Put a basset hound in a drooling contest with any other breed and the basset hound will be sure to compete with top dogs.
So, the answer to the question of, “Do basset hounds drool?”, would certainly be yes.
Why exactly is this the case? Well, basset hounds have a unique muzzle structure that lends itself to emitting more drool than most breeds.
The muzzle and skull of a basset is almost perfectly parallel to each other with loose skin hanging about the jowls, which makes for a spacious area to produce saliva and cause copious amounts of drool. For the basset hound, let us just say, “Their muzzles runneth over.”
On a particularly hot day, basset hounds will pant at an elevated rate, which can cause more drool. This is your basset’s body mechanism to help regulate its body temperature in the heat.
While other mammals cool off through perspiration, dogs need to evaporate water to cool down through their mouths instead.
Combine the heat with your basset companion by your side as you BBQ delicious tri-tip on a hot summer’s day and you may need a wad of paper towels to wipe up your dog’s jowls.
If you are a hiker and enjoy hitting the trails with your basset hound, be sure to do research beforehand and choose the trails that have shaded areas for rest.
How To Care For Your Drooling Basset
Also, be sure to bring along a collapsible dog bowl and plenty of water to help your hound cool down. When your basset begins to pant heavily in the heat, heed it as a warning sign to cool the hound down quickly or the likelihood of heat exhaustion and a heat stroke increases significantly.
One summer day my aunt was visiting as we sat in the shade of a tree in the backyard. My basset strolled up to pay us a visit with long, thick strands of drool that practically dragged along the ground.
He sniffed at my aunt inquisitively and attempted to nuzzle his head against her leg. She was utterly disgusted at the drool that slung along her ankles and attempted to shoo him away.
Basset hounds aren’t always quick to listen, so my aunt got a good amount of drool on her, so be careful to warn any guests that your basset hound may drool on them if they plan on giving them a good pet on a hot day.
Do Basset Hounds Drool When They’re Hungry?
Basset hounds will often drool at the expectation of a delicious snack or in hopes that they will receive a coveted scrap from your meal. In my home, the drooling begins every morning when they hear me preparing lunch for my children.
As soon as they hear the plastic from the loaf of bread crinkle, the hounds suddenly find the motivation to hop off and trot over with their drooling mechanisms on full throttle because they know I’m going to toss them the bread crusts that my kids won’t eat.
With their mouths halfway open ready to snatch the food midair when it’s tossed to them, they are hopeless to keep their drool and excitement concealed. All kidding aside, drooling is good as the salivary glands secrete the enzymes in a dog’s drool needed to soften, break down, and process their food.
Drooling also comes around the time they hear the rattle of the dog leashes signaling that they will be heading for a good walk around the block. The anticipation thrills them and it manifests itself in a good pool of drool.
Do Basset Hounds Drool When They’re Anxious?
Anxiety will increase salivating glands to work overtime as well. Some dogs do not particularly appreciate the Fourth of July celebrations with the high pitched fireworks and spontaneous booms that reverberate in a neighborhood.
If your basset hound is particularly anxious, the nerve-wracking fireworks will crank up drool production into high gear. Interestingly enough, I’ve had pure-bred basset hounds that had absolutely no problem with fireworks and would go on with life as if it was a perfectly normal day as explosions fired off all around us.
However, I’ve had two bassadors (half basset hound, half labrador) that were very unnerved over the sound of fireworks. Every Fourth of July or New Year’s Eve, Moses and Quincy (our two bassadors) would jump in our bed despite the “no-dogs-in-the-bed rule” and hover over our faces, panting and drooling as their hearts raced.
Can A Drooling Basset Hound Be A Sign They Are Sick?
Excessive drooling can also be set on by motion sickness. I often like to take the hounds up to the mountains which means long drives and windy roads.
Most of the time, basset hounds end up drooling in the car because they are excited to go on an adventure with new sights and smells, but once they’ve settled into the car trip and start a new drooling session, it could be caused by a little car sickness.
If this is the case for your hound, it is recommended that you consult a veterinarian to explore potential treatments to mitigate motion sickness. In the meantime, take frequent breaks on the car trip to let the basset take in fresh air and stretch its legs. Your basset hound will recover quickly from the motion sickness and be ready to hop back in the car.
Let’s say your basset hound is drooling but it’s not particularly hot, nothing savory smelling is wafting in the air, and the usual exciting events are not taking place, then it could be a sign that your basset hound is experiencing some kind of physical distress—especially if the drooling is accompanied with shaking, vomiting, or low energy.
Check to make sure your basset didn’t get into the garbage and ate anything that would upset her stomach. Also, check on your household cleaning supplies or where you keep gardening supplies. If a basset somehow ingested any of these toxic items, then take her to the veterinarian right away for assistance in stabilizing your hound.
If the above symptoms are taking place but you’re not in a home, it could likely be that your basset hound ingested a toxic plant, especially if you are camping or out on a hike.
I have a good collection of houseplants at home that my basset hounds like to chew on if they can get away with it; imagine how much more they would love to chew on a plant in the great outdoors featuring a potent fragrance they find irresistible in the moment yet regret later on! In either case, whether at home or outside, it is good to be mindful of any drooling that is accompanied with signs of sickness.
Abnormal amounts of drool can also be a symptom of an abscessed tooth. You can easily check for yourself to see if this is a concern at home.
Simply take a look in your basset hound’s mouth and check to see if you notice any areas that may be swollen, a deeper hue of red, or have an accumulation of pus.
Usually an abscessed tooth also causes a bout of halitosis. An appointment with the veterinarian will remedy any undue suffering and bring back your hound’s drooling and breath to normal.
When inspecting your basset hound’s mouth, you may find that rather than an abscessed tooth, it is simply a matter of dislodging a foreign object caught between some teeth or along the gum line.
Most of the time, this is the case as basset hounds enjoy chewing on random, unattended objects they may come across such as sticks or toys that could splinter off and get stuck in your hound’s mouth as they break it down. This is fairly simple to handle on your own at home with a little patience, care, and a dental floss pick.
In college, I had a hound named Roscoe. He was only two years old but began drooling excessively. It turned out he had a tumor in his mouth. Tumors are more difficult to recognize to the untrained eye, so it is highly recommended to take your basset hound for an annual check up with a veterinarian just to be sure any drooling is not related to growing a tumor.
For the most part, a basset hound drooling is not a cause of concern. It’s just a simple matter of the hound producing more saliva than it can swallow and contain, so bassets just let it slowly slide out the side.
In fact, many basset lovers find it endearing and enjoy keeping a drool rag ready at all times to help keep their muzzles tidy and prevent slobber from drying on the hardwood floors or nice furniture.
Another good idea is to tie a bandana around your basset hounds neck, which adds a little character to your hounds already handsome look.
