Cat drooling from the mouth why

Animals, like humans, are not immune to motion sickness in transportation. In addition to increased salivation, nausea and vomiting may occur during the trip. All of these symptoms disappear on their own at the end of the trip.

Excessive cat salivation: why it happens and what to do about it

Increased salivation in cats can appear for quite harmless reasons, but in some cases, the provocateur is a pathology that requires mandatory treatment. When such a clinical picture occurs, a competent differential diagnosis is important, which will help in the initial stage to identify the ailment in the pet.

Increased salivation (hypersalivation) is not always a sign of pathology. Sometimes it is a reaction to irritation of the taste buds. In this case, the saliva is similar in consistency to water, may flow in a thin stream or droplets. The animal is constantly swallowing and may also wash its muzzle more often. Saliva may be produced in large quantities and accumulate in the corners of the mouth, resembling a foam. Such a symptom indicates pathology and occurs with lesions in the mouth. To get rid of excess saliva, the cat may constantly rub its muzzle against the corners of furniture.

Increased salivation in a cat is not always a symptom of disease

Additional signs of hyper-salivation that may indicate disease:

• Wet muzzle, neck and, less frequently, front paws;
• Poor well-being or, on the contrary, increased excitability;
• Loss of appetite;
• vomiting and diarrhea;
• Itching and skin rashes;
• increase in body temperature;
• coughing;
• constant smacking.

Warning. If your furry friend suddenly started drooling, you need to monitor his behavior. Even in the absence of additional signs, it is important to consult a doctor.

Causes of hyper-salivation

Hypersalivation is not a characteristic feature of any particular breed and can occur in all cats under the influence of provoking factors. Conventionally we can divide all causes into 3 categories: physiological, psychological and pathological. Each of them has its own characteristics.

• Change of teeth. It is most often observed in kittens. When the milk teeth fall out and permanent teeth grow in their place, it may be accompanied by irritation of the gums, which provokes increased saliva secretion.
• Activation of the taste buds. Happens when you smell your favorite food, if the cat is hungry and is preparing to eat. This begins to secrete more saliva. This is also observed in people who imagine the taste of a sour lemon.
• Protective Reaction. Some bitter medicines provoke a symptom that is a natural reaction of the body. In this case, such a sign does not require special therapy.
• Loss and wear of teeth in older cats. Provokes salivation and bad breath.

Physiological hyper-salivation is observed in cats before they eat, when they smell food.

Psychological factors, such as stress and nervous tension, should not be discounted. May provoke activation of the autonomic nervous system, under the influence of which the increased production of saliva, fright, contact with other animals, moving to a new place, visiting the veterinarian and so on. At the same time the cat may present shortness of breath, decreased appetite. The animal often hides in a secluded corner and looks hunted. After the elimination of the provoking factor, the pet's body recovers and the hyper-salivation stops.

What to do and how to help the pet

If the cat strongly exudes saliva from the oral cavity, there is foam and the pet sticking out its tongue, it is necessary to contact the veterinary clinic. Based on a thorough clinical examination, medical history, and some additional tests, the doctor will make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe an adequate treatment for the possible pathology.

During the diagnosis, a general blood test and urine test are prescribed to determine possible abnormalities in the hepatorenal system. General stool analysis is also necessary, which gives an opportunity to establish helminth infections. Additional methods of diagnosis are ultrasound or X-rays.

Treatment of the animal begins immediately after diagnosis, depending on the cause. Increased salivation caused by physiological reasons is self-transient and does not require special treatment.

If the cause of hyper-salivation is related to pathology, appropriate manipulation is necessary. Thus, in case of mechanical trauma of the mouth with a foreign body, the object is extracted, the mouth is sanitized and special ointments with antibacterial and wound-healing effect are administered.

If helminth infections are detected, a specialist prescribes antiparasitic drugs taking into account the age of the animal and its state of health. Oral problems caused by inflammatory or tumor processes require a special approach.

Tumors require surgery under general anesthesia for successful manipulation. Anesthesia is also necessary when teeth are cleaned or when a foreign object is removed from the mouth.

As a general therapy, courses of antibiotics administered individually for each patient are used. This prevents the development of pathogenic bacterial flora in the oral cavity and avoids complications. Body intoxications causing severe salivation are treated systemically with complete gastric lavage and administration of enterosorbents.

