http://www.petful.com/pet-health/dog-fo ... the-mouth/
Occasionally it is rabies that will make a dog (or other infected animal) foam at the mouth. However, there are a few other causes for foaming at the mouth that thankfully don’t have anything to do with rabies.
Here are 6 reasons a dog might be foaming at the mouth.
1. Physical Activity
One reason a dog may seem to be frothing at the mouth is simple overexertion. Play hard, pant hard, right?
If you have a dog who is engaged in heavy work or play, she is using a lot of energy — and so she’s breathing more heavily. As your dog rapidly pants, the oxygen she is taking in can cause the saliva in her mouth to foam up.
In some cases, especially if you have a drooler to begin with, this saliva-to-foam transfer can make your dog seem as though she has inhaled a bubble wand. The mouth foam usually will go away as your dog’s system begins to settle down.
As she drinks water or lies down to rest, her respiration will return to normal and the foam will disappear.
2. Upset Stomach
Another reason a dog may foam at the mouth is because he has eaten something that tastes really bad. When there is a nasty taste in his mouth, the dog will spit, pant and do lots of other things to try to get that revolting taste out. If he becomes distressed, it will only worsen the salivation and the foaming.
Nausea can also be accompanied by foaming as it causes the salivary glands to start working. Have you ever noticed how when you feel you are going to throw up, your saliva starts pooling?
In a case like this, look around to figure out just what your dog has consumed. In some cases, he has simply eaten something that is making him feel sick, but once he vomits he will feel better almost right away. In other cases, you will need to seek a veterinarian’s attention.
In cases such as suspected poisons, bring your dog to an animal hospital immediately. Some poisons can activate the salivary glands, causing the buildup of foam at the mouth.
Many dogs will eat just about anything that catches their fancy. Just because something smells bad to you doesn’t mean it smells bad to him. Lots of dogs like to roll in poop. The point is, smell isn’t going to be a turn off for a lot of dogs. It’s up to us to keep track of our pets and keep them from harm whenever possible.
Dogs can be marvelous escape artists, though, so if you suspect your dog has ingested poison, go to the vet immediately.
3. Stress
Believe it or not, anxiety can cause a dog to foam at the mouth.
A dog who is under a lot of stress may have heavier breathing, causing the classic foaming to occur. If your dog is high-strung or comes from an abusive background, you may see this happen.
Try to calm your dog if you feel that stress is contributing to his foaming frenzy. Take him to a familiar room if possible, one that is quiet and does not offer stimulants to drive his anxiety higher.
4. Illness
Some diseases can have this foamy effect on the respiratory system.
Chances are, if your dog has an illness or a disease that affects the respiratory system, you could see this foaming-at-the-mouth behavior.
Ask your veterinarian about symptoms of your dog’s illness and whether or not you should be concerned about excessive salivation and/or foaming at the mouth.
Each disease or illness is different, and each affects dogs differently. (This is similar to when your friend catches a cold that has been going around, and then you get it and you’re down for 2 weeks and feel like death the whole time.)
Dogs also can foam at the mouth when they are having a seizure. Sometimes it’s obvious when your dog is having a seizure — she will be disoriented then flop over and move her legs even though she’s unconscious. Seizures have varying degrees of seriousness and length, though, so sometimes you may not be sure of what you are seeing.
A seizure can be over quickly or last for minutes. If you suspect your dog is having seizures, bring her to the veterinarian.
5. Dental Issues
Poor dental hygiene can also be to blame. Cavities, gingivitis or pain will cause panting and salivation, which turns into those foamy bubbles.
Keep those teeth clean and inspect them regularly for signs of decay or breakage. Broken teeth hurt! If you find evidence of decay or breakage, talk with your veterinarian about getting the teeth and gums cleaned, and the tooth removed if necessary.
This video shows Poqueta the chihuahua foaming at the mouth — and the suspected culprit is seizures:
6. Rabies
Lastly, yes, excessive foaming at the mouth can indicate rabies.
If you have not been current with your pup’s vaccinations, he is at risk to contract this deadly disease, which is transmitted mainly through the saliva of infected animals. Rabies is 99.9 percent fatal — once the symptoms manifest, the infected animal will not recover.
Symptoms of rabies include rapid behavioral changes, fever and sensitivity to stimulus such as sounds or lights. Infected animals may also become disoriented or suffer from leg paralysis, which causes the animal to stagger and have difficulty walking.
Paralysis of the throat and jaw muscles may occur, which is usually what causes the well-known foaming at the mouth to occur.
With such a deadly disease, we are lucky to have a vaccination! So please make sure that your dog is current for the rabies vaccination, and be aware of any strangely acting animals in your area..
Keep in mind that seeing foam at the mouth is not always an indicator of rabies.
It’s never a bad idea to check with your veterinarian when you see anything that makes you uncomfortable as a pet caregiver. Foaming at the mouth could be something simple to diagnose and treat once your pet has been brought in.