Excessive drooling is a common concern for many Leonberger owners, as this large breed is known to be prone to slobbering. So how much do Leonbergers drool?
Typically, the drooling tendency of Leonbergers is lower than most other dog breeds. However, that does not mean that they do not drool. Your pet will do this in specific cases, such as when happy or stressed. Some Leonbergers with loose lips also drool excessively.
Besides that, Leonbergers can also drool because of medical reasons. If you want to learn more about this breed and its drooling habits, you’re in the right place.
Why Do Leonbergers Drool?
Here are the top reasons that will help you understand the different situations that result in the Leonbergers’ drool:
Happy
One of the top reasons you may see your Leonberger drooling is when it is happy. The dog may be feeling the emotion because of being well-loved or engaging in physical activity.
So be sure to observe your Leonberger after it has engaged in athletic activities.
Excited
Another reason your Leonberger may be drooling is due to being excited about something.
For example, the pet may have noticed the smell of its favorite food. After all, dogs have a 10,000 to 100,000 times more sensitive sense of smell than humans.
The sheer excitement of family outings is another reason why Leonbergers can be heavy droolers.
There have been countless times when we’ve taken ours to the dog park and noticed puddles of saliva in the back seat upon arrival!
After Exercise
This breed loves to exercise, and generally has lots of energy. A typical rule of thumb is to provide them with an hour of exercise each day.
Especially after a good run or play session, they will often drool quite a bit. While some people may find this off-putting, it’s just part of owning a Leonberger.
If you can handle the drool, then this breed is definitely for you!
Left Alone
Leonbergers do not just drool when they are happy. They also perform this action when they have been left alone.
So be sure to notice your pet thoroughly if you have made it upset. Typically, this breed’s drooling tendency is low, but it will still be noticeable.
After drinking
Leonbergers are known to be messy drinkers and will often drool all over the place while they are drinking.
This can be a problem if you have hardwood floors or carpeting in your home. You may want to consider using a mat or towel under your Leonberger’s water bowl to help keep your floor clean.
Scared
Known as gentle giants, Leonbergers do not face much fear when in a well-loved environment. However, your pet may experience a sudden change if a predator enters the home.
The dog may also be scared because of your love for another pet. In such a case, you may see your Leonberger drooling.
When They Are Stressed
One of the top reasons many dogs drool excessively is when stressed. Your Leonberger may engage in unhealthy drooling if physically or mentally stressed.
The pet can experience stress when encountering an aggressive dog, noisy environment, and much more.
When They Are in Heat
Dogs experience heat stages upon reaching sexual maturity. Typically, female Leonbergers drool when in this condition.
However, males can also experience the same. Usually, dogs will be in the heat every six months and stay in this state for about three weeks.
Dental Problems
Dental issues are more prevalent in middle-aged and senior Leonbergers than young members. Issues such as gingivitis can cause your dog to perform drooling.
This may be excessive depending on the severity of the dental problem. The drool may also contain blood if the condition is severe.
Allergic Reaction
Has your Leonberger had an allergic reaction to a food ingredient or fabric material? If so, you must be cautious about these things.
Be sure to watch out for the relevant allergens when your Leonberger is drooling.
Nausea
Have you ever felt nauseous in the morning or after eating? If so, you would know that large amounts of saliva can build up in the mouth.
Not only that, but you may experience bad taste. Leonbergers also face this, but the severity is heightened in dogs.
Do Leonbergers Drool a Lot When Eating?
Typically, Leonbergers do not drool much even though they belong to a large dog breed.
So you may not see your pet performing this action as often as you may think. Of course, the dog may drool if happy or excited because of the food smell.
However, you must note that some Leonbergers have loose lips because of genetic and other reasons. Such a pet is most likely to drool when eating any food item.
Not only that, but your Leonberger will also messily drink if it has loose lips. This is because such dogs slobber when having edible items.
Do Leonbergers Drool Excessively During Teething?
The top thing you should remember is that Leonbergers start teething when they are four months old.
This condition can cause them to be in a lot of pain because their gums hurt. Teething can also lead to your Leonberger being anxious at times.
So you are most likely to observe excessive drooling when your Leonberger puppy is teething.
