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55 results for “cat difficulty swallowing”
Can a rabid cat infect a non-rabid cat through mating, and is a dog-like bark a sign of rabies?
Rabies spreads through saliva, not mating or blood; virus enters via wounds or mucous membranes and travels to the brain. A dog-like bark is NOT a rabies sign — rabid cats fear water and light, start lethargic and hide, then bite odd objects, drool and later become manic.
Why Cats Suddenly Lose Their Appetite
A sudden loss of appetite can come from mild causes, weather, heat, stress, or fussy eating, or from illness such as mouth pain, digestive trouble, parasites, or systemic disease. Find the cause first: treat oral pain with pet anti-inflammatories and oral spray, settle the gut with probiotics, and deworm if parasites are to blame.
Common Plants That Are Toxic to Cats
If you share your home with a cat, it is safest to skip houseplants, because most are toxic to cats. This guide lists common dangerous plants: lilies (every part is dangerous), lily-of-the-valley (roots are deadly), ivy (leaves and stems irritate the mouth and kidneys), azalea (gastrointestinal and pneumonia risk), daffodils (the whole plant is toxic and can cause convulsions), and poinsettia (burns the mouth and eyes). If your cat eats any toxic plant, get it to a vet immediately. Keep plants out of reach, separate them from your cat, and watch for chew marks.
Atropine-Class Drug Poisoning in Dogs and Cats
Atropine-class (antimuscarinic) drugs used as spasmolytics or eye drops can poison pets through overdose, causing dry mouth, excitement, dilated pupils, gut stasis and, severely, coma and breathing failure. A muscarinic agonist antidote reverses it.
Aflatoxin Poisoning in Dogs and Cats
Aflatoxins from mouldy food damage the liver, causing vomiting, jaundice and lethargy and, with long exposure, liver failure. There is no antidote, so prevention and prompt toxin removal are key.
Hypoglossal Nerve Paralysis in Dogs and Cats
Hypoglossal nerve paralysis causes the tongue to protrude from the mouth and makes eating, chewing, and swallowing difficult. It usually follows submandibular trauma, a hematoma, or a tumor pressing on the nerve, and chronic cases can lead to tongue atrophy.
Facial Nerve Paralysis in Dogs and Cats
Facial nerve paralysis is a failure of conduction in the facial nerve that causes a drooping ear, lip, and tongue, difficulty eating, and a risk of keratitis. It may follow ear disease, trauma, infection, or toxicity, and treatment removes the cause while protecting the eye.
Aspiration (Inhalation) Pneumonia in Dogs and Cats: Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention
Aspiration pneumonia occurs when material is inhaled into the lungs, causing airway and lung inflammation that can progress to lung gangrene. It is an emergency treated by clearing the airway, oxygen, and antibiotics.
Pneumonia in Dogs and Cats: Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention
Pneumonia is inflammation of the lung tissue from infection, irritation, or aspiration, causing high fever, breathing difficulty, and a painful cough. It is treated with antibiotics, cough and phlegm control, and oxygen when needed.
Tonsillitis in Dogs and Cats: Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention
Tonsillitis is acute or chronic inflammation of the tonsils, causing swallowing pain, drooling, and a soft cough. More common in dogs than cats, it is treated by controlling infection and, for recurring cases, surgical removal.