Have you noticed your dog is excessively drooling and she never did this before? Do you feel like she is drooling more than she should? Have her drooling habits changed significantly in a short amount of time? If any of this is true, then you may find yourself wondering what’s causing your dog to drool so much.

Reasons Why Your Dog’s Excessively Drooling in Wilmington, DE

In this article, we’ll walk you through some of the most common causes of drooling in dogs. Some of these are less serious than others, but no matter what you might think the underlying cause is, be sure to take your dog to the veterinarian in Wilmington, DE if you have any concerns about her health.

Reasons why your dog’s excessively drooling include, but aren’t limited to:

Injuries and Foreign Objects

Sometimes, dogs may injure their mouth or gums, which can lead to excessive drooling. If your dog has any type of injury in or around her mouth, this could be the cause of the drooling issue. When the injury clears up, the drooling should go back to normal as well.

Foreign objects that become lodged in your dog’s mouth can also cause this problem. Check your dog’s teeth, gums, and tongue for splinters, pieces of broken toys, or trapped pieces of kibble that could be causing the issue.

Dental Disease and Problems

Dogs with dental disease and gum disease often develop frequent drooling problems. They usually have other symptoms as well, including bad breath and visibly damaged or blackened teeth and gums. A vet in Wilmington will need to assess your dog’s dental health and ultimately treat this problem to clear it up.

Dogs may also have other dental problems not related to disease, such as a chipped or broken tooth, missing teeth, and other similar issues. In these situations, your vet can give you some suggestions for how to help, but some of these problems may not have a treatment.

Anxiety and Fear

If your dog’s drooling comes on suddenly and is in response to something that is or could be making her nervous, then the problem is likely anxiety. Dogs drool a lot when they are exceptionally anxious, such as at the vet’s office, in the car (for some dogs), or around other animals or people they don’t like.

Dogs who are afraid may also have the same response. Fireworks are a common cause of excessive drooling in dogs who are scared. If the drooling eases up when your dog relaxes once again, this is likely the cause, and it may not require veterinary intervention.

Heatstroke

Dogs who are suffering from heatstroke may start drooling as an early sign of this problem. If your dog has been exposed to high temperatures and begins drooling excessively, take her indoors to an air-conditioned space and give her plenty of fresh, cool water to prevent the problem from getting worse.

If you notice signs that your dog’s heatstroke is getting worse, take her to an emergency vet immediately. She will need treatment with IV fluids right away to prevent the heatstroke from becoming fatal, as it can quickly dehydrate dogs to severe levels.

Liver and Kidney Disease

Liver and kidney disease both cause excessive drooling as they progress. Although this may not be the first warning sign of either of these problems in your dog, it is some of the earliest. Because of this, it’s important to take your dog to the veterinarian in Wilmington for bloodwork if you notice her drooling a lot without any visible cause.

Liver and kidney disease are usually irreversible in dogs, but they can be managed. Many dogs can live a long time with a good quality of life while keeping up with appropriate management measures prescribed by the vet for both liver and kidney disease.

Oral or Nasal Tumors

Dogs who have tumors in the mouth may develop excessive drooling as a symptom. If your dog has a tumor in her mouth, you can likely see it if she will let you get a good look at her mouth. Some dogs, however, may not let their owners do this.

Nasal tumors can sometimes also cause drooling. This is less common than drooling from oral tumors, but it can still occur. You may or may not be able to visually recognize a tumor in or around your dog’s nose. For either of these problems, vet care is required to treat and manage them.

See a Vet if Your Dog’s Excessively Drooling in Wilmington, DE

Now that you’ve had a chance to read up on some of the causes of excessive drooling in dogs, you may be more prepared to talk to your dog’s vet about her drooling issue. Your vet can give you more information and guidance toward figuring out the cause and treating the issue, too.

Most of the time, excessive drooling isn’t anything to worry about, particularly if you your dog is a breed known to drool a lot. However, since it can sometimes be a sign of something more serious, you should always have your dog checked by a veterinary professional if you notice excessive drooling that lasts longer than a day or two.

If you have questions or concerns about your dog’s excessive drooling, please call us or make an appointment. At Wilmington Animal Hospital, your pet’s health is our top priority. We’ll work on finding the underlying cause of your dog’s condition and form the best plan moving forward for how to help them.

