Article read by 14,362 pet owners
What is dysphagia?
Dysphagia is a fairly common problem in cats and refers to difficulty swallowing. This disease can be caused by a large number of reasons, but not all of them are treatable. The earlier the disease is diagnosed, the greater the chance of successful treatment.
Difficulty breathing can be a minor problem, or it can lead your pet to a serious condition. With prolonged dysphagia, the cat may lose weight due to the inability to drink or eat, despite normal appetite. The inability to swallow may indicate a local problem or severe, systemic diseases. If you notice that your pet is having difficulty swallowing, you should immediately contact your veterinarian and begin treatment.
The reasons
Diseases of the nerves of the brain, especially the lingual nerve or diseases of the masseter muscle (trigeminal nerve)
- Inflammation of the muscles of the chewing system
- Myasthenia gravis (autoimmune neuromuscular disease), muscular dystrophy(hereditary muscle anomaly), etc.
- Masticatory muscle paralysis caused by: rabies, tick paralysis or botulism (rare).
- Injury to the jaw, tongue or other lesions of the oral cavity.
- Glossitis (inflammation of the tongue), gingivitis (inflammation of the gums), stomatitis (inflammation of the mucous oral cavity) or pharyngitis (throat disease).
- Dental diseases
- Foreign bodies in the mouth or throat
- Tumors or cysts in the mouth or throat
- Diseases respiratory tract
- Cricopharyngeal achalasia (impaired relaxation of the sphincter of the vestibule of the esophagus)
Symptoms
- Salivation, sometimes with blood
- Gagging
- Chewing food with one side of the mouth
- Frequent swallowing movements
- Cough
- regurgitation of food
- Change in appetite
- Weight loss
- Pain in the head, mouth, or neck
- Head and neck deformity
- Nasal discharge
- Bad breath
- Weakness of muscles in other parts of the body
When your cat has difficulty swallowing and you are looking for advice on this topic on the Internet in the forums, we recommend that you do not self-medicate and experiment on your beloved cat. The fact is that there are many reasons for dysphagia in an animal, and the consequences of your experiment may disappoint you and your family. 
Diagnostics
It is very important to conduct a thorough examination, as some causes of dysphagia can be detected. Your veterinarian may recommend the following tests:
- Complete examination of the oral cavity under anesthesia
- General blood analysis
- Blood chemistry
- Analysis of urine
- X-ray of the mouth, skull, teeth and neck
- x-ray chest if the pet is coughing
They may also be assigned additional research, such as:
- throat ultrasound
- Pharyngoscopy (examination of the throat with a special mirror)
- Fluoroscopy using barium
- Blood test for myasthenia gravis, to detect inflamed muscles responsible for chewing or other autoimmune disorders
- Hormone analysis
- Electrodiagnostic studies
- Biopsy and cytology of tumors and cysts
Treatment
Treatment for dysphagia can vary depending on the cause. Some cats require maintenance therapy while causes are being investigated. primary disease. Supportive care includes the following methods:
- Nutritional adjustments, such as changing the consistency of food or the position of the cat during feeding. For feeding, you can use a special tube. Intravenous feeding may be indicated, depending on the disease.
- To prevent bacterial infections antibiotics may be prescribed.
- Surgical intervention for fractures of the jaw and palate, lacerations ah, to remove foreign bodies, cysts and tumors.
- Extraction of teeth for dental diseases
- Surgical correction of the upper respiratory tract
- Medicines for myasthenia gravis and hormonal disruptions
- Corticosteroids for inflammation of the muscles and tissues of the oral cavity
Care and maintenance
Follow all the recommendations of your veterinarian. If your pet's condition does not improve or gets worse, contact your veterinarian immediately. At proper treatment and leaving an animal with weakness or paralysis of the muscles, as well as the nerves of the brain, can recover in a few weeks. For the best rehabilitation, your pet needs home care.
Obviously, for predators, the condition of teeth and gums is of particular importance. Over thousands of years of evolution, they have developed their own program to maintain their teeth and gums in the appropriate "working" condition. The basis of this program is raw food and chewing raw bones. Contrary to popular belief, dry pet food does not help strengthen gums and teeth, nor does it prevent tartar formation. The main factor in the health of gums and teeth is normal function immune system, which is promoted by healthy food and the absence of stresses that weaken the body's defenses - that is, the absence of excessive use of allopathic drugs and the absence of toxins entering the body as part of junk food.
