How to treat if a cat's tongue is injured. Salivary gland cyst in a cat. Functional brain disorders

Sores in your cat's mouth (or oral cavity) - This open wounds which can affect the gums and tongue. They form on delicate tissues in the mouth and become eroded, which can be caused by injury, infection or cancer.
They are not a disease in themselves, but rather they are a symptom.

There are a number of causes of oral ulcers in cats, some of which include:

– virus
– poisoning
– stomatitis
– feline herpes
– thermal or electrical burn
– oral cancer

What to do about cat mouth ulcers?

Mouth ulcers are small, painful, round, white lesions that affect the tongue and gums.

There is a common viral infection in cats called “cat flu”, which causes upper respiratory symptoms such as sneezing, nasal discharge, rhinitis and mouth ulcers. Cats become infected either directly through direct contact with the secretions of an infected cat, or indirectly through inanimate objects, such as bowls and bedding.

Treatment for the virus can be with antibiotics, which are prescribed to treat a secondary bacterial infection. You can also remove secretions from your nose and eyes with a warm, damp cloth.

Feline herpes

Feline herpes is another common viral infection that causes upper respiratory symptoms. Kittens and geriatric cats are at greater risk than healthy adult cats.

Treatment is similar to that of the virus, including supportive care such as clearing secretions from the eyes and nose, giving more fluids to treat dehydration, antiviral drugs and in some cases, give antibiotics to treat a secondary bacterial infection.

Stomatitis in cats

Stomatitis is an inflammation of the lining of the mouth, the exact cause is not known, but the immune system is thought to influence it, possibly due to oral bacteria, other causes may include infections, certain medications and metabolic diseases.

Treatment of stomatitis is complex, here you need to find the root cause, if possible, brush your teeth, antibiotics may be prescribed to reduce inflammation.

Thermal or electrical burns in cats

These burns are less common in cats than in dogs. Thermal burns occur in the mouth when your cat eats something hot and electrical burns occur when your cat chews on an electrical cord. This type of injury most often occurs in young cats.

Oral cancer in cats

Squamous cell carcinoma quickly develops into oral cancer, which is characterized by swelling of the muzzle and mouth, bad breath, bleeding in the mouth, drooling, and weight loss. This type of cancer is extremely malignant and quickly spreads to other parts of the body. Tumors are mainly seen in older cats.

How to diagnose the disease?

Your veterinarian will perform a complete physical examination of your cat and ask you questions. He will need to know how long your cat has had mouth ulcers, whether there are other symptoms, whether the cat has had contact with plants, chemicals or toxins recently.

The doctor may want to do some tests, such as:

A urine test to check your kidney function.
CT scan and biopsy for cancer diagnosis.
Biopsy.

Mouth ulcers in cats can occur for a number of reasons, from plaque buildup to feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). Oral ulcers usually appear as small open sores in the mouth that may bleed and cause severe pain, especially if left untreated. If you notice sores in your cat's mouth or other symptoms that may indicate the presence of sores, contact your veterinarian immediately so they can make a diagnosis and prescribe a course of treatment.

Steps

Part 1

Find open wounds in the mouth. Ulcers are usually the most obvious symptoms of a number of oral problems, including gingivostomatitis, lymphoplasmacytic stomatitis and chronic recurrent stomatitis. aphthous stomatitis. Examine your gums and cheeks for the presence of tiny or small round or extended wounds, which may bleed and under which the underlying tissues are visible.

• Ulcers can appear in different parts of the mouth. Use your finger to gently lift your cat's cheek and check her gums. inner side cheeks, tongue and palate. Be sure to look at the edges of the tongue and underneath it.

1. Check for other oral symptoms. If you can't be sure you have mouth ulcers, look for other symptoms, such as bad smell from the mouth, swollen gums, excessive drooling, thick and viscous saliva, loss of appetite and difficulty eating. Carefully inspect the cat's mouth and observe its eating habits to determine the presence of other symptoms of ulcers.

   • Check your cat's teeth and gum line regularly. Swelling around the tooth, gum inflammation, and bleeding near the gum line may indicate an ulcer or more serious oral health problem.

2. Beware of feline calicivirus symptoms. Ulcers can be a symptom of more serious problems health problems, such as feline calicivirus (an infection of the upper respiratory tract), which is common in cats. If you notice sores in your cat, be on the lookout for other symptoms of feline calicivirus, such as sneezing, nasal congestion, inflammation around the eyes, and discharge from the eyes and nose.