Preventive measures

Avoid the development of increased salivation in pets can be avoided by following certain preventive measures. It is necessary to carefully monitor the condition of the teeth and oral cavity in general in a kitten and an adult cat. If inflammatory processes appear, it is recommended to consult a specialist for consultation.

Prevent helminth infestations by timely anti-parasitic treatments. It is important to pay attention to the place of application of the drug – flea and helminthes drops are applied only in the withers area, so that the animal cannot reach the place of treatment. Regular examinations by a specialist allow to avoid intrasystemic pathologies.

The appearance of hyper-salivation in a cat is not a frequent symptom, so if you find it, you should not delay a visit to the veterinarian. Only in a veterinary hospital can an accurate diagnosis be made and adequate treatment administered.

Due to the high volume of questions, free veterinary consultations have been temporarily suspended.

Causes

Causes of saliva secretion can be varied. The above are natural irritants that will not cause much inconvenience to the cat and will not affect his health in any way. Otherwise, the secretion of transparent saliva is a sign of improper functioning of the animal's body, which can have unpleasant consequences.

The only good news is that a large amount of transparent saliva is not a sign of rabies. This disease is untreatable and fatal, and if your pet has caught it, the saliva will have a foamy appearance. The cat will be afraid of the light, will become more aggressive or on the contrary affectionate and will behave unnaturally.

Other causes

But nevertheless, you should not relax – other reasons that cause profuse salivation are just as unpleasant. So, why can a cat have intense salivation:

• The most common cause is a buildup of hair in the stomach. Cats are very clean animals and they tend to swallow small amounts of hair when they lick their stomachs. Over time all of this hair is gathered into a lump, which is often quite a decent size and the animal has a need to regurgitate it. Without a lot of saliva it is very difficult to do this.
• Transparent salivation is a manifestation of poisoning. Cats are carnivorous animals, but sometimes what they "catch" is not exactly healthy, and sometimes it is extremely dangerous to their health.
• A lot of drooling can be a sign of allergies.
• Another popular cause is a foreign object in the mouth, stomach or digestive system.
• Dental problems, mechanical injuries in the mouth – all these also contribute to the abundant production of saliva.
• Viral diseases and cancer.

Naturally, the scariest thing on the list is cancer. Therefore, if you want your pet to live as long as possible – closely monitor his condition, and at the slightest suspicion consult a doctor.

Types of hypersalivation

There are several types of it: trivial and pathological, contagious and noncontagious. At the same time, some are not a sign of serious pathology, while others, on the contrary, cause concern for the health of the cat.

Banal .

• The animal is excessively affectionate and thus shows its love for its owners. When petting, stroking the cat, when he begins to purr, he secretes saliva from his mouth. Most often this situation occurs when keeping sphynxes and other breeds of animals with elongated muzzles. This condition can also develop during puberty. The only disadvantage of this is drooling on furniture and clothes.
• The presence of a foreign object in the mouth. In most cases, the cat chews food thoroughly, but due to the special structure of the teeth (small distance between the alveolar processes and the lateral surface of the crown) food particles may get stuck there. The pet will try to pull the foreign object out, but they don't always succeed, resulting in excessive salivation. Therefore, before going to the veterinarian, it is worth examining the cat's mouth yourself for food debris and, if found, remove it. If this cannot be done – consult the veterinarian.
• Eating spiders and insects. Cats are extremely inquisitive by nature and will often eat a fly or moth. But many of the arthropods taste bitter, and some species of spiders contain toxic and bitter sap used to digest food. Due to this, there is irritation of the receptors in the pet's mouth, which is manifested by hyper-salivation. If increased salivation does not go away on its own within a day, accompanied by vomiting or diarrhea – help from a specialist is needed.
• Motion sickness. Many cats do not tolerate long trips. If copious salivation occurs in transportation, it is a temporary process and will disappear on its own at the end of the trip. It may be accompanied by vomiting and nausea.
• Licking antiparasitic drugs off the coat. May lead to poisoning leading to increased salivation.

Major diseases and conditions that cause pathological hypersalivation

Trichobezoar .

This is a lump of swallowed hair that forms in the cat's thick cat. The contents are thicker there and less active peristalsis. All cats swallow hairs when licking and most often they come out naturally, but sometimes these formations form. In this case, besides increased salivation, there will be other symptoms: decreased appetite and increased water consumption, swollen abdomen and bloating in the large intestine, prolonged constipation with a tendency to become chronic. A hairball can lead to a complete blockage of the intestinal lumen, which in turn provokes a low intestinal obstruction.