Causes of diseases
The oral cavity, especially the space between the teeth and gums, is the area of contact of the body with the microbes of the external environment. Normally, bacteria inhabit gastrointestinal tract throughout its length, including the oral cavity, but these bacteria do not cause the slightest harm to healthy animals. It is the immune system that prevents bacteria from entering the body. internal environment organism (in a certain sense digestive tract is also an "external system", since it communicates directly with external environment). Saliva contains two components that have antibacterial properties and inhibit the growth of bacteria. The first component is thiocyanate ions, which quickly destroy bacteria, especially when they enter the bacterial cell. The second component is lysozyme, which is a special enzyme with many useful properties. Due to lysozyme, small food particles are lysed, which remain in the oral cavity and are nutrient medium for bacteria; lysozyme has the ability to destroy bacterial cells and slow down their reproduction; finally, lysozyme makes it easier for thiocyanate ions to enter the cell1. Thus, the widespread opinion about the healing properties of saliva is quite justified.
When the function of the immune system is weakened for one reason or another, the process of penetration of bacteria into the body begins, and the invasion begins precisely from the gums. Hyperemia of the gums or a hyperemic border on the gums at the level of the teeth indicate the depth of the bacterial invasion, since the body initiates an inflammatory process in the area of invasion in order to protect itself. With further weakening of the function of the immune system, an inflammatory process of the gums (gingivitis) develops with all the symptoms inherent in inflammation.
The formation of tartar begins with the formation of plaque on the surface of the teeth due to the adherence of food debris. In the presence of bacteria, this process is greatly accelerated. If this plaque is not removed in about 24 hours, then it becomes compacted and tartar is formed, which gradually increases in size. The chewing of bones by carnivores is effective method natural cleaning of the teeth from plaque before it is compressed into tartar. When chewing any type of dry food, there is simply not enough frictional force to completely remove all food debris from the teeth. In addition, dry food contains a significant amount of carbohydrates that contribute to the formation of excess plaque on the teeth. Saliva is a natural plaque remover; in addition, salivation contributes to the irrigation of the teeth and prevents the growth of bacterial microflora.
gum problems
Cats are especially prone to gum disease. The main reason for this phenomenon in cats is poor quality food. Symptoms of gingival inflammation in cats in the form of redness, swelling and ulceration resemble the symptoms of scurvy, which used to be typical disease sailors on long voyages. In humans, the cause of scurvy is usually considered to be a deficiency of vitamin C - which is why the body reacts in such a wonderful way to an increase in the content of this vitamin in food. However, scurvy among sailors on long voyages arose not only due to vitamin C deficiency, but also due to the fact that food on ships simply could not be preserved for a long time before. In the absence of refrigerators and freezers both meat and cereals spoiled quickly. It is known that spoiled products contain great amount free radicals that cause tissue destruction. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals. Thus, vitamin C deficiency had both a direct and indirect effect on the development of scurvy. harmful substances. It is possible that the sensitivity of cats to food is due to this factor. It is possible that the strongest inflammation of the gums in cats is a kind of manifestation of scurvy. However, in response to an increase in the content of vitamin C in the diet, cats do not develop such an amazingly fast reaction as in humans, perhaps due to the fact that humans have much better detoxification processes than cats. In addition, the immune system of cats is weakened by the effects of vaccination.
List of diseases
Tonsillitis
Also rare disease cats. The tonsils are a collection of lymphadenoid tissue resembling the lymph glands located on the back wall throats, like humans. They are invisible until they become inflamed.
The symptoms of the disease are the same as with pharyngitis, but the body temperature is much higher - 39.4 ° C and above, and the cat looks sicker. As a rule, the disease is based on a bacterial infection.
Treatment is the same as for pharyngitis. Put your cat on a liquid diet, give antibiotics penicillin series within ten days.
Removal of the tonsils is recommended for recurrent tonsillitis and if the tonsils interfere with breathing and swallowing.
Jacobs ulcer
In most cases, the ulcer appears in the middle upper lip. Occurs less frequently on lower lip or on the oral mucosa.
First, a shiny yellow or reddish spot appears, which then turns into a weeping erosive surface. The animal does not experience itching and pain. As the ulceration progresses, a large lip defect appears, exposing the teeth and gums. Over time, the ulcer can transform into cancer or fibrosarcoma.
The cause of the disease is unknown. In some cases, it is associated with infection of the teeth. Ulcers have been found in animals that have had feline leukemia virus, which is most likely due to low immunity. However, not all cats with a painless ulcer develop viral leukemia. The theory of the allergic nature of this disease has recently been put forward. In addition, something similar, manifested by ulceration and granulation, occurs in other parts of the body.
