Profuse drooling, or hypersalivation, in a cow is a significant indicator of an underlying health problem, most frequently pointing to lesions within the mouth caused by trauma or infection. Such oral issues often make it difficult for the cow to eat, leading to noticeable salivation and potentially a poor abdominal fill. While drooling itself is a symptom, understanding its root cause is crucial for ensuring the well-being of your animal.
Common Causes of Excessive Salivation
Excessive drooling most commonly arises from conditions affecting the mouth or the esophagus, making it painful or impossible for the cow to swallow its saliva.
Oral Injuries and Foreign Objects
Many issues leading to drooling originate directly in the mouth. Cows can injure their mouths on various objects during feeding or grazing.
- Sharp Feed: Coarse hay, splinters, or rough pasture can cause cuts or punctures.
- Foreign Objects: Pieces of wire, thorns, sticks, or other debris can become lodged in the gums, tongue, or between teeth.
- Trauma: Injuries from falls, fights, or impact can damage oral structures.
These injuries cause pain and inflammation, making swallowing difficult and leading to saliva accumulation. For more on recognizing such issues, consult resources like Identifying Mouth Injuries in Cattle.
Infections and Inflammations
Infections are a frequent cause of mouth lesions that result in profuse drooling. These can be bacterial, viral, or fungal.
- Bacterial Infections:
- Actinobacillosis (Wooden Tongue): Caused by Actinobacillus lignieresii, leading to a hard, swollen tongue and excessive salivation.
- Necrobacillosis (Calf Diphtheria): Can affect the mouth and throat, causing painful lesions.
- Viral Diseases:
- Bovine Viral Diarrhea (BVD): Can cause oral lesions and ulcers.
- Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD): Characterized by severe blistering lesions in the mouth, on the tongue, and around the hooves.
- Bovine Papular Stomatitis: Causes wart-like lesions in the mouth.
- Other Inflammations: Conditions like photosensitization can cause painful blistering of the muzzle and mouth.
These conditions make eating and swallowing extremely uncomfortable. Learn more about Bovine Infectious Diseases.
Dental Problems
Issues with teeth can also lead to drooling.
- Broken or Abscessed Teeth: Pain from a damaged or infected tooth can impede chewing and swallowing.
- Sharp Enamel Points: Irregular wear of teeth can create sharp points that cut the cheeks or tongue.
- Retained Deciduous Teeth: Baby teeth that don't shed properly can cause discomfort.
Choke (Esophageal Obstruction)
When a cow "chokes," food or a foreign object becomes lodged in the esophagus, blocking the passage of food and saliva to the stomach.
- Symptoms: Besides profuse drooling, a cow with choke may exhibit distress, extended neck, coughing, gagging, bloat (if the obstruction is severe), and repeated attempts to swallow.
- Common Causes: Eating large, unchewed pieces of feed (e.g., apples, potatoes, beets) or rapidly consuming finely ground feed that swells in the throat.
This is an emergency and requires immediate veterinary attention. Information on Managing Choke in Livestock can be helpful.
Ingestion of Toxins
Certain plants and chemical substances can induce excessive salivation.
- Poisonous Plants: Many plants contain toxins that irritate the mouth or affect neurological function, leading to drooling. Examples include some varieties of clover (Slobbers clover), oleander, or even some moldy feeds.
- Chemicals: Exposure to pesticides, herbicides, or other irritants can cause oral irritation and hypersalivation.
Neurological Conditions
Conditions that impair the nerves controlling the swallowing reflex can result in drooling.
- Rabies: Though rare, rabies is a serious neurological disease that can cause paralysis of the throat muscles, leading to drooling and difficulty swallowing. It is a zoonotic disease.
- Botulism: Toxin from Clostridium botulinum can cause progressive paralysis, including throat muscles.
Less Common, but Possible Reasons
While trauma and infection are the most frequent culprits, other factors can sometimes contribute to drooling.
Heat Stress
During periods of extreme heat, cows may pant heavily to cool down. This increased respiration can sometimes lead to excessive salivation as a means of dissipating heat.
Congenital Abnormalities
Although rare, some calves are born with structural defects that affect their ability to suckle or swallow properly, resulting in drooling. These can include:
- Cleft Palate: An opening in the roof of the mouth that prevents proper suction during nursing and allows milk to escape through the nostrils.
- Prognathia ("Parrot Mouth") and Brachygnathia ("Monkey Mouth"): Abnormal jaw alignments that can interfere with proper chewing and mouth closure.
What Else to Look For: Accompanying Symptoms
When your cow is drooling, observe for these additional signs that can help pinpoint the problem:
- Difficulty Eating or Loss of Appetite: Often leads to a noticeable decline in abdominal fill.
- Swelling: Around the jaw, face, or neck.
- Fever: Indicating an infection.
- Lethargy or Depression: General signs of illness.
- Coughing or Gagging: Especially after eating or drinking.
- Bad Breath: Suggesting infection or decaying tissue in the mouth.
- Changes in Behavior: Head pressing, staggering, or other neurological signs.
- Oral Lesions: Blisters, ulcers, cuts, or swellings inside the mouth.
When to Call the Veterinarian
Immediate veterinary attention is crucial if you observe any of the following:
- Sudden onset of profuse drooling that is persistent.
- Your cow is not eating or drinking.
- There are visible injuries, swellings, or lesions in the mouth or face.
- The cow shows signs of distress, difficulty breathing, or severe lethargy.
- You suspect choke, poisoning, or a contagious disease.
- Multiple animals are affected.
Early diagnosis and intervention can prevent serious complications and improve your cow's chances of recovery.
Prevention and Management Tips
Taking proactive steps can help reduce the risk of drooling-related issues.
| Cause Category | Prevention/Management Strategies |
|---|---|
| Oral Health | Regularly inspect feed for foreign objects. Provide high-quality, non-abrasive feed. * Consider routine dental checks for older animals if problems arise. |
| Toxin Exposure | Identify and fence off poisonous plants in pastures. Securely store all chemicals, pesticides, and medications. * Ensure water sources are clean and free from contaminants. |
| Choke | Process feed (e.g., chop roots, soak pellets) to reduce large pieces. Encourage slower eating by spreading out feed or using feeder designs that limit rapid ingestion. |
| Infectious Diseases | Implement a robust vaccination program recommended by your veterinarian. Maintain high standards of hygiene in feeding and housing areas. * Isolate sick animals promptly to prevent spread. |
| Heat Stress | Provide adequate shade and access to fresh, cool water during hot weather. Ensure good ventilation in barns. |
By being observant and understanding the potential causes, you can take appropriate action to safeguard your cow's health.