The good news is that you can notice this quickly because of the saliva coming out of the mouth. Besides that, you should expect the drooling to increase as teething progress because of pain.
Do Leonbergers Drool More Than Other Giant Dog Breeds?
The drool tendency of Leonbergers is low because they have lips that are closer together than most other giant dog breeds. Of course, dogs with loose lips naturally drool a bit more than the rest.
Large dogs such as Great Dane, Saint Bernard, and Bullmastiff drool more than Leonbergers. You will see saliva coming out of the mouth of these dogs almost all the time because of loose lips.
Meanwhile, Leonbergers drool in specific conditions only. For instance, the dog may drool when upset or excited.
How Do You Stop a Leonberger from Excessively Drooling?
Your Leonberger may drool excessively because of various reasons, such as stress.
The good news is that you can prevent your pet from engaging in this habit. Here are some things that will help you stop your Leonberger from drooling excessively.
Establish Whether It Is Behavioral or Medical in Origin
A key thing you must first do is identify whether your Leonberger is drooling because of a behavioral or medical issue.
For instance, your young or senior pet may be drooling because it is in heat. Besides that, the dog may also be suffering from medical issues such as an infection.
Once you understand the cause of excessive drooling, you can easily tackle it. For instance, you will have to wait until the dog’s heat period is over for your pet to stop drooling.
You can also make some environmental changes because of behavioral causes.
Meanwhile, you must take your Leonberger to a vet if the drooling is because of a medical issue. The physician will prescribe some medications to help get rid of the problem.
Once the issue goes away, your Leonberger will return to its regular low drooling habits.
Identify How Severe the Drool Is
Another key thing that will help you prevent drooling is understanding its severity.
For instance, is your Leonberger doing this action every day or at specific times? Besides that, you should also know if the drooling is high, moderate, or low.
Typically, Leonbergers have a low drooling tendency because of close lips. However, there could be something wrong if your pet is drooling excessively.
If this is the case, it is best to take your dog to a vet. You can also diagnose the cause yourself by observing your Leonberger.
Make Sure Your Leonberger Is Getting Enough Fluids
The top thing you should note is that Leonbergers can also excessively drool when suffering from a heatstroke.
This can happen if you live in a city or town with extreme weather during the summer season. So if you reside in a hot region, be sure to keep your Leonberger in a cool environment indoors.
Besides that, you should also ensure your Leonberger is getting adequate fluids at all times.
This will prevent the dog from suffering from heatstroke and help it avoid excessive drooling. Liquids will also help if your pet is drooling because of thirst or engaging in high physical activity.
Examine Their Diet and Modify as Required
Diet plays an integral role in the drooling habits of your Leonberger. This is because the food you are feeding your pet may be causing an allergic reaction. Typically, the dog will drool excessively because of this.
Apart from that, your Leonberger may also drool if it is not getting the proper nutrients. This will prevent your dog from meeting its energy needs which may cause it to become tired quickly after activities.
So you must maintain a good diet to stop your Leonberger from drooling because of this reason.
Consider Dietary Supplements If the Problem Continues
If dietary reasons are causing excessive drooling, the habit will go away once you modify your pet’s diet. However, sometimes this may not happen because of high nutrition needs.
Not only that, but your Leonberger may also be suffering because of a deficiency.
The good news is that dietary supplements can go a long way to prevent your Leonberger from drooling excessively.
Typically, you should get a physical check-up of your dog to learn about the deficiency. The vet can also provide you with safe supplement suggestions.
Consult Your Vet If You Are Concerned
Typically, your Leonberger may be drooling because of behavioral and environmental reasons. So you can resolve the issues by making the necessary changes in your dog’s life.
Of course, you may also be more concerned about medical problems because of high attachment.
If you are concerned about excessive drooling, you can consult your vet for guidance.
The physician can do a complete check-up and run tests to diagnose your pet. A vet may also give you medications for decreasing the drooling habits to normal.
Final thoughts
The key takeaway is that the Leonberger breed has fairly low drooling habits. So you will not see saliva coming out of your pet’s mouth all the time.
Besides that, you can take the earlier-mentioned precautions to prevent your Leonberger from drooling excessively. The main thing that will help is to take notes of your dog’s environment and mood when it drools.