Diagnosis is based on characteristic appearance, course and localization of the ulcer. In doubtful cases, a biopsy is performed. All cats with Jacobs ulcer should be tested for feline leukemia.
Treatment is carried out under the strict supervision of a veterinarian. Since it is a precancerous disease, intensive care needs to start as early as possible.
lacerations
Wounds of the oral mucosa are quite common, mainly after cat fights and bites from other animals. Some animals cause damage themselves: a cat may suddenly bite its lip, as we do. Other injuries result from the cat picking up and licking sharp objects, such as a canned food lid. Sometimes there is damage to the lip with a fang. An extremely rare tongue injury is frostbite that occurs when the tongue comes into contact with a metal object on severe frost. When released from the object, the mucous membrane of the tongue comes off, exposing the wound bleeding surface.
Treatment. To stop bleeding, apply a clean gauze pad or tissue flap. A cat experiencing pain in the mouth must be fixed. Small cuts, in which the bleeding stops on its own, are not sutured. For a while, they are simply pressed with a gauze pad. Suturing is used in the presence of deep lacerations with lacerated edges and in cases of incessant bleeding. If the tongue is injured, the mouth must be opened. You may have to pull out the tongue to get a better view of the damage. If the wound is caused by a misaligned tooth, it must be removed.
Puncture wounds tend to become infected, so they must be treated promptly.
Rinse your cat's mouth twice a day while the wound is healing. weak solution antiseptic. Follow a sparing diet - food should be soft. Do not give dry kibble, soft and small tubular bones, as well as other foods that a cat must chew.
Inflammation of the gums
Tartar, the accumulation between the teeth of food debris or wool - primary cause inflammation. Because gingival inflammation is a sign of periodontitis and threatening "tooth decay", it cannot be ignored.
With inflammation of the gums, they will be reddened, painful and swollen; bleed if rubbed. Later, the edges of the gums move away from the teeth, pockets and cracks appear. Food that gets into them causes inflammation along the gums - when pressed, pus comes out from under them, which leads to periodontitis and caries. When the condition worsens, the cat loses its appetite, looks untidy, hardly captures food, and salivation is sometimes noted.
Treatment consists of daily cleaning of the teeth and gums (in last resort two times a week). After that, the gums are massaged with fingers or a gauze swab, making uniform circular movements, pressing on the outer surface of the gums. The course of treatment is carried out full recovery. Antibiotics are prescribed to treat the infection.
Inflammation of the tongue
Infectious inflammation of the tongue is called glossitis. It often occurs in immunodeficiency conditions such as feline leukemia, feline immunodeficiency syndrome, and feline viral respiratory disease complex.
Irritation of the tongue can develop when a cat licks thorns or clinging plant seeds from its fur. When licking from the paws of those who fell on them irritants there may be a burn of the mucous membrane of the tongue.
And when licking a metal object in the cold - its frostbite. Burns, frostbite, abrasions, wounds, cuts of the tongue can become infected.
A cat with an inflamed tongue has a unkempt appearance, the hair on the front of the neck is damp due to drooling or foamy discharge from the mouth, she refuses to eat because of severe pain. When healing, the mucous membrane of the tongue is exfoliated. In this case, the hard spikes of the tongue disappear. Tongue red, lacquered. Ulcers and weeping erosive areas may appear.
Treatment. Rinse your cat's mouth twice a day with a weak solution (1-2%) of hydrogen peroxide. Antibiotics, such as ampicillin, are given twice a day. Because due to pain syndrome it is difficult for a cat to eat and drink, pre-soak the food to a liquid consistency.
Inflammation of the lips
This disease often occurs as a result of periodontitis (inflammation of the periosteum of the tooth root) and infectious diseases oral cavity. Stings with weeds and thickets can lead to inflammation and cracking of the lips. When in contact with plants that have irritant, there is peeling of the lips.
Treatment. Wash the affected area with a 1:5 diluted hydrogen peroxide and lubricate with an ointment containing an antibiotic and steroids (neocort) 2 times a day. When inflammation is attenuating, lubricate your lips with petroleum jelly so that the skin becomes soft and supple. With periodontitis, for prevention possible complications need for dental treatment.
Stomatitis
With inflammation of the mucous membrane of the oral cavity, cats experience profuse salivation, she shakes her head, rubs her muzzle with her paw, refuses to eat and tries to run away during the examination.
The mucous membrane of the oral cavity is reddened, swollen, painful, the gums bleed easily, there is a bad smell from the mouth. The cat does not care for itself and looks sloppy. This state called stomatitis, or inflammation of the oral mucosa.
