Cat Drooling Problems

Cats sometime drool on there owners when they are happy and being loved on but cats rarely drool with joy. In a veterinary setting, drooling more likely signifies that something is wrong.

Saliva is continuously formed by the salivary glands.  Too much creation and discharge of saliva is called ptyalism.  Oral problems and central nervous system disorders are regular reasons for ptyalism and subsequent drooling.  Ptyalism should not be confused with pseudoptyalism, in which ordinary amounts of saliva is being formed in the mouth, but it overflows from the mouth due to anatomic abnormalities, such as malocclusion (irregular arrangement of the teeth), or to an lack of ability or unwillingness to swallow because of pain connected with swallowing.

Some examples of problems in the mouth are:

• Bee stings
• Dental disease (broken, decayed, or abscessed teeth)
• Gum disease (periodontal disease)
• Oral ulcer or laceration
• Oral foreign body (fish hook, fish bone, splinter)
• Oral mass (tumor)
• Salivary gland cyst

Other signs of oral disease that may come with drooling are bad breath, difficulty eating, or refusal to eat the normal foods. The kitten may look uncomfortable. Occasionally drooling is the first and only sign of a problem.

Problems in the body that can cause drooling include:

• Advanced kidney disease
• Disorders of the esophagus, stomach, nausea, or intestines–blockage
• Portosystemic shunt (a liver disorder)
• Rabies
• Exposure to toxins or caustic chemicals

Kidney malfunction is a very frequent condition. Felines with harsh kidney failure may have considerable urine in the blood (Uremic).  Uremic cats often grow ulcers on the tongue, gums, and lips.  These ulcers are agonizing, and many of these kittens drool as an outcome. These ulcers are visible on a oral exam.

A variety of drugs and toxins can cause hyper salivation in Felines.  distasteful drugs can cause cats to salivate abundantly if the pill unintentionally lands on the tongue during administration. These drugs need a client that is skillful in pilling.  Overdosing of flea and tick products that have permethrin or pyrethrins can lead to ptyalism, as can the secretions of various toads, and the poison of the black widow spider.  Plants, including poinsettias, and Christmas trees can cause amplified salivation. Household cleaning products can aggravate the oral mucosa, resulting in hyper salivation.

A orderly approach is essential for diagnosing the primary cause of drooling in cats.  Though it may seem apparent when a cat is drooling from happiness, any signs of illness, including unusual behavioral changes, oral discomfort, bad odor to the saliva, or saliva that has blood in it should be investigated by your veterinarian.