   • If you notice symptoms of feline calicivirus in your cat, we advise you to immediately seek help from a veterinarian. Tell him exactly what symptoms your pet is experiencing and when they first appeared.
   • Your veterinarian will either ask you to bring your cat to your appointment or tell you how to treat the condition at home. Follow your veterinarian's instructions closely.

   Part 2

   Diagnosis of ulcers

   1. Make an appointment for an oral examination. If you notice symptoms of ulcers or open sores in your cat's mouth, make an appointment with your veterinarian to examine your pet's mouth. The veterinarian will not only tell you whether your cat has ulcers, but will also be able to tell you the reason for their appearance.

      • If your veterinarian finds sores, he or she may suggest that you take an x-ray to check your cat's jaw for other lesions.
      • Tell your veterinarian about any signs you notice, even those not directly related to sores, swelling or bleeding in the mouth. This will help the doctor pinpoint the cause of the problem.

   2. Get a diagnostic test. Depending on how the oral examination goes, your doctor may take blood and urine tests from your cat to determine the cause of the sores. Let your doctor take tests on your pet as this will allow them to determine the exact cause of the sores and develop a more appropriate course of treatment.

      Learn about treatment methods. If your veterinarian diagnoses mouth ulcers or discovers another condition that causes ulcers, ask your veterinarian about possible methods treatment. Ask him if your cat needs surgery or other emergency treatment and how long you will need to care for it.

      • The method of treating ulcers will depend entirely on the cause of their occurrence. Follow your veterinarian's instructions closely and keep all appointments with him and other specialists as needed.
      • The ulcers themselves will most likely be subject to symptomatic treatment using mouthwash and/or painkillers. To prevent new ulcers from occurring, it is important to address the underlying cause.

   Part 3

   Treatment of mouth ulcers

   1. Treat the infection. If you notice discharge, a foul odor, and the area around your pet's gums that is red and painful when touched, the sores may have become infected. Consult your veterinarian immediately and ask him to write you a prescription for an antimicrobial or antibiotic.

Calcivirosis is not correct. That's right - calicivirus.

Calicivirus in cats (CVC) is a widespread viral disease of cats throughout the world, usually affecting the respiratory system, with signs of damage specifically to the upper respiratory tract, but also with calicivirus in cats there may be ulcers in the mouth, on the tongue, there may be nose, in severe cases pneumonia, sometimes arthritis.

Causes of calicivirus in cats, cats and kittens

The causative agent of feline calicivirus (pictured) is a small, non-enveloped virus with a single strand of RNA (ribonucleic acid). The virus has many subspecies, which differ in their antigenic properties and ability to cause severe or mild disease. The causative agent of calicivirus is relatively resistant to most disinfectants. The stability of the Virus in the external environment ranges from 1-7 days.

Of the risk factors for the occurrence viral infection It is necessary to highlight poor ventilation of premises (increases the accumulation of the virus), lack of periodic vaccination against calicivirus (in all annual vaccination schemes for adult cats and kittens from global vaccine manufacturers, a component against calicivirus is included in the standard set), as well as overloaded group housing of cats.

Pathophysiology of feline calicivirus

The main transmission of the virus occurs through direct contact when sneezing (nasal discharge) of sick animals.

The rapid destruction of infected cells in cats by the virus leads to the formation of defects on the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract and oral cavity, ulcers and erosions form (photo). Joint lesions are quite common when respiratory form calicivirus, but are often not sufficiently taken into account by either owners or veterinarians, and are attributed to a possible injury that occurred when the owners were not at home. Damage to the joints is not widespread, and, as a rule, single joints are affected; the inflammation goes away on its own without any consequences after several days of lameness.

Calicivirus can enter the carrier stage and reappear after stress, which is facilitated by the lack of vaccination. It is important to understand that there are many different subtypes of this virus and the vaccine does not guarantee, or rather, will not completely protect 100% from infection, vaccination is necessary for an easier course of the disease if it occurs in a carrier cat again or if it occurs in a cat before pathogen-free.