A specific type of stomatitis is thrush, commonly seen in young cats after long-term treatment broad-spectrum antibiotics or steroids, and in cats with reduced body resistance due to serious illness. You will notice that the mucous membrane is covered with soft white patches that merge into a whitish film on the gums and tongue. As further development diseases appear painful ulcers.
Treatment. Under anesthesia, the veterinarian performs oral cavity sanitation, removes tartar or removes diseased teeth. Ulcers are cauterized with silver nitrate solution. The phenomena of inflammation are stopped by antibiotics. A sparing diet is prescribed: raw soft food - they are diluted with water to a liquid consistency. The mouth is irrigated daily with a dilute hydrogen peroxide solution. Held hygiene care behind the mouth.
In the treatment of thrush, large doses of B vitamins and antifungal drugs, such as nystatin, are recommended. It is extremely important to treat all concomitant diseases.
Tumors of the oral cavity
Any solid swelling in the mouth must be taken very seriously. Most tumors in the mouth are cancerous.
In the presence of any tumors, the cat should be immediately examined by a veterinarian.
Inflammation of the throat (pharyngitis)
Pharyngitis in cats is extremely rare. In most cases, the disease is caused by a common viral infection or oral disease. The disease is accompanied by fever, cough, nausea, pain when swallowing and loss of appetite.
A similar picture is observed in the presence of a foreign body in the pharynx, as well as in tonsillitis, which must be taken into account when making a diagnosis.
Treatment. An urgent need to contact a veterinarian. Treatment begins after identifying the cause of the disease. Antibiotics such as penicillin are used (for a week). Put your cat on a liquid diet.
Foreign bodies of the oral cavity and pharynx
Most often in the oral cavity of cats there are bone fragments, wood chips, sewing needles and pins, fish hooks and plant thorns. They penetrate the lips, tongue, gums and palate, get stuck between the teeth. Suspicion of foreign body may occur if your cat coughs, chokes, licks or rubs his lips frequently, cannot close his mouth, drools profusely, shakes his head, and rubs his paw over his mouth. Sometimes the only signs are weakness, refusal to eat, bad smell from mouth, general malaise and shortness of breath or an untidy appearance. Small thorns of plants, thorns and splinters can dig into the tongue. They can be removed with tweezers. More often a foreign body is found on the lower surface of the tongue. If there is a swelling like a grape, or a canal, this indicates the presence of a foreign body. Some cats, especially kittens, may choke on balls, rags, fish hooks, other objects, and toys when they grab them in their mouths. They choke on small rubber balls and other objects that fall into back pharynx and blocking the trachea; stuck bones also cause choking and obstruction. At the same time, the animal appears vomiting, suffocation when swallowing; it stretches its neck, and sometimes tries to get rid of the interfering object with its paw. If the cat coughs vigorously, and breathing is difficult, then a foreign body has entered the larynx.
Treatment. If you suspect a foreign body, open the cat's mouth - and you will see the reason. You can immediately remove the foreign body, but the restless animal must first be given a sedative or analgesic. If a foreign body enters the throat, when the passage of air is disturbed, it is urgent to contact a veterinarian. If the cat is unconscious, the foreign body should be removed immediately to restore airway patency. Open your mouth, fix the neck below the foreign body, squeeze the throat so that it does not move while you extrude the object with your fingers. Do this as quickly as possible, then swipe artificial respiration. Foreign bodies left for a day or more become infected, so antibiotics are recommended a wide range actions such as penicillin.
Preventive measures. Do not let the cat play with small, especially easily torn objects. Do not give chicken and tubular bones.
Salivation
Normally, cats, like most dogs, do not drool. As a rule, salivation is associated with taking bitter medicines or before an injection due to feelings of anxiety, fear and nervous restlessness.
If your cat is drooling and exhibiting unusual behavior, beware of the possibility of rabies.
Salivation accompanied by tearing may be caused by a viral respiratory disease cats. Salivation may be associated with painful inflammatory processes oral cavity: stomatitis, gingivitis, glossitis, periodontitis and others, as well as with a foreign body.
Heat stroke, poisoning with certain poisons (insecticides, arsenic) cause profuse salivation.
Treatment depends on the identification of the cause and the possibility of its elimination.
Tumors and cysts of the salivary glands
Damage salivary gland usually occurs as a result of cat fights or trauma. The ducts are blocked by thick secretions, stones, or foreign bodies such as food particles or plant thorns. The fluid accumulates and breaks the duct, which leads to the formation of a mucous cyst in the gland - the mucocele.
