I have a 5 year old Golden Retriever mix. Once in awhile he starts drooling really bad. Saliva just drips out of the corners of his mouth. He licks his lips a lot too when this happens. His neck ends up soaked and so does his paws since it drips onto them. He hasn't done anything out of the ordinary during these "drooling" days. It doesn't happen very often. It happened last night and maybe a month or more before that. Anyone know what might be going on?

He also seems to have hairballs once in awhile. He has VERY long hair. I brush him but I can't keep up with his shedding! I know there's stuff to give cats for hairballs but what about dogs?

You have talked to the vet about the drooling and hair balls? My guess is that he is foraging something or perhaps irritating the inside of his mouth.

He is on a steady diet of a regular dog chow? If you occasionally give him other stuff, cut it out. Something may be bothering him.

As for the hair, what are you brushing him with? A more aggressive brush might help, the ones with the large conical rubber teeth, or wire slicker brush pictured with my yellow Lab. I have heard good reports of the Furminator, but never tried it.

http://www.photolocker.net/images/La...tanewaster.jpg

I haven't talked to a vet yet. This is only the third time it's happened and the hairball thing just recently started.

The brush I use looks like a small rake almost. I'm not sure what it's called. But it's the best thing I've found for him.

He eats the same thing every day. I don't give him anything different. He doesn't get table scraps either. He is left outside during the day when it's warm enough so maybe he's finding something out there. But like I said, this drooling thing doesn't happen very often. And when it does, it lasts for a couple hours and then just suddenly stops.

We're taking our other dog to the vet within the next week. I'll ask him then if he has any ideas!

Thanks labman!