Question about drooling

e.murphy518 · Mar 11, 2013

I have a chin that I just rescued with a hunched back (hadn't been fed enough or properly, also not given water frequently and never given wood chews) who has always since I got him (about a week ago) had an area on his chest that looks like it was wet and just recently dried if that makes any sense. He is eating a ton, both hay and pellets, I see him eating all the time. I give them plenty of wood and it is chewed up within a few hours. I never actually see him or his cage mate drink but they have gone through nearly a full 8oz bottle since I got them. I have never had a chin that drooled for any reason before and I am really hoping he doesn't have any serious issues but I am just wondering, how noticeable would it be if he was drooling? Would I just see what I have described or would I be able to see actual wet drool? When I touch that area it just feels kinda crusty, never wet and it does seem like its starting to clear up a bit.

What do you all think?

Basket_of_Chinchillas · Mar 11, 2013

If there is fresh drool is may appear and feel damp, if it's dried then it would feel like you've described. One way to know if he is continually drooling is to see whether, after a dust bath or two, the wet/dried area increases in size. If it is on white fur the area may also appear yellow-ish in colour.
Eating a ton of hay is a really great sign though! If you can get rid of the current crusties that will be your best bet of finding out if he's still drooling via the creation of new crusties or damp spots.

ticklechin · Mar 11, 2013

Rub your finger across the front of the lips and see if you have spit on your finger, also pull back the teeth and expose the gums-do you have spit on the gums or teeth? Drool also smells bad, like dried spit. Chins can also have sperm on the chest that dries if interupted during cleaning.

e.murphy518 · Mar 11, 2013

He wouldn't let me pull back his lips, he just cacked. But when I run my finger on his lips it's a tiny bit damp. There is a little yellow tint to the white fur on his chest but I don't notice a smell. When I went in just now he was in the middle of eating his pellets and I have been checking, he doesn't powder them. Does this mean malo for sure? :/ the crusty part definitely seems to have decreased in size from a few days ago

Basket_of_Chinchillas · Mar 11, 2013

The only way to know if he has malo for sure is to take him to a good chin vet and have a mouth exam done and full head xrays (to see the roots). Are you able to trim off the crusty fur on his chest to give him a fresh start? Then you might be able to get a better idea of whether or not he is continuing to drool.
I've never heard for running ones fingers along a chins lips as a test for drooling...

Kara315 · Mar 11, 2013

One of my chins was drooling for awhile. I could tell by the smell, I brought him to the vet, and they filed his teeth down. He's no longer drooling and is acting like his old self, it was an issue for awhile, so i'm glad I went in. You should bring him to a vet that knows about chins to check his teeth.

e.murphy518 · Mar 11, 2013

Alright, I will look into good chin vets in my area, hopefully find a good one, and bring him in. I really hope it isn't a major issue!

Dreamlite · Mar 12, 2013

Are you sure its drool? I have a female that sits right in front of her water bottle and gets a huge wet spot on her chest from leaning on it. She scared me till I figured out it wasn't drool and moved the water bottle from 'her corner'. If it is drool a vet and xrays is your best bet and the sooner the better.