Urgent surgery is required for this condition. To detect trichobezoar, examination methods such as ultrasound and abdominal P-graphs are used.

Poisoning

This is a fairly rare but still possible condition in cats. The most common causes are: poisonous indoor plants, medicines, mercury, household chemicals, expired food, rat bait, etc. When poisonous substances enter the digestive tract, the body activates the excretion system, as it tries to get rid of toxins as soon as possible. This is accompanied not only by increased salivation, but also by vomiting, nausea, diarrhea. The pet refuses to eat, but begins to drink a lot, breathing becomes frequent and shallow. At high concentrations of poisons in the blood, general symptoms of intoxication develop, CNS, cardiovascular and respiratory systems are disrupted. Such a condition requires emergency veterinary care, as it can be life-threatening.

Diseases of the oral cavity.

They can provoke increased salivation, among the most likely ones are:

• Mucoceles or cysts in the salivary glands. In this disease, the lumen of the salivary ducts becomes blocked, leading to excessive accumulation of saliva in the organ and the formation of one or more cysts. An additional symptom is swelling and soreness in the gland area.
• Gingivitis is an inflammatory disease of the gums. They are red, swollen and painful. In advanced stages, the cat's teeth may fall out.
• Abscess in the pulp of the tooth. This is a purulent process, it can be suspected not only by hyper-salivation, but also by examining the mouth. Teeth have cavities, chips, cracks and other enamel lesions.

Tips

Here are a few tips that you need to know and follow if possible if you want to Get your pet's saliva production back to normal:

• The first thing to do is to keep any harmful substances, medications or drugs out of the cat's reach;
• give more liquids so that the cat's metabolism is activated and he does not become dehydrated;
• Food should be introduced gradually into the cat's diet, starting with liquid food only;
• to avoid aggravating the situation and prevent a recurrence be careful what you feed your cat: don't give it bony fish or food with small hard bits on it;
• If there are any lesions in the mouth it must be treated promptly with disinfectants;
• While treating your pet's fur for fleas and ticks, place a bandage around the cat's neck to prevent the cat from licking the product off its fur.

If the saliva flow decreases and the amount of saliva gradually returns to normal, it means that all the doctor's recommendations are being followed and that your pet is on the mend.

When a pet needs treatment

Treatment is required for any pathological cause, as self-healing is extremely rare. The pet will have to have tests and undergo all the examinations recommended by the doctor in order to determine what medications are necessary.

Do not delay in going to the veterinary clinic if you notice any alarming symptoms. Timely treatment significantly reduces the risk of possible complications.

Care and prevention

Keep your whiskered pet healthy help proper nutrition and proper care. A balanced diet, comfortable accommodation and hygiene are the key to a strong immune system.

To prevent pathological conditions, observe the following recommendations:

1. Carefully monitor the animal after anesthesia. Do not leave him alone and strictly follow the instructions received from the veterinarian.
2. Do not allow long breaks between feedings. Frequent hunger is dangerous for the body.
3. Eliminate bones from his diet and don't give his whiskered pet too small toys.
4. Keep vaccination and worming schedules up to date. Remember that the rabies vaccine is the only way to avoid death if he becomes infected.
5. Give your pet regular hair-removal medication or grass and comb his coat thoroughly during shedding.
6. Keep all hazardous substances away from pets. When buying a houseplant, make sure it is not poisonous.
7. Use veterinary toothpaste or special toys for brushing.
8. Protect your whiskered pet from stress by avoiding possible triggers.

Don't forget his annual preventive check-ups. Remember that the frequency of visits should be increased if he has a chronic illness and is more than 8 years old.

Frequent and prolonged salivation is a serious cause for concern. If pathology is suspected, check the pet for the listed symptoms and act on the recommendations discussed.

This article is for information purposes only. Contact your veterinarian!

