Tooth decay, gum inflammation, tartar buildup, and oral tumors in the mouth and/or throat will cause dogs to drool more than normal. Oral and dental diseases, if they advance, can cause serious illness throughout the body and even be life-threatening in some cases.
1. Your Dog Needs or Wants Something. The most obvious reason your dog may be whining is that they need or want something from you, like food, water, or a walk. Maybe their favorite toy is stuck underneath the couch, or the cat is sleeping in their bed.
A dog that yelps without an obvious reason usually has neck or back pain. Almost all other causes of yelping show extra symptoms such as limping or a poor appetite.
Dogs sometimes howl when they're hurt or sick. If your dog starts howling or howls more than usual, take him to a veterinarian to rule out illness and injury before doing anything else.
A few common factors we see in dogs who present with excessive drooling or panting are pain, anxiety, tummy upsets and fever.
Dental problems, injury, infection, irritation of the mouth or lips or something stuck in their mouth, teeth or throat could also be to blame. Drooling can also be a sign that your dog has ingested a toxin or poison or has heatstroke.
If your dog is lethargic and drooling, it could mean they are nauseous or have ingested a toxin. It is important to check their environment to see if there is anything they could have gotten into. Drooling can progress to vomiting, which can have many causes.
Keep an eye on the inside of your dog's mouth for yellow or brown plaque deposits on his teeth or red and inflamed gums, which would indicate the need for a dental cleaning. Any sign of a foreign body or lump should lead to an immediate appointment with your veterinarian.
Metabolic acidosis occurs when the body increases its acid production, resulting in an improper pH balance in your dog's body. This can cause a dog to hyperventilate. Usually, metabolic acidosis is a side effect of a more serious condition like kidney failure or diabetes.
The yellow color could be the secretions accumulated in the throat over the night which when you spit looks yellow saliva in the morning. Just brush your teeth and clean your tongue well before sleeping and after getting up in the morning. If the saliva is foul smelling or blood streaked you need to be worried.
Anxiety and Separation Anxiety Other types of anxiety could also be the cause for why it seems like your dog's whining at night for no reason. For example, if your dog is afraid of storms, she is likely to whine during storms and may also hide or become aggressive during this time as well.
This is probably a sign that your dog wants more attention. Extra playtime and training will do wonders for correcting behavior we often as interpret as anger. You might notice other off-kilter behavior though, like a sudden shyness around people who your dog used to love or extra barking or growling.
Many dogs will pant when they experience fear, anxiety, or stress. Examples include car rides, fireworks, separation anxiety, vet visits, and other stressful events. Look at your dog's body language to help you determine if your dog is showing signs of fear or any other type of distress.
While to a human it may seem like a dog is whining for no reason, the dog is trying to telling you something. Like barking and growling, whining is a way that dogs vocalize their desires, excitement, pain, stress, and everything in between.
Learn about some common, plus some lesser-known, reasons why your dog isn't eating.