Why do French Bulldogs drool so much?
All dogs drool for many different reasons… but bulldogs drool a ton!
- They get hot– Frenchies & Bulldogs in general are not good at regulating their body temperature
- Their short faces– Their adorable smushed faces can also lead to breathing issues
- Their underbites– Bulldogs’ underbites makes it tough for them to close their mouth completely… this can cause them to drool when saliva builds up
But if you notice that your dog has suddenly started drooling more than usual with no obvious cause, it could be a sign of an illness– go see your vet.
9 Reasons Your Frenchie Drools
Frenchies drool… it’s just a part of being a dog!
What even is drool?!
It’s just saliva, spit, or whatever you wanna call it.
A little bit of drool, especially around mealtimes, is completely normal, however, if you notice that your Frenchie has recently started to drool more than usual, it’s important to rule out any other medical condition that may be to blame.
- Excitement for Food
- Anxiety and Fear
- Heat Stroke
- Mouth disease & tooth decay
- Motion sickness
- Organ disease
- Poisonous plants & Other Toxins
- Injury to the mouth
- Rabies
While there are certain breeds that are known for excessive drooling, Frenchies thankfully aren’t one of them.
1. Excitement for Food
As strange as it sounds, dogs seem to drool after they get excited. They literally drool with excitement. It’s similar to when us humans salivate when we smell some delicious foods!
Dogs can also drool when they see something that excites them, like seeing their friend walking down the street while looking out the window.
Check out Ollie for some custom, human-grade dog food that won’t fail to make your Frenchie drool.!
2. Anxiety and Fear
Anxiety is a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease and is one of the more common reasons for excessive drooling in French Bulldogs.
The reason for this is similar to why your dog drools when it’s excited. Dogs drool in response to emotional stimuli.
3. Heat Stroke
Heatstroke is a serious concern for French Bulldogs, especially when in hotter climates.
If you notice any of the following symptoms along with excessive drooling, cool down your Frenchie immediately!
Symptoms of Heat Stroke
- Excessive drooling
- Heavy panting
- Frequent breaks lying down
- Fast or irregular heartbeat
If you are unable to cool down your Frenchie by using a cool, wet towel and by moving to a cooler area, take them to your local vet emergency room to prevent serious complications.
4. Mouth disease & tooth decay
Have you taken a look in your Frenchies mouth lately? (Yes, gross I know!) Excessive drooling is often caused by tartar buildup, gingivitis, mouth ulcers, and even tumors.
If possible, check your dog’s mouth for brown teeth; swollen, red, or bleeding gums; or anything else out of the ordinary. If you’re unsure of anything you see, just ask your vet next time you see them!
5. Motion sickness
Just like us humans, dogs can get motion sickness in the car.
If you’ve been noticed your Frenchie is having excessive drool while riding in the car, motion sickness may be to blame.
Symptoms of Motion Sickness
- Constant licking of the lips
- Excessive drooling
- Yawning
- Whining or crying
- Immobility or afraid to move
- Vomiting or regurgitation
Luckily, there are many treatments for a dog suffering from motion sickness.
Ginger has been shown to calm stomachs and can be given 30 minutes prior to a car ride.
Ask your vet about other treatment options for motion sickness.
6. Organ disease
If your Frenchie is sick with any disease (i.e. kidney or liver disease), they might drool more than normal.
This is why it’s so important to go to your vet for yearly checkups!
If you suspect something is up with your Frenchie’s health, see a veterinarian ASAP.
7. Poisonous plants & Other Toxins
Ingestion of poisonous plants and other toxins can cause sudden, excessive drooling. If you suspect your Frenchie has got into something poisonous, take them to the nearest emergency vet hospital immediately! These toxins can cause serious organ damage and even death!
8. Injury to the mouth
Cuts, scrapes, bites, or any other injury inside your pup’s mouth can cause excessive drooling.
Difficulty swallowing (from irritation or blockage) can also cause your dog to drool more than usual.
9. Rabies
Rabies is a deadly viral disease that causes inflammation of the brain.
The rabies virus is usually spread through a bite from an infected animal such as a bat, coyote, fox, raccoon, skunk, etc.
Your Frenchie should have a vaccine for rabies, but if they don’t and you suspect that they’ve been bitten by an infected animal, it’s crucial that you see a vet. By the time symptoms of rabies manifest, death is almost certain.
When should I take my Frenchie to the vet?
If excessive drooling symptoms arise suddenly and are severe, you should seek out veterinarian attention immediately.
It could be possible that your Frenchie has ingested some form of toxin or is suffering from another serious health condition.
How to Stop my Frenchie’s Drooling
Stopping your Frenchie’s drooling depends on what’s causing the drooling.
When your Frenchie is drooling excessively, there is usually an underlying medical condition going on.
If the drooling is new & severe, go to a vet.
If this is the case, then treatment of the issue is sure to stop all that drool!
In cases where there is no apparent physical cause for the excessive drooling, psychological factors may be to blame. Fear and anxiety can cause your Frenchie to drool more than usual. If you notice that your French Bulldog is drooling intermittently, try to take note of what could be triggering their anxiety.
Signs of anxiety in dogs are usually trembling, hiding, reduced activity, and panting.
If you notice your Frenchie is drooling when you’re about to feed them, there’s not much you can do here. They’re just excited to get some
Besides, drooling is the least of my concerns when my Frenchie is chowing down on her
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my French Bulldog drooling while sleeping?
If you’ve been noticing your Frenchie is drooling excessively while sleeping, luckily, there isn’t much to worry about.
This is usually caused by your dog’s sleeping position.
When they’re sleeping with their heads to the side, their mouth sometimes opens, causing them to drool.
I’m sure we’ve all woken up with some saliva on our pillows after a much needed night’s sleep; it’s the same thing with our dogs.
Why is my French Bulldog drooling and shaking?
- Anxiety
- Nausea
- Something serious such as poisoning, kidney disease, or neurological problems
Shaking or trembling is one of those symptoms that can be caused by a few conditions.
Anxiety
The more common, benign cause would be anxiety.
Anxiety is usually caused by something that frightens your dog such as fireworks, thunderstorms, etc.
Nausea
Shaking & drooling could be a sign that your Frenchie is nauseous.
Did they get into something they shouldn’t have? Or maybe they just can’t tolerate their food.
Something Serious
If your dog is not anxious, this drooling and shaking may be indicative of something serious. This could be caused by poisoning, kidney disease, or neurological problems.
If your dog’s drooling and shaking are not from anxiety, it’s extremely important that you take your dog to an emergency vet hospital as soon as possible.
Why is my French Bulldog drooling and vomiting?
There are a few reasons why your Frenchie would be drooling and vomiting.
The more common reasons for this would be an upset stomach or nausea. If you notice this at times where they’ve been riding in the car, motion sickness is likely the culprit.
If your Frenchie is showing other symptoms, you should see your vet as soon as possible to rule out the possibility of a more serious illness.
What dog breeds drool a lot?
While Frenchies and all other bulldogs drool, they’re nowhere close to as bad as these breeds!
- Bernese Mountain Dog
- Great Danes
- Boxers
- Black and Tan Coonhound
- Bloodhound
- Bull Terrier
- English Bulldog
- Neapolitan Mastiff
- Newfoundland
- Saint Bernard
- Schnoodle
- Sussex Spaniel
