Joanna Wilson
You’re at the dog park with your pet, enjoying a sunny trip, when you observe a large dog coming towards you, foaming at the mouth. The first thing that comes to mind is that the dog might be infected with rabies. Of course, this is always a possibility, but canine rabies has been greatly reduced as a result of dog vaccinations. Most likely, the dog is merely hot from running around and playing. There are a lot of reasons why a dog or cat can vomit, and some of them could indicate a medical problem unrelated to rabies.
When you observe your dog foaming at the mouth, it’s usually due to hypersalivation, which is a combination of panting and salivation. However, if you notice your pet foaming at the mouth, pay attention since there are some common causes and some serious ones that require quick attention from a veterinarian.
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Table of Contents
Common Causes of Foaming
Heavy panting and foaming at the mouth are early symptoms that a dog is becoming hot during play or activity. It’s a signal that the action should come to a halt so that your hot dog may drink some water, relax, and cool off.
Anxiety, an upset stomach, motion sickness, and eating or picking up something that leaves a bad taste in the mouth, such as a toad, are all common causes of a dog or cat foaming at the mouth. Hypersalivation can be caused by drugs or an obstruction in the esophagus, such as a bone or a stick, which prevents saliva from draining.
More Serious Reasons
Foaming at the mouth might occur as a result of ingesting flea and tick treatments. Pyrethrin is an insecticide that is used in many flea and tick treatments. If your pet ingests some while grooming themselves or another pet, it can be fatal. Make sure topical flea treatment is applied between the shoulders, and don’t let your pets groom each other until the flea control is dry.
Another reason a dog or cat can be foaming at the mouth is accidental poisoning, which can be a major medical problem depending on what toxin was consumed and how much of it was ingested. Vomiting, weakness, disorientation, lack of coordination, tremors, seizures, lethargy, depressed breath, low blood pressure, pale mucous membranes, excessive thirst, irregular heartbeat, and agitation are some of the other signs of poisoning.
Poisoning can occur from a variety of indoor and outdoor plants, particularly in cats. Certain human foods and medications (including over-the-counter and prescription), alcohol, coins (particularly pennies), spring flower bulbs, household cleansers, laundry pods, sugar-free snacks containing Xylitol, and several toad species are all potential sources of accidental poisoning. Dogs and cats can be poisoned by rat or mouse poison, antifreeze, glow sticks, and the liquid from a broken snow globe. Because our pets can’t tell whether anything they eat is harmful, it’s critical for pet owners to understand the signs and symptoms of poisoning.
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Medical Reasons
Foaming at the mouth is a sign of seizure disorders in pets. Seizures could be a sign of a metabolic problem, such as kidney or liver disease.
Mouth foaming could indicate a stroke, epilepsy, low blood sugar, or a neurological problem.
Distemper affects the central nervous system, resulting in gastrointestinal discomfort and respiratory difficulties. However, not all distemper-affected pets foam at the mouth.
Dental disease, oral tumors, a tooth abscess, oral trauma, or stomatitis, a painful infection of the mouth and gums, are all health issues that can cause foaming at the mouth.
When cats are particularly happy and purring, they make foamy bubbles and drool, but foaming isn’t typical in felines. If your cat begins to drool for the first time and it’s not something she’s done before, you should be concerned, especially if she isn’t eating or acting normally.
It’s best to take your dog or cat to the vet right away if you notice your pet foaming at the mouth for no apparent cause. If the foaming is caused by a medical problem, getting a diagnosis as soon as possible will help with treatment and recovery.
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