Cat salivating profusely what is it

Salivation in cats occurs when viruses are infected. Depending on the symptomatology, the pet may be infected:

Increased salivation in a cat: why it occurs and what measures to take

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, it is important to make a competent differential diagnosis, 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 thin streams or drops. The animal constantly swallows, may also wash its face more often. Saliva may be secreted in large quantities and accumulate in the corners of the mouth, resembling foam. This 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. Fright, contact with other animals, moving to a new place, visiting the veterinarian and so on can provoke activation of the autonomic nervous system, which increases saliva production. 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 hypersalivation stops.

Symptoms and signs

Salivation is a natural process that is necessary for a cat to function normally. A fluid like saliva performs a number of important functions: it protects the oral cavity (in particular the teeth, gums and mucous membranes) from mechanical damage. Saliva is necessary to make it easier for your pet to eat – to lubricate or glue it, to make swallowing easier. Saliva's main function is bactericidal. But if your pet's transparent saliva flows continuously throughout the day, that's not good.

The process of producing large amounts of saliva is called hypersalivation or ptialism. This is the diagnosis that can be made by a veterinarian. As for the symptoms, the profuse discharge of saliva can be called a sign of some disease or damage to the oral cavity, stomach and gastrointestinal tract in the cat.

Only a doctor will be able to do a complete physical examination of your cat or catand examine him or her and make a diagnosis. We should not forget that in addition to the amount of saliva secreted, there are usually other symptoms.

Symptoms

• If the cause is related to the stomach or gastrointestinal tract, there will usually be problems with appetite. Your pet will not want to eat something that he would have eaten with pleasure before, and he will still produce a lot of saliva.
• Saliva from the cat's mouth is a symptom of dental problems, ulcers, neoplasms or injuries in the mouth or digestive system. The cat may refuse solid food, hold its head unnaturally or unaccustomedly, and pieces of food may fall out of its mouth.
• The animal may change its behavior.
• Nausea or vomiting may occur.
• If there are problems with the digestive system or poorly healing wounds in the mouth, bad breath may be present.
• The cat may rub its muzzle frequently.

If you see that the hair around the cat's mouth and neck is wet, it is a cause for concern. Look closely at your pet – if you see any of these signs – you need to see a doctor immediately.

Causes

Causes of saliva secretion can be very diverse. 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 light, will become more aggressive or on the contrary affectionate and will behave unnaturally.

Symptoms and treatment

Before starting treatment, it is worth finding out the reasons why the kitten is drooling. It is from them depends on the course that the doctor will prescribe. And in order to determine why the saliva began to be secreted in large quantities, you need to pay attention to Additional signs that may appear in parallel with hypersalivation.

• Change in appetite. As a rule, it decreases or disappears at all.
• Changes in preferences. The cat may refuse solid food.
• Changes in behavior, excessive aggression.
• Nausea or vomiting.
• Difficulty in swallowing.
• Unpleasant breath.
• The cat may rub its muzzle much more frequently.

If you notice any signs that are accompanied by excessive saliva production, see your doctor immediately. If you are a responsible owner you should immediately pay attention to the changes. The doctor will diagnose and prescribe treatment, and your task is to follow all his recommendations and do everything possible for the speedy recovery of your pet. It won't cost you anything to give a little more love and care to your kitten, and it's almost as important to him as proper care.

Treatment

If you see that a cat is drooling from the mouth in very large quantities, you should immediately contact your veterinarian. Only he will be able to diagnose correctly. The above are many reasons for excessive saliva secretion, and depending on them, the treatment is prescribed.

A professional will do a complete examination, including the oral cavity, and will be able to tell you exactly what is causing your cat to salivate so much and what to do about it. If a foreign object has gotten into the mouth, throat or esophagus, the doctor will be able to remove it quickly, which is very difficult to do at home.

If the cause of the large amount of saliva is any medical condition, the specialist will prescribe treatment and make recommendations on how to get your pet to recover as quickly as possible.

Tips

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

• The first thing to do is to keep all harmful substances and drugs out of the reach of your cat;
• Give plenty of fluids, so that the cat's metabolism will be active and he will not dehydrate;
• foods should be introduced into the cat's diet gradually, 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 cat's fur for fleas and ticks, put a bandage around the cat's neck that would prevent the cat from licking the product off the fur.

