Large breeds, particularly Cane Corsos, drool a lot. With their large, uncontrollable jowls, you definitely have to expect to see him soak in his saliva. It’s fair to consider, however, the consensus made by Cane Corsos owners. Based on their experiences, one can say that they have mixed opinions about their dogs’ slobbering.
This shouldn’t come off as surprising anymore. All Mastiff-type dogs salivate although the intensity varies. The Cane Corso breed falls on the lowest spectrum, but it’s still necessary that you’re equipped to catch his dribbles.
Do All Cane Corsos Salivate Excessively?
No, not all of them salivate excessively. If ever your Cane Corso does, it could indicate several underlying problems. If you compare this breed with other Mastiff-type dogs like the English Mastiff, you’ll notice that he has tighter skin around the mouth. That’s a clear giveaway that the Cane Corso ideally produces less saliva than the English dog.
It’s a case-to-case basis. Each owner will have a different experience with his dog. Try asking other Cane Corsos owners or breeders about their say regarding their dogs’ drooling tendencies and you’ll receive varying answers.
Why Do Cane Corsos Slobber?
We usually associate a dog’s drooling with the presence of food or water, but countless other factors trigger this response. These include dental problems, dehydration, and anxiety.
Young man feeding the huge dog (cane corso) in the garden.It’s a Natural Food Response
Hypersalivation is a normal reaction when you smell or see food. It’s like you are walking past a bakery shop and you inhale the aroma of freshly baked goods. Dogs feel the same way when you’re in the kitchen preparing your dinner or your dog’s meal. This makes him anticipate that you would let him have a taste of whatever you’re cooking.
Something Is Stuck in the Teeth
It’s an automatic response of the body to produce more saliva when a dog is taking in food in the mouth. It won’t stop generating loads even if your canine stops chewing if something is stuck in his teeth. Anything that prevents your buddy from swallowing normally can lead to excessive drooling. So, make sure that there are no bones or shreds of meat left on his teeth.
Experiencing Dehydration
Too much heat can easily make a dog experience dehydration. If this happens, the natural mechanism of a Cane Corso is to cool himself down and try to regulate his body temperature through his paw pads where the merocrine sweat glands are located and by panting. Of course, once the dog’s mouth stays open for a while, you will eventually see his saliva dripping.
Dental Problems
Saliva indeed helps maintain the good oral health of a dog, but this isn’t a surefire way to keep him from developing dental diseases and problems. When there’s tartar build-up, gingivitis, as well as periodontal disease, teeth may eventually fall out or the gums may feel sore. All these can lead to hyper-salivation.
Motion Sickness or Anxiety
This is why you must try to make your dog’s first-time experiences positive, fun, and enjoyable. Cane Corsos, especially puppies, can get traumatized easily. If they can’t contain the stress during a car ride due to associating it with a trip to the vet, it will give you a harder time convincing them to get in the vehicle again when they need to. When dogs feel uncomfortable, they try to comfort themselves through panting.
4 Ways to Minimize Drooling
Drool is definitely not cool! Although it seems like an ordinary habit expected from dogs, it doesn’t mean you have to just let things be. Notwithstanding that a dog’s saliva has its pros, cons can flood you once you realize that his drool is becoming excessive. To keep you from feeling frustrated, here are 4 ways to minimize your dog’s slobbering:
1. Use a Bandana
You can’t physically catch his drips all the time and even if you can, it’s just not hygienic. Wrap a dog bandana around his neck every day and change it from time to time. This will help during mealtimes when his hypersalivation would usually occur! Large handkerchiefs will do fine, but they’re incomparable to the Remy+Roo dog bandana that comes in various patterns and designs with features that are durable, sustainable, and compatible for large dogs.
2. Invest in a Washable Rug
Spot the areas where your Cane Corsos drools more often and place washable rugs in there. Instead of having to constantly clean the floor and remove the crusty dribbles, all you have to do is to toss the rugs in the washing machine and wait until it’s perfectly clean! There are a plethora of rugs out there, but if you want to save, this DUDUPE washable pad will make that happen for you.
3. Ready Your Wipes
It’s all fun and cheery outside as you walk your Cane Corso until you notice him leaving trails of his saliva. For passersby, this may seem funny and silly, but not to someone who has to repeatedly deal with it! Keep him clean and his mouth dry by using baby wipes. Just make sure they don’t contain chemicals that can cause irritation in his mouth.
4. Consider Surgery
If you think that nothing is working at all and his salivation just keeps getting worse each day, it’s best that you consider getting him to undergo surgery. For dogs with unbelievably flappy jowls, getting them fixed will make things in life easier. The only downside with this surgery is that you are modifying your dog’s facial structure.
Symptoms Indicating That Something Is Wrong
We do agree that anything excessive can be bad, but if it comes to your Cane Corso’s drooling, it’s not necessary that you feel alarmed right away. Be observant regarding his drooling habits, and know when it’s time to bring him to the vet. The usual symptoms indicating that something might be wrong are when your dog exhibits the following:
- Behavioral Changes: A sweet and affectionate Cane Corso may show aggression if he’s in pain. Panting is one of his ways to ease the pain. Others include isolation or excessive sleeping.
- Decreased Appetite: This can mean several. It’s either that your Corso is suffering from chronic GI problems, nausea, or mouth injury. Oftentimes, drooling doesn’t stop until any of these oral issues are totally remedied.
- Change in Meal Routines: Is your Cane Corso acting weird whilst eating his usual meal? It could mean that his mouth is sore. If he tries to administer his food in the other direction, then there’s a painful area somewhere in his mouth. This should tell you that your buddy would need soft, moistened food.
- Face Pawing: To help alleviate discomfort, dogs would constantly touch their jaws and muzzle in an attempt to remove a stuck foreign object. Saliva production will increase as a response.
How to Stop Cane Corsos From Drooling
With lots of possible causes of hypersalivation, treatment plans will vary. Mostly, vets will have to remove objects or teeth, treat GI issues, or provide medications to ease anxiety during road trips. If the root cause is behavioral, help your Cane Corso relax or designate a peaceful environment for him at home.
