If dogs constantly swallow and are restless, it is usually due to signs of nausea or heartburn. In individual cases, dental problems, poisoning, inflammation, hypersalivation and a tumor can also be responsible.
In such cases it is also noticeable that swallowing is relatively loud and audible. Physical restlessness, on the other hand, is usually a sign of pain.
In order to be able to limit the causes, you will learn below about the most common triggers, their typical symptoms and what to do in a specific case.
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#1 Nausea
Dogs are known to be descended from wolves, which are primary carnivores. It was only through domestication that dogs increasingly became omnivores.
This explains why dogs' digestive systems are very primitive and fragile compared to ours. It simply hasn't had enough time to mature.
In practice, this often means that even small things can lead to stomach pain, flatulence and nausea. Typical triggers for this are:
- Eating too quickly
- Inferior food
- Food intolerances
- Air swallowed
- Human food leftovers
- Food allergies
- Ate grass [1]
In most cases, nausea can be recognized by affected dogs constantly swallowing, drooling heavily and licking their mouths. Other symptoms include:
- Dog refuses food
- Lack of motivation
- Restless behavior
- Dog constantly smacks his lips
- Sudden vomiting
- Flatulence [2]
Normally, nausea goes away on its own as a result of fasting. However, if severe or chronic symptoms occur, I recommend carrying out such a food check.
There you will not only receive individual food recommendations for your dog, but also a whole box of free food samples so you can test them yourself.
Allergies, intolerances or simply poor quality food can make dogs sick. In practice, this can usually be recognized by the dog constantly swallowing, suddenly drooling and generally behaving restlessly. This usually resolves itself.
#2 Heartburn
Normally, the sphincter at the entrance to the stomach prevents stomach acid from entering the esophagus. However, it can still happen if there is a malfunction.
In principle, heartburn refers to nothing other than the burning pain that stomach acid causes in the esophagus. Typical causes of this are:
- Chronic stress
- pregnancy
- Frequent vomiting
- Anesthesia during operations
- Allergies and intolerances
- Young age
- Medication [3]
The best way to recognize heartburn is if your dog frequently gags, paces around restlessly, or refuses food. Other classic symptoms are:
- Sour bad breath
- Whieking after eating
- Constant and loud swallowing
- Dog gags white mucus
- Sudden drooling
- Frequent licking of the mouth [4]
In most cases, the problem resolves itself within 1-2 days. However, if it becomes chronic, then doctors also refer to it as “reflux disease”.
Changing the food or dividing the daily food into smaller portions can often be enough. If that's not the case, then I recommend visiting the vet. [5]
Dogs with heartburn or reflux disease usually behave restlessly due to the burning pain. In addition, these problems can often be recognized by the fact that the dog has a strange bad breath, constantly swallows or even chokes up mucus.
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#3 Dental problems
Communicating existing pain is not exactly one of dogs' strengths. The same goes for wolves. Because their DNA is still 99.9% identical. [6]
In the wild, this property serves self-protection. Because the moment a wild animal appears weakened, it becomes a target for other predators.
In practice, even today, this instinct still leads dogs in Germany to silently accept existing toothaches. Typical symptoms here are:
- Blood in the mouth
- Dog is sensitive to touch
- Red gums
- Dog refuses food
- Swelling of the mouth
- Restless behavior
- Sudden aggressiveness
- Dog chews on one side [7]
It is often triggered by having bone or wood splinters in your gums. Here the body produces more saliva, which means the dog has to swallow frequently.
But broken teeth, tooth holes, tooth decay or excessive tartar can also be responsible for this. If you suspect this, you should visit the vet here. [8]
For prevention, I also recommend purchasing dental care toys, special dental care treats and high-quality dog food.
Problems with your teeth or gums often lead to increased saliva production. In practice, affected dogs swallow very often. You can also usually tell by the fact that they become sensitive to touch and restless.
#4 Hypersalivation
Saliva production is usually primarily stimulated by eating. However, if the dog produces a lot of saliva regardless of this, then we are talking about “hypersalivation”.
It is most often triggered by medications, allergies or other irritations. Other possible causes are:
- Injuries
- Tumors in the mouth
- Poisonings
- Kidney disease
- Tonsillitis
- Motion sickness [9]
If pain occurs at the same time, this can also be recognized by restless behavior. Other typical symptoms are:
- Dog suddenly drools
- Foaming saliva
- Constant swallowing
- Dog rubs his muzzle
- Loss of appetite
- Frequent smacking [10]
I recommend visiting the vet for diagnosis and treatment. In many cases, pathological symptoms can also be seen in the mouth itself.
