Expert: Charlotte Lurken - 7/19/2007

Question
every morning i take my sheltie, elliot, for a walk in the park across the street from my home. sometime during the walks the same thing occurs constantly; he smells something that really seems to interest him and then, after forcing him to keep moving, he begins to open and close his mouth rapidly while saliva spills out into the air. i have had a few other dogs and lived with people who have had dogs and i have never seen this before. i do not understand why he does this and was wondering if its common. thanks,
mich

Answer
Some dogs just drool more. If you think it may be medical then take him to the vet.  Otherwise just look at it the same way as people who sweat more or snore more.  Dogs are all different.  If my collie watches the rats freeranging around the flat for too long she will drool a LOT. It just depends what stimulates them.