A cyst can form anywhere salivary glands ah, but most often it occurs in the submandibular gland. In this case, the cyst is large, smooth and round, located in the floor of the mouth under the tongue (on one side). Less commonly, a cyst occurs on the wall of the pharynx.
Large mucous cysts interfere with swallowing and breathing. When the cyst is punctured, a thick, mucus-like, honey-colored substance is removed. Sometimes this is enough for a complete recovery, but most often it is required complete removal glands.
Tumors of the salivary glands are extremely rare, mainly in older cats. In most cases they are cancerous. They look like dense, slowly growing bumps on the neck or side of the muzzle. If the tumor is removed before it has metastasized, the cat usually recovers.
Gingivitis
Local disease (often accompanying periodontal disease). Usually accompanied by an unpleasant odor from the cat's mouth.
There are acute and chronic gingivitis. Red, bloodshot gums can be a sign of gingivitis. In addition, sometimes it appears as a bright red edging along the edges of the gums.
There are many causes of gum disease. From infectious diseases such as feline calicivirus and immunodeficiency infection to chemical irritation and gum injury. In addition, susceptibility to tartar and oral diseases is often genetically transmitted.
Other causes of the disease. Serious illnesses- such as chronic kidney failure or diabetes - can cause inflammation of the gums and stomatitis. This is due to the fact that any chronic, debilitating disease of the cat's body suppresses it. immune system, and therefore makes it more prone to inflammation of the oral cavity.
Diagnosis and treatment must be prescribed by a veterinarian.
The state of the dentogingival system is an indicator of order in the internal organs of a cat. If there are problems with the teeth, this is a signal of a disease not only of the digestive organs, but also of malfunctions in other systems.
One of the most common problems in cats is squeaking - unpleasant sound surfaces of tooth enamel rubbing against each other.
It happens that a pet grinds its teeth only during meals, and it happens that the process continues all the time or occurs regardless of the meal.
Causes of teeth grinding while eating
It should be understood that the grinding of the teeth is only a consequence / symptom of some more serious cause that must be found and eliminated!
periodontal disease
Inflammation of the gums.
Pathological degenerative condition of the periodontal tissues, when there is a destruction of the tooth "pocket" and a violation of the attachment of the tooth in the hole. This leads to loosening of the teeth and to their excessive friction.
Tartar
Tartar in a cat.
Dense yellowish-brown outgrowths that occur mainly on the enamel-gingiva border (dental groove).
These formations consist of plaque, waste products of pathogenic and opportunistic microbes and the bacteria themselves, food debris.
It is impossible to remove this plaque with an ordinary brush, and even in conditions of resistance of a cat. Professional hygienic cleaning ultrasonic apparatus and sanitation of the oral cavity with disinfecting solutions in a veterinary clinic.
Gingivitis
Do not give a cat bones for dogs!!!
Milk teeth of a cat on the palm.
It happens at the age 5-6 months- , and permanent ones appear in their place. You just need to get through this period.
The cat grinds its teeth and seems to be chewing something
Consider the causes of squeaking teeth, which do not depend on food intake.
Liver failure
The products of bile metabolism are released into the blood and deposited in the tissues. bile acids and their salts are rather aggressive substances that lead to bitterness in the mouth and itchy gums .
The cat has itchy teeth due to liver failure.
Therefore, the animal tries to “comb” its gums - a creak of teeth is heard.
Chronic renal failure in advanced stages
Blood purification products do not leave the body.
Urea salts (urates) and nitrates that are not excreted circulate through the blood, and the body tries to remove their excess through skin and mucous membranes. From the pet's hair and from his mouth begins to smell like urine.
Urates, accumulating on the surface of the enamel, make it dull and rough. Therefore, when rubbing teeth and chewing, a characteristic sound is heard.
Uremic gastritis
Another consequence kidney failure- uremic.
Nitro compounds and urates, contributing to the formation of numerous erosions on it.
Often, with such a pathology, reflux occurs - a reverse flow of the contents of the stomach into the esophagus, which can reach the oral cavity. Gastric acid in combination with urea salts has a detrimental effect on enamel, contributing to its destruction.
Chlorhexidine is a reliable antiseptic.
When the squeak is associated with pathologies of the dentogingival system, sanitation of the oral cavity, the use of antiseptics will help:
- hydrogen peroxide,
- Chlorhexidine,
- furacillin solution,
- Gel Metrogyl.
If the grinding of the teeth is associated with kidney or liver failure, need conduct a survey internal organs cats and take . The sooner the correct diagnosis is made and the appropriate treatment is prescribed, the more likely it is to save the pet.
Loading...