Ptyalism is also known as excessive production of saliva, hypersalvation, or excessive drooling.

I don’t mean the way a boxer drools when you are feeding them, giving them a treat, when it is extremely hot out, or when they are anxious about something.  I mean drool as it drips and coats your floors.  From time to time my boxer excessively drools and it goes away on its own within 24 hours.  Typically I examine his mouth for any human hair between the teeth, lesions, masses, or blood.  Then I brush his teeth several times that day.  I note any antecedents or things that happened before I noticed the drooling (such as, what he was doing prior, did he swim or was he outside, inside, etc.).  For me it usually it subsides within a day (24 hours). If not, I would bring him to the veterinarian for a full examination.  Below are possible signs, causes, diagnosis, and treatments.

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POSSIBLE SIGNS

• Eating behavioral changes (such as anorexia, chewing on one side, unusual position while eating, regurgitation, vomiting)
• Pawing at face or muzzle
• Neurological (seizures)
• Periodontal disease
• Stomatitis (ulceration or inflammation)
• Mass in oral cavity
• Lesions of tongue or oropharynx
• Blood in saliva
• Dysphasia
• Cranial nerve defects
• Salivary gland problems

POSSIBLE CAUSES

• Oral and Pharyngeal Diseases (Foreign body, Neoplasm, Gingivitis, Neurological or functional disorder of the pharynx)
• Neurological Disorders (Rabies, Seizures, Facial Nerve Palsy)
• Drugs and Toxins (household cleaning products or toxic plants, animal venom from widow spiders or north American scorpions, drugs or insecticides)

DIAGNOSIS and TREATMENT

• Watch your dog and note any changes (i.e., dehydration, seizures, etc.)
• Visit your veterinarian to have the dog completely examined
• Must discover the underlying cause and treat that problem
• Laboratory tests (CBC, urinalysis, radiography of oral cavity, biopsy of lesions or masses)

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Reference:  Tilley, Larry P.; Smith Jr., Francis W.K. -The 5 Minute Veterinary Consult, Ptyalism, 1997; 136-137