What does it mean if a cat is drooling

This condition requires urgent surgery. To detect trichobezoar, examination methods such as ultrasound and abdominal P-graph are used.

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

Increased salivation in cats can appear for quite innocuous 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 thin streams or drops. The animal constantly swallows, may also wash his 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 cannot 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.

Dangerous symptoms

In addition to the fact that the cat is drooling, there are a number of other signs that indicate the occurrence of pathology. If viral diseases or diseases of the digestive system are observed, the pet loses its appetite. The cat refuses even his favorite treats, but saliva is strongly secreted and dripping. When the oral cavity is affected, the animal most often refuses solid food, even if it was very fond of it before. Food falls out of the mouth and increased salivation is accompanied by an unusual tilt of the head. If there are any sores in the mouth and the cat is in pain, he often rubs his paws over his muzzle. When allergic reactions are observed, the cat drools transparently and has watery eyes. In addition, the following general signs are also observed:

• irritability;
• aggression;
• difficulty swallowing;
• nausea and vomiting;
• Bad breath.

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Diagnostic measures

If a kitten or an older cat has been drooling for a long period of time, it is important not to delay a visit to the health care provider. Immediately, the vet will ask the owners how long the problem has been present and if there are any additional symptoms. Then the veterinarian examines the mouth and draws attention to the possible presence of foreign objects. If these are not present, the mucosa and teeth are examined. Often there are chips, ulcers, and inflammation.

The cause of increased saliva secretion after these manipulations may not always be identified, so the pet may be sent for an ultrasound or radiography. The pet is then prescribed a fecal and blood test. With the results of these tests, it is possible to detect the presence of worms, which can also provoke increased salivation. Diagnostic activities end with a urine test, which allows you to detect abnormalities of the urinary system.

Causes

The 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 the light, will become more aggressive or on the contrary affectionate and will behave unnaturally.

Other causes

But, nevertheless, do not relax – other reasons that cause profuse saliva production are just as unpleasant. So, why can a cat salivate a lot?

• The most common cause is a buildup of hair in the stomach. Cats are very clean animals and they are bound to swallow small amounts of hair when they lick themselves. 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 also contribute to heavy saliva production.
• Viral diseases and cancer.

Naturally, the worst thing in the list is cancer. Therefore, if you want your pet to live as long as possible – carefully monitor his condition, and at the slightest suspicion see the 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. Another such condition can develop during the sex hunt. The only disadvantage of this is drooling on furniture and clothing.
• 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 can 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 kinds of spiders contain toxic and bitter sap used to digest food. Because of this, the receptors in the pet's mouth are irritated, which manifests as hyper-salivation. If increased salivation does not go away on its own within a day, accompanied by vomiting or diarrhea, you need help from a specialist.
• Motion sickness. Many cats do not tolerate long trips. If profuse 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 from them. In this case, in addition to increased salivation, there will be other symptoms: decreased appetite and increased water consumption, the pet's abdomen swells and bloating in the large intestine is easily detected upon palpation, 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 techniques 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, medications, 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 the toxins as quickly 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 is blocked, leading to an excessive accumulation of saliva in the organ and the formation of one or more cysts. An additional symptom is swelling and soreness in the area of the gland.
• 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 materials, medicine 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 become dehydrated;
• Food should be introduced into the cat's diet gradually, starting with liquid food only;
• To avoid aggravating the situation and prevent a recurrence, carefully watch what you feed your cat: do not give her bony fish or food that might contain small, tough bits;
• 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 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 is hyper-salivation

Increased salivation in cats is called hyper salivation. The animal begins to secrete saliva in large quantities, the cat is constantly swallowing, washing his face, sometimes rubbing his face on the furniture. Be sure to see the doctor if hyper-salivation is accompanied by symptoms such as weakness or the other extreme – agitation, diarrhea with vomiting, skin rashes, itching, coughing, chomping. The pet may also have a fever.

There are many causes of hyper-salivation. They are divided into three groups.

• Increased salivation in cats can occur when teeth change. When this happens, the gums are sometimes irritated – hence the hyper salivation.
• When a cat smells the aroma of its favorite food, its taste buds are activated, and there is increased salivary secretion.
• If the pet takes bitter pills, this symptom may also appear. So can wiping and loss of teeth and age animals.

Psychological causes of profuse salivation include stress, such as being frightened because of interaction with other animals, a trip to the vet, or moving. The cat becomes hunted, tends to hide in a secluded place on his favorite couch, refuses to eat. To help him, you need to eliminate the factors that cause anxiety, offer a tasty treat, toys. When the pet calms down, the hyper-salivation will disappear.

• Oral diseases, such as periodontitis or gingivitis. Pay attention to your cat's gums: they are usually swollen and bleeding when this pathology occurs.
• If the animal is infected with the rabies virus he may also show hyper-salivation accompanied by photophobia and aggressive behavior.
• When poisoned with, for example, a remedy for parasites, cats are tormented by increased salivation. Intoxication is usually accompanied by diarrhea, vomiting, and fever. Hyper-salivation is also noted in cats suffering from gastritis, ulcers, worms, calcivirosis.
• Cats often produce a lot of saliva when they have tumors (both benign and malignant). If you notice that this symptom "coexists" with skin rashes, see your veterinarian immediately.

How is the diagnosis

See below, A cat is drooling – what to do?? Do not ignore this symptom and go to the doctor.

The doctor will examine the pet, check the condition of the mouth, skin, abdomen. This will help identify allergies or inflammation. Pets will also be referred for an ultrasound to look for possible tumors, or foreign bodies in the stomach.

A cat with hyper-salivation will have to undergo tests – blood, feces, and urine. Inflammation will be indicated by an increased content of red blood cells and white blood cells. If protein is detected in the urine, we are probably talking about an inflammatory process, disorders of the urinary system, kidney stones. Stool will indicate the presence of worms in the cat's body, and an MRI will indicate tumor processes.

Do not neglect comprehensive diagnosis if your cat has hyper-salivation. A visit to the veterinarian will help to identify the pathology in time and successfully treat it.

Cat salivating, 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 the saliva may get into the airways and cause suffocation.

It rarely reaches severe forms, so it is much more important to know why a cat is drooling. The cause can be trivial and easily eliminated, and the owner can deal with it on their own.

Causes of profuse cat salivation

Salivation in cats is a non-specific symptom. It is not a separate disease or a sign of any particular pathology. Causes of drooling can range from the trivial to the very life-threatening. The owner should look for additional signs that will indicate 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 cat sees food or a treat, smells the food, and has an appetite. It is a natural physiological process that prepares the mouth to receive food. Saliva is particularly strong in pets that eat dry food.

Unpleasant taste can cause excessive salivation. If the cat has eaten something bitter or with a pungent smell (some medicines or "trophies" from the garbage can), the cat salivates as a reflex. 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 gentle motions. You can not knock on the teeth, pull, tug, make sudden movements – so you can traumatize the animal. Be especially careful with fish bones, they can stick to the gums or palate. It is desirable to avoid contact of cat with bony fish at all.

Also on the mucosa can be seen small injuries that the pet 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 veterinary clinic if you notice 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. Keep a close eye on the animal after anesthesia. Do not leave him alone and strictly follow the instructions given by the veterinarian.
2. Do not allow long pauses 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 must be increased if you have a chronic illness and are 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!