Some dog breeds are heavy droolers while others hardly ever slobber. If you’ve always wanted to get a Boxer, you may be wondering “do Boxers drool?”
Boxers are a Brachycephalic breed, so the shape of their head causes them to drool often. However, every Boxer’s jaw grows differently causing some to drool more than others. Things like the smell of food, excitement, or a medical issue can trigger a Boxer to start drooling.
Today, we’re going to discuss boxers and drooling. We will cover how much they drool and the main causes. Keep reading to learn more.
Do Boxers Drool?
Boxers are drooling dogs. They are considered a Brachycephalic breed, so the shape of their head causes them to drool. Any dog that is a Brachycephalic breed has a genetic mutation that causes its skull to grow short and side. These dogs often have what appear to be flattened or smushed faces.
What causes the Boxer to drool frequently is that its skull is shaped so it has a short snout, but long jowls. This causes saliva to pool out of the mouth more often. While Boxers are known to drool, they aren’t the heaviest drooling dog around. The amount of drool coming from a Boxer is minimal compared to what comes out of a Saint Bernard’s mouth.
Do All Boxers Drool A Lot?
Not all Boxers are heavy droolers. If you’ve spent time around this breed before, you may have noticed that some drool a lot while others hardly ever dribble from the mouth. This all has to do with the shape of the dog’s lips.
Boxer owners could get a clue as to whether or not their dog will drool a lot by examining its lips. The lips of a Boxer will either curl inward or outward. If the Boxer has inward lips, it likely won’t drool as often. This is because the shape of the lips prevents extra saliva from pooling out of the mouth. The dog is likely to swallow it instead.
However, if the Boxer has outward-shaped lips, it could be a heavy drooler. There is no barrier to prevent the saliva from pouring out of the dog’s mouth. Many dog owners refer to this trait as “loose lips”. If your Boxer has loose lips, you may also notice that it’s a messy eater as well.
Why is Drooling Important For Boxers?
Dogs pant and drool as a way to cool down. Brachycephalic breeds have short nostrils, which can restrict airflow. If the Boxer is running or playing outdoors when it’s hot, you may notice it start to drool. When your Boxer gets too hot, it’s important that it finds a shaded or cool area to rest.
Boxers are not fans of the heat. They are more prone to heat exhaustion than other breeds because of the way they breathe. When the dog gets too hot, it will begin drooling to help it cool off. Saliva is a Boxer’s natural cooling mechanism.
It’s very important that you provide your Boxer with physical activity every day so it can be happy and healthy. However, since these dogs don’t do well in the heat, it’s important that you don’t overdo it on hot days. While your Boxer may love to run and romp around when it’s cool outside, the dog will be much happier going on a mellow walk when it’s hot.
Does a Hungry Boxer Drool?
Dogs and humans have some of the same instincts. If you’re feeling hungry and you smell a pasta sauce cooking and garlic bread in the oven, it’s very likely that saliva will start forming in your mouth. Boxers aren’t much different when they smell their bag of food being opened.
Food and saliva go hand in hand. This is a common trait found in almost every mammal, not just Boxers. How this works is when the brain senses that food is arriving, the salivatory glands kick into action. (This is why you might find yourself drooling by just looking at pictures of your favorite foods.)
Why does a Boxer need to produce saliva for food? When your Boxer dog starts drooling while anticipating food, that’s its body’s way of getting ready for the mail. The saliva lubes up the mouth and throat, making it easier to pass the food from the mouth through the esophagus.
Do Boxer Puppies Drool?
Even though the mouth of a Boxer puppy isn’t fully grown, they are still likely to drool. When the puppy starts teething, you may notice it drooling a lot.
The salivatory glands always kick into action when there is activity in the mouth. This is why dog owners will notice their Boxer puppy drooling more frequently when its teeth are coming through. When this occurs, it’s good to have a toy or chew stick that the puppy can gnaw on. Teething can cause discomfort for the puppy, and a chew toy can help to soothe their teeth and gums.
Does Poor Dental Care Cause Drooling Boxers?
All the reasons for drooling that we stated above are normal and not a reason to be concerned. That being said, not all drooling from Boxers is harmless. There are times when drooling can be a sign of a problem. If the dog has poor dental health, it’s likely to drool more frequently.
If you notice that your Boxer is now drooling more than it used to, we strongly recommend that you check its mouth. There are a number of problems that can lead to drooling, such as:
- Gum disease
- A build-up of plaque or tartar
- Broken or chipped tooth
- Bone splinter
- Mouth abscesses ; more
This is why it’s very important to take your Boxer’s dental health into consideration. Dog owners can prevent dental problems in their Boxers by regularly brushing their teeth. Consult your vet about how often to brush your Boxer’s teeth based on its dental health. While some Boxers need their teeth brushed daily, others are fine to have it done once a week.
What Did Your Boxer Eat?
If your Boxer is suddenly drooling more than usual and its dental health is fine, it could have eaten something that disagrees with its stomach. Boxers have a hardy appetite and will eat anything they can get a hold of. If you left a snack out that is toxic to dogs, it will still be appealing to the Boxer and they might sneak it when the opportunity arises.
When a Boxer has a stomach ache, its drooling will increase. Most of the time, when this occurs, it’s because the dog ate something that it shouldn’t have. Junkfood, such as salty potato chips, chocolates, cookies, etc, can all upset a dog’s stomach. Even certain foods that are healthy to humans, like grapes, avocados, and raisins, could give a dog food poisoning.
It’s not just snacks we have to worry about, but also our gardens. Boxers can also be tempted by flowers and plants outdoors, and some of them can make the dog very ill. Always be cautious when your Boxer is around azaleas and tulips. If you grow your own vegetables, be careful as well. The vines, stems, and leaves of some plants can be poisonous to dogs.
Other Reasons Boxers Drool
Boxers get car sick, which can trigger drooling. An easy way to prevent this is to give the dog a boost so it’s sitting at the same level as the window. This will allow it to see the motion as it occurs so it will no longer feel nausea.
In some cases, a Boxer may drool if it’s feeling stressed or anxious. If you leave your dog alone for too long, you may notice it has been drooling while you were away. This can also occur if there are things in the dog’s environment that are stressing it out. Make sure your Boxer has a safe spot it can retreat to when it’s feeling stressed.
Lastly, there are cases where the drooling is triggered by a medical condition. There are certain kidney and liver conditions, respiratory diseases, and problems with the sinuses and throat that can cause this. If you can not pinpoint the reasons why your Boxer is drooling, it’s recommended to have a vet examine them.
Final Thoughts
Do Boxers drool? Boxers are a dog breed that drools. It’s not uncommon to see this breed have saliva pooling from the mouth. If you see your Boxer drooling, there are a number of reasons why. Many Boxers have an outward shaped lip, which makes it difficult for them to keep the saliva in their mouths.
Some reasons why a Boxer drools are harmless, while others could give you a reason to call the vet. If a Boxer is waiting for food or is overheated, drooling is a normal reaction. However, in some cases, a Boxer may drool more than normal because it has a stomach ache, poor dental health, or other medical issues. The Boxer may also drool if it is stressed out.