It is never easy to choose when it is time to euthanize your beloved pet. However, this choice is one of the most important parts of being a pet owner in Wilmington, and it is the last of many kindnesses you can offer your pet as well. Although it’s very difficult, it is necessary to know how to make this decision when the time is drawing near.

What to Think About When Considering Pet Euthanasia in Wilmington, DE

In this article, we will explain some of the most common ways to determine whether or not it’s time to talk about pet euthanasia.

Eating and Drinking

Pets who are no longer capable of eating as much as they used to may be nearing the end-of-life stage; however, if this is the only sign you notice, there could be another problem going on instead. Pets who show no interest at all in food, too, may be near this time.

If your pet is not interested in drinking water and refuses to try to drink even if you keep fresh, clean water near him at all times, this is often a sign that he may be unwell. Conversely, a pet that is only interested in drinking water while not eating may be suffering as well.

Playing and Interacting

If your pet is no longer able to get up and play at all, you may want to consider what his quality of life might be at this time. Older pets in Wilmington naturally may not want to play as much as younger pets, and this is normal; however, sleeping all day with no interest in toys or interacting with the rest of the family is a sign your pet may be nearing the end of his life.

When your pet is no longer doing her daily routines or being the pet she has been her whole life, this too can be a sign that she has lost quality of life.

Bathroom Habits

As pets get older, they may become more incontinent with time. This is a normal part of aging. However, at some point, pets may be so lethargic or in so much pain that they are unable or unwilling to try to go to the bathroom outdoors or in a litter box.

If your pet reaches this point, it is probably time to have this difficult discussion with your veterinarian in Wilminton, DE. Pets are not happy when they urinate or defecate in their living spaces, and your pet’s quality of life may be suffering because of this.

Pain Management

If your pet has a lot of pain due to illness, injury, or chronic health condition, he may reach a point at which his pain can no longer be managed. When his pain outweighs the ability to keep it under control through medication or other treatments, this is usually a time when many pet owners choose to discuss pet euthanasia.

Your veterinarian may be able to help you determine how much pain your pet is in. Since many pets make it difficult to tell when they are hurting, you may need professional assistance with this.

Illness Outlook

Similarly to pain management, pets with chronic or severe illnesses may reach a point when medication and treatment can no longer help. If this happens, it may be time to choose euthanasia for your pet. Your vet can, once again, help you determine when this might be the case for your pet.

Some pets suffer with long-term illnesses such as cancer for many years before reaching a point where treatment and management is no longer helping. Many pet owners in this situation choose to euthanize their pets before the illness becomes unbearable for the pet instead.

Work with Your Vet in Wilmington, DE When Discussing Pet Euthanasia

Be sure to always work with a trusted veterinarian in Wilmington when trying to make this decision. Your vet will be able to give you all the information you need to make this choice when the time comes. Although the vet can’t make the decision for you, they will often share with pet parents what they would choose given the circumstances.

If your vet believes pet euthanasia is the right course of action, you don’t have to go that route—but you should heavily consider it. Most vets are experienced in recognizing when it’s time to choose this for your beloved pet.

Your pet has been a beloved member of your family for a long time, and it is never easy to say goodbye to our furry friends. By considering the topics above, you can start working on making this tough decision. At Wilmington Animal Hospital, we understand how difficult this decision and conversation can be. Our compassionate veterinary team is here for you and will work with you on deciding what’s best for your pet.

For any questions regarding pet euthanasia or about your pet’s health in general, contact our animal hospital in Wilmington any time!

Vaccinations are a critical part of your kitten’s health and provide your fur-baby with protection against any viruses that can be debilitating and even deadly. As a rule, kitten vaccines should be given as a series of injections at specific intervals, and it’s important to be on time for those scheduled vaccinations. Generally, kitten vaccines start at six to eight weeks of age, and boosters are administered every three-four weeks until the kitten is four months old.

By the time your kitten is weaned and reaches eight weeks old, it’s important to make an appointment with your veterinarian in Wilmington, DE for an exam and vaccinations. All kittens should receive vaccines for viruses that can cause upper respiratory infections and panleukopenia, as well as for rabies.

What is a Kitten Vaccine in Wilmington, DE?

The function of a kitten vaccine is to trigger an immune response to a certain virus which can help protect your pet from future infections and diseases. A vaccine triggers the body’s immune response to produce antibodies that can battle viruses.

Keeping your kitten up-to-date on vaccines will ensure that your pets will enjoy a healthier and happier life.

