Why Is My Maltipoo Drooling?

Maltipoos drool moderately because of their natural lip structure and loose lips that let out accumulated saliva from the mouth.

Drooling is normal however excessive drooling can be a cause for concern and can be a sign of a serious problem.

So why is your Maltipoo drooling so much?

Let’s look at the common reasons why Maltipoo drooling occurs, the potential complications, and when to seek help.

Why Is My Maltipoo Drooling?

Excessive Maltipoo drooling can occur because of illness, excitement, esophageal obstruction, oral or dental disease, upper respiratory tract infection, heatstroke, poisoning, stress, nausea, motion sickness, allergies, and certain medications.

Why Is My Maltipoo Drooling

Possible Causes of Maltipoo Drooling

Illness

Some conditions and diseases cause a Maltipoo to drool more than usual. Conditions such as seizures, liver disease or kidney disease, rabies, infections, and bloat cause drooling.

If your Maltipoo is excessively drooling, an underlying disease or condition is likely to be the cause. 

Related: Maltipoo throwing up: Why and when to worry

Excitement

Drooling is normal in all dogs due to excitement. Excessive saliva production is triggered due to this emotion and your dog can’t help but drool.

Excitement can come from anything that makes your dog very happy such as seeing you after a long day of separation, car rides, or anticipation for food during meal times. 

Esophageal obstruction

Esophageal obstruction means a foreign material or object lodged in your Maltipoo’s throat or mouth. 

The obstruction causes difficulty in swallowing saliva which accumulates in the mouth, resulting in excessive drooling.

The obstruction can occur when a Maltipoo swallows things that they should not eat including broken toys, rocks, sticks, or bones.  

Obstructions in the mouth and throat can also be due to the growth of tumors. 

Oral and dental disease

Gum inflammation, tooth decay, tartar build-up, and oral tumors cause excessive drooling. Gingivitis and periodontal disease cause gum flare-ups

In addition to this, if your Maltipoo has a mouth injury, cuts, chipped teeth, or bruises, these can also cause drooling.

Upper respiratory tract infection

Infection of the upper respiratory tract, which is an infection of the nose, throat, and sinus, can cause drooling.

Heatstroke

In hot weather, dogs pant to create a cooling effect and cool off. During this process, a dog can overheat and suffer from heatstroke and excessive drooling also occurs.

When your dog has been in the sun for too long and lacks access to drinking water, they are likely to suffer from heatstroke.

Poisoning

Ingestion of poisons also leads to drooling which is one of the many symptoms of poisoning.

A Maltipoo may accidentally ingest poisonous substances such as plants, frogs, spiders, or household products.

Stress and Anxiety

Drooling is also a symptom of stress and anxiety. When your Maltipoo feels uncomfortable in a stressful situation, this causes stress which triggers excessive drooling.

Stress can come from being in a new environment, meeting new people or animals, or loud noises.

Related: Why is my Maltipoo breathing so fast?

Nausea

Nausea can result from eating items that they should not such as garbage, poop, or non-edible objects. 

Dogs will always explore their environment with their mouth and nose and this is bound to happen.

Maltipoo drooling will occur because of nausea which is accompanied by stomach discomfort. 

Therefore if this happens, your dog may have ingested something it should not have eaten. 

Nausea can also be a result of motion sickness which results in drooling.

Motion sickness

Maltipoos experience motion sickness when in a moving car. Motion sickness causes anxiety and nausea which causes your dog to drool excessively.

Other symptoms of motion sickness include licking or smacking of lips, constant yawning, whining, vomiting, inactivity, and uneasiness. 

Allergies

Allergic reactions cause drooling as an allergic response. Common symptoms of allergic reactions include itchy skin, sneezing, wheezing, coughing, or a runny nose or eyes.

Medication

Certain medications can also cause the production of excess saliva. If your Maltipoo is under medication and drooling occurs, this is likely to be the side effect of the medication.

Complications

Moderate drooling in a Maltipoo is normal however it can also be a symptom of life-threatening conditions or diseases.

Therefore the major complication of Maltipoo drooling is a fatal outcome, that is, death if the underlying cause is untreated.

Conditions such as kidney disease, liver disease, seizures, infections, bloat, and rabies are fatal. 

Related: Why is my Maltipoo always hungry?

When to Seek Help for Maltipoo Drooling

Some conditions that cause Maltipoo drooling may not need medical attention such as excitement, drooling after drinking water, or due to medication.

These are normal typical Maltipoo drooling and only require a drool rag to enable you to wipe their drool in these cases. 

Maltipoo drooling can also be caused by underlying health problems therefore it is also important to seek medical attention to help determine the underlying cause and rule out any illness.

Seek medical help if your Maltipoo:

  • Shows other symptoms of sickness such as weakness, fever, vomiting
  • Displays behavioral changes such as not eating, or disinterest in activities
  • Continuously drools  
  • Has an existing health condition 

Treatment

Treatment of Maltipoo drooling depends on the identified underlying cause. This can include:

  • Administration of medication for the treatment of disease
  • Removal of tumors
  • Removal of a foreign object in the mouth or throat
  • Surgery in case of bloat complications
  • Anti-anxiety medication for stress

Conclusion

A Maltipoo drooling a lot can be a cause for concern because it can be due to a serious underlying condition.

Even if your Maltipoo’s drooling may not be linked to a medical problem, seek medical attention from the veterinarian to verify the root cause.

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