Hypersalivation in Cats (Increased Salivation): Causes and Treatments

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Hypersalivation in cats does not always indicate any disease. Increased saliva production is most often a natural reaction of the body to the effects of various irritants. You need to sound the alarm only in cases where salivation is accompanied by a deterioration in well-being. What diseases cause hypersalivation? When is urgent veterinary attention needed? We will consider these issues in the article.

Signs

What is hypersalivation? This is the name for increased salivation in cats. This condition is not necessarily indicative of an unhe althy pet. Most often, abundant salivation is caused by natural causes. However, you should take a closer look at the well-being of the animal, so as not to miss the signs of possible diseases.

Most often, hypersalivation is clearly visible. However, there are cases when salivation is not pronounced, and it can be determined bythe following indirect signs:

• wetting wool in the neck, chin and chest;
• pet wash frequently;
• dangling wet wool in the form of "icicles";
• tongue sticking out;
• moisture spots on the lying mat;
• frequent rubbing of the animal against various objects.

The secretion of the salivary glands can flow from the mouth in droplets, like water, or stand out in the form of foam. If hypersalivation is accompanied by changes in the behavior of the cat, then it is possible that this is due to the disease.

Natural causes

Why does a cat drool from its mouth? In most cases, this is due to the following physiological reasons:

1. The smell of food. Cats subtly capture the pleasant aroma of food. At the same time, their salivary glands are activated. This is a natural reaction of the body, because the secret is involved in the digestive process.
2. Stroking. Some breeds salivate when being petted by their owner. This is an expression of pleasure. In this case, hypersalivation in cats is accompanied by purring. This feature is distinguished by breeds with an elongated muzzle, for example, sphinxes or rexes.
3. Teething. This process is often accompanied by inflammation of the gums. There may be bad breath from the pet and refusal to eat. It is advisable to take the cat to the veterinarian, as it is not always possible to distinguish natural tooth growth from oral diseases on your own.
4. Heating. During this period, animals have an increased work of the glands of external and internal secretion.
5. Taking bitter medicines. Some tablets seem very unpleasant to animals. These drugs include antibiotics, "Nosh-pa", anthelmintics. Bitter taste provokes increased salivation. Cats may produce foamy fluid when swallowed.
6. Trips in transport. The vestibular apparatus in cats is rather weak. These animals are very prone to motion sickness, which is accompanied by drowsiness and profuse salivation.

It's not uncommon for cats to drool in stressful situations. Hypersalivation can occur when a pet moves to a new place, communicates with strangers, or encounters with dogs. In shy animals, salivation appears after visiting a veterinary clinic. With strong excitement, the cat begins to lick often and intensely.

When it's dangerous

Increased salivation in cats can be one of the symptoms of various pathologies. In this case, it is accompanied by a deterioration in well-being and changes in the behavior of the pet. Increased work of the salivary glands is noted in the following diseases and injuries:

• viral infections;
• poisoning;
• diseases of the digestive tract;
• dental pathologies;
• accumulation of trichobezoars (hairballs) in the intestines;
• getting into the esophagus of small inedible objects.

Next, we will take a closer look at the symptoms and treatment of these pathologies.

Infections

There are a number of diseases thatwhich cats drool from their mouths. Hypersalivation may be a sign of the following pathologies:

• respiratory viral infections;
• viral leukemia;
• rabies.

Rhinotracheitis and calcivirosis are viral respiratory diseases. Shortly after infection, the cat becomes lethargic, her temperature rises sharply. The animal often sneezes, mucous secretions leave the nose and eyes. If you examine the mouth of the animal, you can notice redness and sores.

For respiratory infections, veterinarians prescribe immunomodulators and antiviral drugs (Roncoleukin, Maksidin, Cycloferon) to animals, and also put saline droppers.

Viral leukemia is a severe infectious pathology in which the process of hematopoiesis is sharply disrupted. At an early stage of the disease, the pet's immunity drops, the animal becomes susceptible to various infections. Lymph nodes may enlarge. The cat suffers from frequent stomatitis, which is accompanied by salivation. In advanced cases, malignant tumors (lymphomas) appear and severe anemia develops. Viral leukemia cannot be completely cured. Therapy is aimed only at prolonging life and alleviating the condition of the pet. The animals are given a long course of antibiotics and anti-cancer drugs.

The most dangerous cause of hypersalivation in cats is rabies. This disease inevitably leads to the death of the animal. Pathology is caused by a virus that infectscentral nervous system. Infection occurs only when saliva enters the bloodstream (during a bite, licking).

In the early stages, the behavior of the animal changes. The cat becomes either overly affectionate or aggressive. Then there is hypersalivation. A viscous and foamy saliva constantly flows from the mouth. Due to paralysis of the muscles of the pharynx, the pet cannot swallow water. There is intolerance to loud sounds and even a light breath of wind. This is followed by the late stage of the disease, which leads to the appearance of convulsions and paralysis, the animal dies.

Unfortunately, rabies is incurable and 100% fatal. A sick cat poses a huge danger to the surrounding warm-blooded mammals (including humans). Therefore, veterinarians recommend euthanizing such an animal.

