My Cat Suddenly Started Drooling So I Took Her To The Emergency Vet
It was Sunday morning, and my cat Elsa Clair strolled across my desk, walked between my hands on the keyboard and settled herself in my lap. I gave her a few pets, and noticed a drop of water on my laptop. I brushed it away, not really thinking about it. Absentmindedly, I began scratching my cat under the chin an activity that revs the purr motor up significantly. My hand came away wet.
What was going on? I looked at Elsa Clairs face and saw a small drop of saliva drip onto my pants. I wiped her face with my hand and then shed had enough and retreated back to her bed on my desk.
Elsa Clair in her bed on my desk in the fall.
I didnt think much of it, until about twenty minutes later, when I looked up at her as she stretched and changed her position. I watched as another drop of saliva formed and fell onto her paw. I stood up to pet her and thats when I saw that the entire area where her head had previously been was soaked.
Something was obviously very wrong.
When Should You Call The Vet
You should call your vet if your cat drools excessively for more than a few hours or slobbers all the time. Other symptoms that should prompt a veterinary consultation include:
- Foul-smelling breath
- Inability to eat, drink, or swallow
- Weakness and lethargy
When you bring your kitty in for an exam, the vet may also run tests to rule out underlying conditions:
- Blood count and chemistry panel
- X-ray or ultrasound
Depending on the doctors findings, he may
- Recommend a dental cleaning or dental work and administer antibiotics if there are signs of an infection
- Give IV fluids, supportive care, antibiotics, and other medications as indicated to treat kidney or liver disease
- Treat heat stroke with IV fluids, oxygen, and other supportive care
- Conduct surgery to remove an intestinal blockage. Care may include IV fluids, anti-inflammatory medications, and pain-controlling drugs.
How To Stop A Cat From Drooling
The only way to stop your cat from drooling is to identify the reason behind it. I always recommend bringing your cat to the veterinarian for proper diagnosis and treatment.
You should also observe your cat after the medication. Also, never administer any drug to your pet unless the vet prescribed it. You may do more harm than good on your cats condition if you do so.
Some of the causes of drooling among cats can be treated at home. The likes of a stuck foreign object can be solved with gentle and careful removable of the matter. But when it doubt, the vet is the best person to consult.
However, if your cats drooling is frothy and thick, you shouldnt waste any moment. You should phone the vet for immediate examination. Mouth foaming among cats can be a sign of rabies, which can infect humans.
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Drooling May Be A Side Effect Of Your Cats Medication
If your cat has recently started a new medication drooling may be a side effect of the medication. Most vets will warn you if thats the case, but you can always call and double-check if its an unexpected side effect.
Even if medication is causing your cats drooling, it may still be a symptom you need to manage if your cat stays on the same medication. Helping your cat avoid dehydration and otherwise managing their drooling can help keep them healthier and happier.
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Normal Reasons For Cats To Drool
Although drooling in cats is not a normal physiological response and often indicates that something is medically wrong, it is not all doom and gloom. There are some reasons why your cat is drooling but acting completely normal. In these cases, a little bit of dribble is nothing to worry about!
To put your mind at ease, here are the six most common reasons why your cat is suddenly drooling when nothing is wrong with them.
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Final Thoughts About Cat Drool
We understand that owners are concerned about the health of their pets. Moderate drooling is normal though, and owners should have no worries if their cat is doing it. If you observe your cat drooling without stimulation, then its time to check in to see whats up.
Your cat should not have a drooling pattern that is similar to a dogs. If you notice excessive drooling, the cause can be linked to oral and gum disease. Always check your cats mouth and try to brush your pets teeth regularly. Stay up to date with vet visits and pay attention to your pet, those two things alone can help prevent most of the causes of abnormal drooling. Look over here for more info.
A Blockage In The Gastrointestinal Tract
Gastrointestinal foreign body blockage is one cause of nausea in cats, which can lead to drooling. Your vet would need to do a physical exam to determine if there is a blockage. Vets sometimes will find a string or ribbon stuck under the cats tongue, which often extends down further into the cats GI tract .
If there is concern that your cat may have a gastric or small intestinal foreign body thats not associated with a string/ribbon, your veterinarian will recommend imaging such as x-rays and/or abdominal ultrasound.
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Reason Five: Neurological Disorder
Believe it or not, cats can also suffer from epilepsy and stroke. Other neurological conditions are rare, but there have been documented cases of an infection starting in the ear and penetrating the brain cavity.
Older cats can also show signs of dementia and disorientation. All these conditions can lead to bodily function loss.
It may start with something as strange as drooling, which can be caused by a weakened swallowing action.
In a young cat like mine, degenerative neurological conditions would be rare, but it may be a good bet to rule out this with an enzyme test to check for normal brain chemistry.
