Last Updated on February 23, 2022 by Allison Price
A child visited our farm recently and asked me why my horse drools so often. Although I was aware of the specific reason behind this horse’s wet lips, I decided to give a more detailed explanation about drooling horses.
Horses can drool from a variety of reasons, including grass sickness, infection, poisoning, and dental problems. Horses who drool excessively could have a serious medical condition that requires veterinary attention.
Horse owners should be familiar with many things about horses. It is important to understand why a horse drools, and what is normal.
The reason horses drool.
It can be quite alarming to see a pool under your horse’s nose while grooming. This is especially true when the pool is large. This doesn’t necessarily mean that the horse is in trouble. While some drooling can be normal, excessive drooling should always be investigated.
Grass sickness
The worst case scenario for excessive drooling is grass sickness. Although the exact cause is unknown, the results are. Paralysis occurs in the stomach and nervous system.
This is fatal because the horse cannot swallow the saliva. Although it is more common in Northern Europe than anywhere else, it can happen anywhere.
Poisoning
Horses can drool from multiple toxin. Although clover can sometimes contain one, it’s not clover that causes the problem.
It is actually the host of parasitic growths that can cause slobbers. This illness is named after the horse that ate it. Slobbers is not a dangerous disease and will disappear on its own.
Horses and other animals are also at risk from fields that have been sprayed pesticides. Pesticides are not allowed on land used to produce livestock feed in some states.
This can be done by banning pesticides. However, horses that have already consumed them will need to be contacted the vet.
Horses can be poisoned by ragwort, which is a common symptom of hay fever. A ragwort fork can be used to rid your pasture or paddock of this danger.
It is a good idea to wear gloves, masks and goggles if you are allergic to the plant.
Injury
Drooling can be caused by a horse chewing something or a heavy-handed rider. To determine if the problem is caused by something, you will need to inspect the mouth from the inside and outside. It is important to identify the source of the problem and allow it to heal.
You may wish to ensure that someone is properly trained to use the reins if you’ve allowed another person to ride your horse.
If someone abuses it, this is the most horrible bit. This is for both the horse and the rider’s good. Some horses may not tolerate gentler handling and might even throw the rider.
Dental problems
You’ll be able to understand why horses may have problems with this area if you’ve ever experienced a toothache. You may have also experienced tooth-cutting drool if you’re used to being around children.
It might be a good idea to check the horse’s teeth when looking for injuries. Spurs from a tooth can cause irritation to the tongue or cheeks just as they do to ours.
Call the equine dentist to resolve this problem. If you’re not experienced at handling this issue, you could inflict serious injuries attempting to fix it yourself. Although the horse might not bite you, you may feel some pain and have to be careful.
Infection
You might notice that your horse is having trouble breathing and excessive drooling. This could be a sign of an infection. This is a problem that the vet should handle, as with many others.
Horses may not need the same antibiotics and herbs that humans use. What treatment is needed depends on the type of infection.
Nasal discharge
A sign that there is something more serious than a nasal discharge. Choking can occur when food is stuck in the throat before it reaches the stomach. Your veterinarian will need to help you. It’s unlikely that it will go down by itself. Horses cannot throw up so they won’t be able to get rid of it themselves.
There are many common causes of excessive drooling. Before you can determine if something is wrong, it’s important to fully understand the situation. The time required to find the usual causes of horse problems shouldn’t cause any problem unless the horse is clearly in distress.
Emotions
Horses can become excessively salivative from fear or excitement. It starts with horses’ startle response, which causes their mouths and throats to dry out. They produce extra saliva to rehydrate themselves when they calm down. This is perfectly normal.
Morning sickness
The female mammal, the pregnant woman, can experience many strange things during pregnancy. Hormones can cause stomach problems and play havoc with emotions. They are most prevalent in the first three months of pregnancy. You can ask your vet what you can do to keep the mare happy.
Sommer
The weather can affect how much a horse drools. Horses lose some heat from hot weather by producing extra saliva. Horses will need to have access to water and cool places to rest in heat to avoid heat-related diseases.
More work
Horses will produce more saliva if they are called upon to do more. This is normal and common. It is important to remember that horses can become too hot after a workout and need to cool down before they go for water. It will want to drink if it has lost its saliva.
Horses that drool excessively can have a few exceptions. Borna Virus and other diseases can also be a reason. Although it isn’t very common, it can be a cause of serious illness. If it is contracted, it can be fatal. The majority of the spread of the virus occurs through infected animals’ urine.
Equine viral arteries is another virus that can cause excessive drooling. This virus is most common in mares and is spread by mating.
A pregnant mare who catches the disease will most likely have to give birth because it and pregnancy are not compatible. There is a vaccine that can be obtained in the U.S.
