A horse might drool for many reasons, ranging from simple excitement or normal eating habits to serious health problems. If your horse is suddenly drooling a lot, especially if it is thick or smelly, it needs a check.
Causes of Horse Slobbering: More Than Just Water
Most people think horse drooling is just excess water. Sometimes, it is. A horse produces lots of spit, called saliva, every day. This spit helps them chew and swallow food. But when you see horse excessive drooling, it means something is causing too much spit or trouble getting rid of it. Let’s look closely at the main causes of horse slobbering.
Normal Drooling in Horses
Sometimes, drooling is totally normal.
- Anticipation of Food: Horses often start making extra spit when they see you with their favorite treats or hear the feed bucket. This is just their body getting ready to eat.
- During Exercise: After hard work, a horse might have some foam or drool mixed with sweat. This is usually fine if it stops soon after they cool down.
- Chewing: When a horse chews tough hay or grain, they will naturally make more spit.
When Drooling Becomes a Problem
When drooling seems too much, or if it hangs in long strings, it is time to pay closer attention. Horse lip smacking and drooling often go hand-in-hand. This action can mean something is irritating the mouth.
Health Issues Leading to Drooling
Many health concerns can make a horse drool more than usual. Some are minor annoyances. Others are true horse drooling medical issues that need a vet right away.
Dental Problems: The Most Common Culprit
The health of a horse’s mouth is key to stopping odd drooling. Horse dental problems and drooling are strongly linked. Horses’ teeth grow all their lives. Sharp points can form on the edges of their molars.
Sharp Points and Hooks
These sharp spots hurt the inside of the cheek or the tongue. When the mouth hurts, the horse cannot chew well. Chewing less means the food is not mixed properly with saliva. This results in long strings of drool falling out.
- Difficulty Eating: The horse might drop food while trying to chew.
- Weight Loss: If they cannot chew properly, they eat less, leading to weight loss.
- Bad Breath: Poorly chewed food can cause bad smells in the mouth.
A regular dental check by an equine dentist is crucial. They float the teeth, smoothing down any sharp edges.
Choke: A Serious Emergency
Horse choke and drooling is a major worry. Choke happens when food gets stuck in the esophagus. The esophagus is the tube that carries food from the throat to the stomach.
When a horse chokes, they cannot swallow their spit. This causes a lot of drooling.
- Signs of Choke:
- Frantic stretching of the neck.
- Repeated swallowing motions without success.
- Coughing or retching noises.
- Food or water coming out of the nostrils.
- Constant, often thick, drooling.
Choke is serious. You must call the vet immediately. Do not try to force water or food down the horse’s throat.
Issues with Salivary Glands
The salivary glands make the spit. If these glands get blocked or infected, it causes backup. This leads to horse salivary gland issues and heavy drooling.
Salivary Duct Blockage
Sometimes, stones or thick mucus can block the tube that carries saliva to the mouth. When the tube is blocked, saliva builds up, causing swelling under the jaw. The horse then drools a lot because the spit has nowhere to go.
Infections
Infections in or around the glands can cause inflammation and excessive spitting. This drool often looks thick, sticky, and sometimes foul-smelling.
Neurological Issues and Nerve Damage
Less commonly, drooling can be a sign of a nerve problem. If a nerve that controls the muscles in the lips or throat is damaged, the horse might not be able to keep its mouth closed tightly.
- Facial Nerve Paralysis: Injury or swelling affecting the facial nerves can cause one side of the lip to droop. This prevents the horse from closing the mouth fully, leading to constant drooling from that side.
Medications and Foreign Objects
Some medications can increase saliva production as a side effect. Also, if a horse gets something stuck in its mouth, like a piece of wood or a sharp bit of feed, it will drool heavily due to irritation and pain.
Fathoming the Difference: Foaming vs. Drooling
People often mix up simple drooling with horse foaming at the mouth. Foaming is usually more serious.
Drooling is a steady flow of spit. Foaming involves air mixing with the excess saliva, making bubbles.
| Feature | Drooling | Foaming at the Mouth |
|---|---|---|
| Consistency | Liquid, stringy | Bubbly, white, thick |
| Cause | Poor swallowing, mild irritation | Severe pain, blockage, nerve issue, or toxin |
| Urgency | Often requires check-up | Usually requires immediate veterinary care |
If you see thick, bubbly foam, especially if the horse seems distressed, treat it as an emergency.
Interpreting Drooling After Eating
When you see horse drooling after eating, it gives us clues about where the problem lies.
If the drool is mild and occurs right after they finish their meal, it might just be leftover feed mixed with saliva. This is normal, especially if they ate a dusty feed or a pelleted mix that needs a lot of wetting to swallow.
However, excessive drooling minutes or hours after eating might point back to dental issues or early signs of choke. The horse tries to swallow the food, but the process is painful or blocked.
Mild Irritation from Bits or Tack
Sometimes, the issue is with the equipment. A poorly fitting bridle or bit can rub the inside of the mouth. This constant rubbing causes irritation, making the horse produce more saliva to try and soothe the area, leading to drooling. Check your tack for rough edges or ill-fitting parts.