Conditions for which increased salivation is normal

There are situations in which increased salivation is physiologically normal:

• In temperamental cats, salivation may be induced by communicating with a beloved owner, such as in sphinxes;
• Expectation of food and the sight and smell of food;
• When stressed – and its source may not be obvious to the owner (the appearance of a new person, animal, change of environment, a visit to the vet), and the cat will nervously lick itself, with time as the cat gets used to the changes salivation passes;
• if the cat is taking tablet medication – their bitter taste as well as the unpleasant aftertaste can increase saliva production;
• When foreign bodies or large pieces of food get stuck in the cat's mouth, the cat may become restless and try to help itself with its paws;
• when teething in growing cats between 3 and 6 months of age;

Hyper-salivation during the teething period in kittens is considered normal

Video: causes of salivation in cats

Hyper salivation as a sign of disease

Hyper salivation can be seen in diseases of the oral cavity, as well as in systemic pathologies. Increased salivation is caused by the following oral diseases:

Gingivitis is an inflammatory process in the gum area that initially spreads to the mucosa near one or more teeth. With prolonged gingivitis, the inflammatory process can affect the periodontium and lead to tooth loss. Visually, the pathology is defined as areas of redness of the gums, sometimes with purulent or fibrinous films, the regional lymph nodes may be enlarged (submandibular or parotid), the cat is restless and may refuse hard food.

Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gums, which can progress to periodontitis and lead to tooth loss

Mucoceles – saliva accumulates (cysts form) under the skin after the salivary canals or glands are damaged

• Trichobezoar formation – when lumps of slimy hair accumulate in the cat's digestive system, leading to impaired passage of food through the intestine, salivation occurs reflexively. The condition usually coincides with the animal's molting period. Trichobezoars also manifest:
  • decreased appetite or complete refusal of food;
  • increased thirst;
  • regurgitation of lumps of hair in the stomach contents;
  • bloating of the stomach;
  • constipation; delayed stools;
  • content of hair lumps in the fecal matter.
  • ingestion of poisonous plants;
  • poisoning with rodent control poisons;
  • cat flea and mite treatment preparations by licking them from the fur;
  • Eating medications that have attracted the cat by smell and taste;
  • Industrial chemicals and household chemicals when they come into contact with the cat's fur and then lick it off;
  • Poor quality, rancid, badly spoiled food;
  • mercury salts.

  Causes of profuse cat salivation

  Salivation in cats is a nonspecific symptom. It is not a separate disease and is not a sign of any particular pathology. The reasons why a cat is drooling can range from trivial to very life-threatening. Owners should look for additional signs that will tell them if it is time to see a veterinarian.

  Even in cases that seem simple, you should enlist the help of specialists. Cats get injured very easily, so trying to manage salivation at home can be detrimental.

  Food Reaction.

  Saliva is produced and secreted unevenly. Normally, this process is faster when the kitty sees food or a treat, smells the food, and has an appetite. It is a natural physiological process that prepares the mouth for food intake. The saliva is especially strong in pets that eat dry food.

  Unpleasant taste can cause excessive salivation. If a pet has eaten something bitter or with a pungent odor (some medications or "trophies" from the garbage can), the cat salivates reflexively. The problem can be solved by drinking plenty of fluids.

  Saliva in these cases is transparent, homogeneous, without foreign particles. The cause of its appearance can be easily calculated and eliminated.

  Foreign objects in the mouth

  Another reason why a cat drools is because of bits of food between the teeth. Particles of dry food, bones from human food can get stuck in the teeth, making it difficult to close the mouth. It's easy to spot them if you open the cat's mouth and carefully examine the teeth. The stuck piece of food should be gently pulled out of the mouth with smooth movements. Do not knock on the teeth, pull, tug, or make sudden movements, as this can injure the animal. Be especially careful with fish bones – they can stick into the gums or palate. It is advisable to avoid contact with bony fish altogether.

  Also on the mucous membranes can be seen small injuries that the pet has received by chewing hard food or biting prickly objects. In this case, it is enough to exclude repeated contact with the traumatic agent, give the cat access to water.

  Prevention of pathologies causing hypersalivation

  There are vaccinations against most feline infections, so the animal should be timely vaccinated, treated against worms and fleas. This reduces the risk of infection to almost zero.

  To avoid poisoning, you should keep bottles of household chemicals and spices closed and all harmful substances out of reach of your cat.

  Some houseplants can be harmful to the beast and should be moved to a place where the cat can't get to.

  If the cat is on dry food – it needs free access to plenty of water. If on natural food, make sure there are no bones in the food.

  An attentive owner will be able to protect the cat from various harmful factors, but to make its life full and interesting.

  

  Education: Moscow State Academy of Veterinary Medicine and Biotechnology. K. I. Skryabin Moscow State Academy of Veterinary Medicine and Biotechnology, Department of Veterinary Medicine, specialty: veterinary surgeon.