Some Helpful Hints For Determining Cat Emergencies That Need Your Vets Attention Asap
The following list is designed to help you recognize cat emergencies that always warrant an immediate trip to the vet. However, it is not exhaustive, and you may find yourself in an ambiguous situation not covered on the list. If you are wondering whether you need to get out of your pajamas and head to the emergency cat vet in such a situation, there are some guidelines you can follow.
One useful indicator of cat health is the color of the gums. Lift your cats lip and look at his gums now. They should be pink and moist. Check them regularly, and youll get a sense of what they look like normally. If you suspect your cat is sick and the gums are pale, grey, blue or bright red, then your cat most likely is in trouble .
Remember as well that you are always free to call your cat vet or your local emergency clinic to talk about any ambiguous situation. The staff should be able to offer guidance.
Finally, remember that when in doubt it is always safest to have a vet evaluate your cat. A physical exam that reveals nothing wrong causes no harm doing nothing about a critical situation can lead to a fatal outcome.
Now lets list some of the most common and serious cat emergencies:
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My Cat Is Drooling More Than Usual
If your cat drools more than usual, its important to observe their behavior and see if there are any signs of illness. If they seem otherwise normal, theres no need to worry. However, if they are also acting lethargic or refusing to eat, its best to take them to the vet for medical attention.
Cat drooling can have different causes, for example, excitement, stress, hot weather, and certain health conditions. It can also be a sign of an underlying medical condition, such as kidney disease or liver disease.
Increased drooling can also be a sign of a health problem such as dental issues, including gum disease, mouth ulcers, or tooth injuries. Its important to keep an eye on your cats oral health. Regular brushing and dental check-ups can help to prevent these issues.
Some medical conditions can also cause cats to drool, so if your cat is drooling excessively, its always best to check with your veterinarian to rule out any potential health problems.
Why Is My Cat Drooling And Not Eating
Why is my cat drooling all of a sudden? Cat drooling can be a sign that your pet has dental problems. Mouth ulcers, lesions, tooth injuries, and gum infections will make your cat drool too much. Its also possible that a foreign object got stuck inside its mouth, or your cat got exposed to a toxic substance. Drooling is your cats way of expelling these foreign matters. But whatever the reason behind the drooling, you must get your cat checked by the vet.
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Why Is My Cat Drooling All Of A Sudden 7 Reasons Why
Updated on By MrBossCat Team
It is rare we see our feline friends with their mouths open unless theyre playing, yawning, or eating. And its even less likely that we see our cats drooling. If you spot your cat drooling a lot suddenly, youre probably confused: why is my cat drooling all of a sudden?
The sudden onset of drooling is often linked with stress. However, your cat might also feel nauseous or have eaten something toxic! There is also a possibility that your cat has sustained an oral injury, developed dental disease or suffered from heatstroke.
I run through these possible reasons for sudden excessive salivation and more on this page. So before you run and call your veterinarian, take a read through and see which applies. Your little furball might be fine, or it could need some serious veterinary attention.
Cat Throwing Up White Foam Lethargic Not Eating: Reasons And What To Do To Stop The Vomiting
It is pretty common for cats to vomit. It is a reality that most cat owners have to contend with. What if you spot your cat throwing up white foam, as opposed to food or water, though? This can scare the hell out of you and leave you with question, is she sick? Cats vomit white foam for many different reasons ranging from gastric problems to hairballs. This page highlights some of the common reasons why cats can puke a white foamy liquid along with symptoms associated with them.
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Cat Drooling While Purring
Drooling is sometimes seen in healthy cats. For instance, some cats drool while very relaxed and receiving positive stimulation like petting. The drooling is often accompanied by purring. Sometimes cats may drool and purr while kneading a blanket or other soft material.
The reason for this is largely unknown, but it appears to be behavioral and not a medical problem. If your cat has always been a drooler when relaxed and purring, but seems fine at other times, its likely not a problem.
Reason Four: Bacterial Infection
Cats eat any manner of animals and even bugs that they can find and hunt. Whether they actually devour their prey or simply toy with them, your cat will be placing strange animals in their mouth.
This habit of theirs can ultimately cause them to harbor both bacterial and fungal infections.
Drooling can be a symptom of this. Initially, you may not believe your cat to be sick as drooling can be the only side effect, but over time, this will likely worsen, and your cat can contract secondary infections.
The best option is to have your vet do a swab test and rule out any nasty lurking infections. Some vets will prescribe a preventative course of antibiotics just to be safe.