Four Essential Vaccines for Kittens in Wilmington, DE

Essential, or core vaccines, can help protect your kitten from viruses such as feline distemper (panleukopenia), feline viral rhinotracheitis (feline herpesvirus), calicivirus, and rabies. The first three are included in a combination vaccine given every three to four weeks until the kitten reaches 4 months of age, and the initial rabies vaccine is usually given once between 12 to 24 weeks of age.

Your veterinarian in Wilmington may also recommend other vaccines for your cat depending on where you live and your cat’s lifestyle.

Four essential vaccines that every kitten needs include, but aren’t limited to:

Rabies

Rabies is a zoonotic disease that can be transmitted to humans and other pets and is required in most cities and states in the US, even if your cat stays exclusively indoors. Rabies is a virus that attacks the central nervous system.

Symptoms include excessive drooling, paralysis, anxiety, and ultimately death. Due to its deadly nature and capability to transfer to humans, rabies vaccines, or appropriate rabies titers (a measurement of rabies antibodies in the blood) are required in most cities and states in the US.

Your veterinarian in Wilmington uses an exclusively feline Rabies vaccination in order to prevent the formation of vaccine-associated sarcomas.

If you have any questions about the rabies vaccine and vaccine-associated sarcomas, please contact our veterinarians.

Feline Calicivirus

Feline calicivirus is a virus that is an important cause of upper respiratory infections and oral disease in cats in Wilmington and is one of the more common infectious agents in cats with a respiratory infection.

Calicivirus is highly contagious and infected cats can shed the virus in saliva or secretions from the nose or eyes.

Panleukopenia (Feline Distemper)

Feline panleukopenia, or feline distemper, is a highly contagious viral disease of cats caused by the feline parvovirus. Kittens are most severely affected by this virus.

Symptoms of feline distemper include:

• Lethargy
• Depression
• Loss of appetite
• High fever
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Nasal discharge

Cats shed the virus in their urine, stool, and nasal secretions; infection occurs when susceptible cats come in contact with these secretions, or even the fleas from infected cats.

Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis

This is an infectious disease caused by feline herpesvirus type-1, and symptoms include fever, sneezing, conjunctivitis, and rhinitis. The virus is spread to other cats via saliva and/or discharge from the eyes and nose from an infected cat.

The feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, and panleukopenia kitten vaccines often come in a combination shot (FVRCP), which is sometimes called the “distemper shot.”

Optional Kitten Vaccines in Wilmington, DE

Optional or non-core vaccines aren’t administered to every kitten, but depending on where you live and your kitten’s lifestyle, they may be recommended.

Cats in Wilmington that live outdoors are at more risk for infectious disease.  It is recommended to keep your kitten indoors until he or she is an adult.

If not kept indoors, then a non-core vaccine to discuss with your veterinarian is:

Feline Leukemia

This serious viral infection spreads through many bodily fluids like saliva, feces, urine, and milk. The vaccine is recommended for cats who spend any time outside.

Feline leukemia cannot be cured, so prevention is a priority.

Why Does My Kitten Need More Than One Vaccine in Wilmington, DE?

Vaccines given at certain ages and intervals increases the chances of stimulating active immunity in your kitten. It’s recommended to give vaccinations in the critical period that occurs after the kitten loses her mom’s passive immunity and before she is at risk of being exposed to diseases and viruses.

Giving a series of vaccines improve the chances of your kitten developing proper immunity and antibodies, and the series is needed because a single vaccination, even if effective, is not enough to stimulate the long-term active immunity. One exception to this is the rabies vaccine since one injection given at the proper age is enough to produce lasting immunity for up to a year.

To boost your kitten’s immunity through adulthood, vaccine boosters are recommended once every 1-3 years depending on lifestyle, your cat’s health, and vaccine type.

When Should We Begin Kitten Vaccines in Wilmington, DE?

Kittens should start getting their vaccines when they are 6 to 8 weeks old until they are about 16 weeks old. Then they must be repeated 1-3 years later. Kitten shots come in a series every 3 to 4 weeks, and adult cats need shots less often, usually every year or every 3 years, depending on how long a vaccine is designed to last.

At Wilmington Animal Hospital, we tailor your kitten’s vaccine schedule based on their lifestyle and needs. Your pet’s health is always our first priority, which is why we always make sure your cat is up to date and has all the necessary vaccinations they need to stay happy and healthy. For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact us today.