Intoxications

Hypersalivation in cats may be one of the signs of intoxication. By secreting a large amount of saliva, the body tries to get rid of poisons. Most often, cats are poisoned by spoiled food and poor quality prepared feed. Intoxication can also be provoked by eating toxic indoor plants, accidentally swallowing human medicines and detergents.

In case of poisoning, the cat vomits after eating undigested food, and liquid saliva constantly flows from the mouth. There are other symptoms of intoxication:

• diarrhea;
• apathy and lethargy;
• mournful meow (due to stomach pain);
• pupil dilation;
• convulsions (with neurotoxic poisoning).

BIn such cases, it is necessary to deliver the animal to a veterinary clinic as soon as possible. In case of poisoning, animals require drip infusion solutions. This will help remove toxins from the body faster. Hypersalivation completely disappears after recovery.

Internal Medicine

Increased salivation may be one of the signs of chronic diseases of the digestive system. Such a symptom often indicates the following pathologies:

• inflammatory processes (esophagitis) or neoplasms in the esophagus;
• gastric ulcer;
• gastritis;
• hernias in the digestive tract.

With these diseases, cats often vomit with salivation, and periods of diarrhea are replaced by constipation. The pet is worried about pain in the abdominal cavity, it makes plaintive sounds and does not tolerate touching the stomach. If the pathological process is localized in the esophagus, then there are difficulties in swallowing solid food.

Hernias and tumors in the digestive organs are treated exclusively by surgery. With gastritis and ulcerative processes, dietary nutrition is indicated with special therapeutic feeds. They also prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs and drugs to reduce the acidity of gastric juice.

Inflammation in the mouth

When hypersalivation in cats, it is necessary to carefully examine the pet's mouth and gums. A fairly common cause of excessive salivation are inflammatory processes - stomatitis and gingivitis. With such pathologiesthe mucous membrane of the mouth looks reddened, a fetid odor appears. The cat is refusing to eat due to pain.

In case of inflammation, it is necessary to treat the oral mucosa with special gels with antibiotics and antiseptic solutions. During an illness, a cat can only be given to eat soft, ready-made pâtés. Gingivitis and stomatitis should not be started, as these pathologies can lead to loosening and loss of teeth.

Trichobezoars

These are matted hairballs that enter the digestive tract when licked. In most cases, the cat burps them on its own. But sometimes they can accumulate in the intestines and are difficult to get out. This problem is more common in breeds with long and thick hair.

A situation is considered dangerous when trichobezoars completely cover the intestinal lumen, which leads to obstruction of the organ. With blockage of the gastrointestinal tract, the cat vomits after eating undigested food. During nausea, saliva is profusely secreted. So the body tries to get rid of the accumulated hair inside. There is severe constipation and bloating. The cat feels severe pain, often the animal rolls on the floor and makes plaintive sounds.

This condition requires emergency veterinary care, otherwise the pet may die. In mild cases, the animal is given an enema and a laxative. In case of severe blockage, trichobezoars are removed surgically.

Foreign bodies

Cats love to play with different objects. In this case, animals can accidentally swallow a foreign body that gets stuck inesophagus. This is a rather dangerous situation, as objects with an uneven surface can injure the walls of the organ.

Swallowing foreign bodies is always accompanied by increased salivation. In addition, the animal also has other symptoms:

• restless behavior;
• frequent and unsuccessful swallowing movements;
• stretching the neck;
• constipation;
• strong gagging;
• cough;
• burp;
• complete refusal to eat.

If a foreign object is in the esophagus for a long time, then the animal becomes very thin due to the impossibility of eating. In severe cases, this can lead to death from exhaustion.

It is urgent to take the cat to the veterinary clinic. Do not try to remove the object from the esophagus yourself, this can lead to serious injury. The specialist will take an x-ray, establish the exact localization of the foreign body and remove it with an endoscope.

Diagnosis

Hypersalivation can be a symptom of a variety of diseases. Only a specialist can determine the exact cause of the abundant separation of saliva. During the initial visit, the doctor conducts a thorough examination of the animal and prescribes the following examinations:

• blood and urine tests for general clinical indicators;
• research by PCR diagnostics for the presence of viruses;
• X-ray of the digestive tract.

If inflammatory processes of the oral cavity are suspectedcavity may require consultation with a veterinarian-dentist.

Prevention

To prevent serious pathologies accompanied by hypersalivation, veterinarians advise following these recommendations:

1. Vaccinate cats against viral infections on time.
2. Do not allow pets to come into contact with stray relatives and infected animals.
3. Monitor the quality and freshness of cat food.
4. Periodically examine the pet's oral cavity. If sores, sores or redness are found, take the cat to the veterinarian.
5. Keep household chemicals, poisonous houseplants and medicines out of reach.
6. Carefully monitor the safety of the cat when playing with objects.
7. Comb the coat regularly to avoid swallowing clumps.
8. It is advisable to give the cat special food, pastes and grass to remove hair from the stomach.

These simple steps will help keep your pet he althy and prevent dangerous diseases.