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Why Is My Cat Drooling In The Car And Should I Be Worried
Why did my cat start drooling after being given Benadryl? Original Question: Little man whines and meows all night long and we canât sleep and I gave him a 1/4 mg of dissolved Benadryl in a dropper but he spat it out and it seems to make him slobber or make him temporary ill. â Myra. Cat My sister was heavily traumatized by one of my momâs cats as a kid. Clearly I am the only veterinarian in the family. Apollo spent the entirety of my sisterâs visit following her around the house, sitting on her lap, drooling on her in happiness, rubbing between her legs
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A Lethargic Cat Can Look A Lot Like A Tired Cat But There Is An Important Difference
. If your cat drools out of apprehension it will not persist. Has only been drooling since this morning. Presence of foreign bodies in the mouth.
It is not a normal behavior and a cause for concern. In some cases extreme stress fear and anxiety can make a cat drool. There are many possible causes.
If you suspect your pet is sick call your vet immediately. As you mentioned I have written about several different causes from bad teeth and gums to toxins to heart disease. Technically lethargy in cats is never normal but it is sometimes expected.
In either event it generally stops at the end of the ride. Prompt medical attention should be given especially if you suspect the ingestion of a foreign body or toxins. When this happens they may suffer a nervous reaction that is in response to the injury.
Up to 15 cash back My cat is drooling but otherwise is acting normal. My cat is drooling but otherwise is acting normal. Your cat definitely needs to see a vet if they.
Vets sometimes will find a string or ribbon stuck under the cats tongue which often extends down further into the cats GI tract stomach small intestine. If you are still unsure why your cat is drooling its best to get them checked by a vet. A cat may salivate or drool for many different reasons.
I caught him Answered by a verified Cat Veterinarian. A cat that is suddenly drooling excessively requires emergency veterinary care if it persists for any length of time. Drooling like this is often accompanied by purring.
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Increased Drooling One Symptom Of Heatstroke
Increased drooling can be one of the first signs that a cat is overheating. When a cats body temperature rises above 104 degrees Fahrenheit, they begin to pant to cool down. However, if the environment is too hot or the cat is unable to cool down, their body temperature will continue to rise.
At this point, the cat may start to experience symptoms such as increased drooling, dizziness, weakness, panting, lethargy, vomiting, and confusion.
If left untreated, heat stroke can be fatal. Therefore, it is important to be aware of the signs of heat stroke and take immediate action if your cat appears to be overheating.
Causes Of Occasional Short
Some common causes of cat drooling are behavioral, fairly benign, and quite short-lived. These include:
- Salivation from fear or extreme excitement.
- caused by motion or fear.
- Nausea causes some cats to smack their lips and foam at the mouth, and others drool excessively before vomiting a .
- Occasionally, a cat drools with pleasure while being petted. This is described in more detail in the article ââ
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Your Cat May Be Suffering From Congestive Heart Failure
Congestive heart failure can result in fatigue and difficulty breathing, both of which can make your cat less interested in eating.
In addition, medications or a new food thats prescribed for heart disease may affect your cats appetite, especially if the new food is less palatable than what your cat is accustomed to eating.1
What To Do When Cat Is Suddenly Drooling Excessively
Prompt consultation with your vet should be done so he can do a thorough check-up and diagnosis of the hypersalivation. Aside from doing a physical, oral, and dental exam, these are the other tests that may be done:
- dental x-rays to identify if the drooling was due to dental disease
- a biopsy in the case of a mass or oral lesion
- a complete blood count or CBC to check for inflammation or anemia
- urinalysis to check the metabolic status
- a biochemical profile to check for kidney and liver disorder
- neck x-ray to check for a foreign object, mass or disorder in the esophagus
- chest and abdominal x-rays to check for disorders in the chest and abdomen
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The Best News Ever: Elsa Clair Is Okay
The next morning, as I prepared another meal for a less-than-optimal number of cats, Dr. Michael Zaid, Animerges internal medicine specialist, called with fabulous news. Elsa Clair was a normal cat. Her lab numbers were back to normal, as was her temperature. Her ultrasound was unremarkable. She had stopped drooling. She was alert and trying to rub him through the bars of the cage, though it was obvious she was scared. Like the other vets, he asked me questions about what she might have consumed.
Would I feel comfortable taking her home? With tears of relief choking my voice, I told him of course.
But what had happened to Elsa Clair? He asked me similar questions as the other two vets. He thought perhaps she did get into something, somewhere. The tech who checked us out when I went to pick up the cat told me it could have been as simple as she caught and ate the wrong insect. This was a possible answer, as Elsa Clair is an expert bug hunter. Dr. Zaid thought the bloodwork results may have been a mistake a technology error because a urine sample did not reflect similar results as the blood, which was really unusual.
Still, they sent us home with antibiotics, since Elsa Clair seemed to respond, a decision I agreed with wholeheartedly.
Did I do the right thing? Bring my cat to the emergency vet because she was drooling? Absolutely. And Id do it again.
We may never know what happened to Elsa Clair. It doesnt really matter that much to me. Or to my cat.