If dogs consistently produce saliva regardless of the meal, this can be seen by swallowing loudly and frequently. Hypersalivation is sometimes noticeable when the dog drools heavily, becomes restless and rubs its mouth.
#5 Poisoning
There is more talk about poison bait being set out in the news. In practice, however, most dog poisonings occur due to the ignorance of their owners.
Many common foods are toxic to dogs and can even have life-threatening consequences. Well-known examples are here:
- Garlic and onions
- Macadamia nuts and walnuts
- Alcohol and some sugar alcohols
- Raisins and grapes
- Cocoa and chocolate
- Avocados [11]
What many don't know? Saliva not only kills bacteria and germs, but can also reduce the effect of toxic things.
When poisoning occurs, dogs often produce excessive amounts of saliva and swallow all the time. Other classic symptoms are:
- Loss of appetite
- Sudden diarrhea
- Lethargic behavior
- Restless wandering
- Dog is listless
- Nausea and vomiting
- Breathing problems
- Dog is shaking [12]
Poisoning can cause permanent kidney and liver damage. If you suspect something, you should contact the emergency veterinary service immediately.
Both food and other toxic substances can cause poisoning in dogs. This can usually be recognized by the fact that the dog refuses to eat and constantly swallows. Sudden vomiting, physical restlessness and diarrhea are also common here.
#6 Tumor in mouth
In very rare cases, oral tumors can also be responsible for the symptoms. Around 6-7% of all cancer diagnoses are said to be due to this. [13]
The cause of this is still unclear. However, male dogs are said to be affected around twice as often as female dogs. It also occurs more often in the following breeds:
- German boxer
- Golden retrievers
- German shepherd dog
- Gordon Setter
- Chow Chow
- Weimaraner
- Toy Poodle [14]
The most common manifestation is that the dog suddenly bleeds in the mouth and swelling of the gums occurs. Other classic symptoms are:
- Strong bad breath
- Frequent swallowing
- Sudden drooling
- Problems eating
- Dog is restless
- Touch sensitivity
- Tooth loss [15]
In most cases, the tumor is surgically removed for treatment. Unfortunately, it has often already spread by the time the diagnosis is made. In this case, radiation therapy may also be necessary.
If a tumor forms in the dog's mouth, this can manifest itself in, among other things, constant swallowing and restless behavior. In most cases there is also visible swelling, loss of appetite and bad breath.
#7 Inflammation
Throat or tonsillitis is usually caused by bacteria accumulating and multiplying. The almonds in particular are affected more often.
You probably know the feeling when swallowing becomes loud and painful due to inflamed tonsils. The same thing can also occur in dogs. Typical symptoms are:
- Increased saliva production
- Dog refuses food
- Restless walking around
- Dog breathes loudly
- Problems swallowing
- Frequent choking
- Dog drools profusely [16]
In some cases, tonsillitis is just a late symptom of other diseases. This is particularly common with problems with your teeth.
As “unnecessary” as the tonsils are portrayed in the media, in reality they play an important role in the body’s natural defense system.
Removal is therefore only advisable in exceptional cases. For this reason, the veterinarian usually recommends antibiotics instead. [17]
Various inflammations in the neck and throat area can lead to increased saliva production and constant swallowing. It can often be recognized by the loud swallowing, the dog being restless and refusing to eat.
Rare causes
- Esophagitis: A chronic autoimmune disease that affects the esophagus. The symptoms overlap very closely with heartburn.
- Snake bites: A bite to the mouth from an adder or other poisonous snake can result in severe pain and constant swallowing.
- Mouth ulcers: In addition to tumors, other mouth ulcers can also affect the dog's behavior. [18]
- Flavors: If the dog has accidentally eaten something spicy or heavily seasoned, this can have a physical impact.
- Foreign body: If a splinter of bone or wood gets caught in the dog's throat, this can lead to constant swallowing.
- Food allergies: Expressed primarily by severe itching, diarrhea and vomiting. Depending on the type, the symptoms can vary.
- Stitches: Bee, wasp and hornet stings in the mouth can massively stimulate saliva production and lead to physical restlessness.[