
If the vomiting and salivating are mild and your dog is acting normally otherwise, you may monitor them at home for 12–24 hours. Here’s how:
Home Care Steps:
Withhold food for 8–12 hours, but offer small sips of water to prevent dehydration.
After fasting, offer bland food like boiled chicken and rice in small portions.
Keep your dog cool and calm, especially if they’re panting heavily.
Watch for foreign objects in the mouth or stool.
Avoid giving any human medications without veterinary approval.
However, seek veterinary attention immediately if your dog:
Keeps vomiting or drooling for more than a few hours
Shows signs of abdominal pain
Is lethargic, shivering, or showing neurological symptoms
May have ingested something toxic
Has other symptoms like diarrhea, fever, or loss of balance
When Is Excessive Drooling After Vomiting a Red Flag?
Excessive drooling after your dog has thrown up can be a warning sign of serious trouble if it persists or comes with other symptoms.
If your dog is drooling and vomiting repeatedly, is visibly uncomfortable, or stops eating and drinking, don’t wait.
Small dogs and puppies are especially prone to dehydration and rapid decline, while older dogs may have less resilience to illness.
Always err on the side of caution.
Key Takeaway
If your dog threw up and is now salivating, it can range from a simple upset stomach to something requiring urgent care.
Common causes include nausea, GI upset, poisoning, oral issues, heatstroke, and internal diseases.
Monitor your dog closely, offer support at home if symptoms are mild, and never hesitate to seek veterinary care if you’re unsure.
These symptoms are your dog’s way of telling you something isn’t right—and your timely response can make all the difference.