If the salivation decreases, the amount of saliva is gradually coming back to normal, then all the doctor's recommendations are being followed and your pet is on the mend.

What to do and how to help your pet

If the cat strongly exudes saliva from the mouth, there is foam and the pet sticks out his tongue, you should contact the veterinary clinic. Based on a thorough clinical examination, collection of medical history and some additional tests, the doctor will make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe adequate treatment for a possible pathology.

During diagnostics, a general blood and urine analysis is prescribed, allowing 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. Excess salivation caused by physiological reasons is self-limiting and does not require special treatment.

If the cause of hyper-salivation is related to pathology, appropriate manipulation is necessary. For example, in mechanical trauma of the mouth with a foreign body, extraction of the object, sanation of the mouth and the introduction of special ointments with antibacterial and wound-healing effect is carried out.

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. General anesthesia is also necessary for brushing teeth or removing a foreign object from the mouth.

As a general therapy, courses of antibiotics prescribed individually for each patient are used. This avoids the development of pathogenic bacterial flora in the mouth and avoids complications. Intoxication of the body, causing a strong secretion of saliva, are treated systemically with the use of complete gastric lavage and the introduction 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 infections with timely anti-parasitic treatments. It is important to watch where the drug is applied – 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 the cat is not a frequent symptom, so when you find it, you should not delay a visit to the veterinarian. Only a veterinarian can make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe an adequate treatment.

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

What the owner should do when a cat salivates

If there is increased salivation, the owner should first try to determine if it is due to psychological reasons or a foreign body lodged in the mouth. If both of these factors are excluded, it is necessary to seek veterinary help urgently, as it may be a sign of a serious disease, including one that is contagious to humans.

To find out the causes of this condition, the veterinarian will prescribe a number of manipulations:

• A complete examination of the pet and collection of the history of the disease;
• A general and clinical fecal blood test for helminth infestation is prescribed if worm infestation is suspected;
• The mouth is examined for the presence of foreign bodies;
• the condition of teeth, chipped, cracked, and cavities are examined;
• Ultrasound and radiography are performed to examine the state of the digestive tract and determine the presence or absence of foreign bodies and trichobesophagi;
• Urinalysis to detect concomitant pathology and to ascertain the general condition of the pet.

Other tests may be ordered depending on the pathology detected.

Treatment

Tactics depend on the causes of increased salivation. If it is an injury, ointments, drops and creams are prescribed. If there are psychological problems, sedatives are prescribed. For diseases of internal organs – a complex therapy taking into account the pathology identified. In each case, choose a scheme suitable for the specific cat.

Self-treatment and giving medication is not safe for the health and life of the pet and its owners, because only specialists can distinguish between infectious and non-infectious diseases.

Cat drooling, is it dangerous?

In itself, increased salivation in a cat is not dangerous for the animal, but this condition gives trouble to both the animal and the owner. Wet muzzle looks unattractive, droplets of saliva stain the floor, furniture, leave ugly marks on the hair of the pet when licking. In severe cases, hyper-salivation interferes with the pet's eating and drinking, and saliva may enter the airways and cause suffocation.

It rarely reaches severe forms, so it is much more important to know why a cat drools. The cause may be trivial and easy to eliminate, and the owner can handle it on his own.

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 goes faster when a cat sees food or a treat, smells food, and has an appetite. It is a natural physiological process that prepares the oral cavity for food intake. Saliva is particularly 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 look closely at the teeth. The jammed piece of food should be gently pulled out of the mouth with smooth movements. Don't knock on teeth, pull, tug or make sudden movements – this can injure the animal. Be especially careful with fish bones, they can stick to the gums or palate. It is advisable to avoid contact with bony fish altogether.

Also on the mucous membrane 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.

When an animal needs treatment

Treatment is required for any pathological cause, since self-healing is extremely rare. In order to determine the necessary medication, the pet will have to undergo tests and undergo all the examinations recommended by the doctor.

Do not delay in going to the veterinarian when alarming symptoms are detected. Timely treatment significantly reduces the risk of possible complications.

Care and prevention

Proper nutrition and care help to keep your whiskered pet healthy. A balanced diet, comfortable housing and hygiene – the key to a strong immunity.

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 vaccinations and worming schedules up to date. Remember, the rabies vaccine is the only way to avoid death if your pet 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!