Remedies for Horse Drooling
The remedies for horse drooling depend entirely on what is causing it. You must find the root cause first.
1. Veterinary and Dental Intervention
If the drooling is new, heavy, or smelly, the first step is a vet visit.
- Dental Exam: Schedule a routine float. This often solves drooling tied to sharp teeth.
- Choke Management: If choke is suspected, the vet will carefully pass a tube down the esophagus to clear the blockage. This must be done professionally.
- Treating Infections: If salivary gland issues or mouth infections are the cause, the vet will prescribe antibiotics or anti-inflammatories.
2. Adjusting Feed and Routine
For mild cases, or while waiting for a vet appointment, you can make simple changes.
- Soak Feed: If dental issues are minor or suspected, soaking pellets or beet pulp makes them easier to swallow and mix with saliva, reducing irritation.
- Wet Hay: Lightly misting hay can help horses with slightly dry mouths swallow more easily.
- Check Water Intake: Ensure the horse has constant access to clean water. Dehydration can sometimes make saliva thicker and harder to manage.
3. Tack Inspection
Take a close look at the horse’s bit and bridle.
- Bit Fit: Ensure the bit rests correctly in the mouth. It should not pinch the corners of the mouth or press too hard on the bars of the jaw.
- Rinsing: Always rinse the bit after use. Old feed residue can become hard and irritating for the next ride.
Deciphering Less Common Causes
We have covered the main reasons, but sometimes the drooling points to something rarer.
Allergies and Chemical Irritation
Like humans, horses can have allergies. Allergens in the air or in their feed could cause mouth irritation and increased saliva. If the drooling starts suddenly during a specific season or after a feed change, consider environmental factors.
Also, accidental contact with irritating plants or chemicals (like certain fly sprays or harsh cleaners near the stable) can cause a strong, localized drooling response.
Metabolic Issues
In rare cases, severe metabolic disturbances, like those seen in very sick horses, can alter body fluid balance, potentially affecting saliva production or the ability to swallow properly. This is usually accompanied by other clear signs of illness, such as lethargy or diarrhea.
Comprehending Normal Saliva Production
To appreciate abnormal drooling, it helps to know what is normal. An average horse produces about 50 to 100 liters of saliva every day. That is a huge amount!
Saliva contains enzymes that start breaking down starches even before the food is fully chewed. This is why the process of eating is so important for horses. If they rush their eating, they don’t mix the food enough, leading to wet, sloppy messes around the feeder, which might look like drooling.
Long-Term Management of Drooling Horses
If your horse has a chronic drooling issue that has been fully checked by a professional, long-term management is key.
Regular Maintenance Schedule
Set a firm schedule for preventative care. This stops minor issues from becoming major drooling events.
- Dental Exams: Every 6 to 12 months, depending on age and tooth wear.
- Tack Checks: Weekly inspection of all mouth contact points.
- Diet Review: Annual check with your nutritionist or vet to make sure the diet supports easy chewing and swallowing.
Monitoring and Recording
Keep a log of when the drooling happens.
- Time of Day: Is it only in the morning? Only after training?
- Feed Type: Does it happen after hay, grain, or both?
- Appearance: Is it clear, bubbly, thick, or tinged with blood?
Good records help your vet pinpoint the cause faster if the problem returns or worsens.
Conclusion: When to Worry
A little bit of wetness after a meal or while anticipating carrots is normal. However, horse excessive drooling that lasts long after eating, is accompanied by bubbles, seems painful, or involves drooling when the horse is trying to drink or swallow, is never normal. It signals that something is wrong inside the mouth, throat, or esophagus. Always err on the side of caution and call your veterinarian if you notice a significant, sudden change in your horse’s salivation. Early diagnosis of issues like choke or dental hooks prevents serious long-term consequences.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Can I treat my horse’s drooling with home remedies first?
A: You can try simple things like soaking the feed if you suspect dry chewing is the cause, or checking the bit for rubs. However, if the drooling is sudden, heavy, or bubbly, you must call the vet first. Do not try to treat possible horse choke and drooling at home, as this can be dangerous.
Q: How long can a horse safely drool excessively?
A: There is no safe timeline. Any excessive drooling that lasts more than a few minutes after eating or exercise warrants a call to your vet or equine dentist. Prolonged drooling can lead to skin irritation under the jaw or indicate an ongoing blockage.
Q: Is drooling a sign of colic?
A: Drooling itself is not a primary sign of colic (abdominal pain). However, if a horse is in severe pain from colic, it may stop eating and drinking, which can sometimes lead to excessive saliva pooling in the mouth because swallowing is interrupted. If drooling is paired with rolling, pawing, or looking at its flank, treat it as a colic emergency.
Q: Why does my horse drool when I put the bridle on?
A: This is usually a sign of anticipation or nervousness. The act of putting on the bridle signals that work is about to start, and the horse begins salivating in response. It can also mean the bit is uncomfortable or causes minor irritation, which should be checked by an equine dentist or tack fitter.