Carrier cats are a source of infection for healthy cats. A situation often occurs when a kitten is brought into the house of existing cats, and if adult cats are carriers of calicivirus, and the kitten has no immunity, calicivirus will soon appear in the kitten in acute form, that is, as a typical infection with fever, damage to the respiratory tract and ulcers in the mouth and tongue. Another situation is when an apparently healthy cat is introduced to healthy animals, but a carrier of calicivirus, after some time the healthy cats become ill. Remember! Once a cat has been ill, it always and constantly releases the virus into external environment even without signs of illness, therefore, the possibility of becoming infected healthy cat upon contact also always exists!

Calicivirus, like others infectious diseases cats, most often manifests itself in group keeping of cats in nurseries or hotels, shelters. Routine vaccination against feline calicivirus may reduce the severity of the disease clinical form diseases in both adult cats and kittens, but does not reduce the spread of the virus.
Feline calicivirus most often affects young kittens older than 6 weeks. Calicivirus in kittens can appear at any age. There is no gender predisposition; calicivirus is equally dangerous for male and female cats. In a cat or cat that has Free access When going outside, the likelihood of contracting calicivirus is much higher.

What does the feline calicivirus virus infect?

How weaker immunity and the more defenseless a cat is, especially a kitten, the more more systems the body will be drawn into illness.
Respiratory system– rhinitis (inflammation of the nasal mucosa), interstitial pneumonia (pneumonia) – dangerous!, ulcers on the tip of the nose.
Damage and inflammation of the eyes - acute serous conjunctivitis, lacrimation, but without keratitis (inflammation of the cornea) or corneal ulcers.
Musculoskeletal system - acute arthritis (inflammation of the joints), will manifest itself.
Gastrointestinal system– tongue ulcers (often), sometimes ulcers hard palate and lips; the intestines may also be damaged, but without clinical signs(no diarrhea).

Signs and symptoms of feline calicivirus

Calicivirus may present with symptoms respiratory infection involving the eyes and nose, also in the form of mouth ulcers, pneumonia, acute arthritis, and any combination of the above.
The onset of calicivirus in both adult cats and kittens is sudden. Anorexia (refusal to eat). Hyperthermia (temperature rises to 40 degrees Celsius). Discharge from the nose and eyes with little or no sneezing. Sores on the tongue, hard palate, lips, tip of the nose, or around the claws. Dyspnea, rapid breathing with pneumonia. Acute painful lameness. However, the disease may only manifest as mouth ulcers without other symptoms.

Making a diagnosis, the main stages of diagnosis for feline calicivirus

Diagnosis of calicivirus includes the exclusion of other similar diseases:

• Bordetellosis (Bordetella bronchiseptica)

Comparison of clinical signs in common feline infections

Complete blood count / Serum biochemistry / Urinalysis

These tests are not informative for the final confirmation of the diagnosis; they reflect only the consequences of the disease and are necessary for adjustments in treatment in severe cases.

Other laboratory tests
Serological study on paired sera - determination of an increase in the titer of neutralizing antibodies against the virus. This is the most important test for the final diagnosis of calicivirus. Usually, the presence of ulcers in the oral cavity immediately makes it possible to suspect infection with calcivirus and serological tests are carried out, as a rule, in unclear cases chronic course diseases, such as the occurrence of plasmacytic gingivitis, the main cause of which is suspected to be chronic calicivirosis.
If pneumonia is suspected, an x-ray examination of the lungs is necessary.

Treatment of calicivirus in cats, features of treatment of kittens

Attention! This information is for informational purposes only and is not suggested as an exhaustive treatment in each specific case. The administration declines responsibility for failures and Negative consequences at practical application specified drugs and dosages. Remember that the animal may have individual intolerance to some medicines. Also, there are contraindications to taking medications for a particular animal and other limiting circumstances. Using the information offered, instead of the help of a competent veterinarian, you act at your own peril and risk. We remind you that self-medication and self-diagnosis only bring harm.

• Treatment is carried out on an outpatient basis, except in cases of severe pneumonia. For pneumonia, treatment must become more aggressive, since the severity and danger of the disease increases several times. The risk of disease for kittens is higher than for adult cat, a kitten suffering from calicivirus needs to be given more attention. Only complex treatment gives positive results.
• There are no specific remedies against the virus. The main directions and goals in the treatment regimen should be: supporting the body’s strength; relief of symptom severity; control food intake, use more soft feed due to painful food capture (ulcers); prevention of the layering of additional bacterial infection on an organism weakened by the virus ( prophylactic use antibiotics wide range actions, for example, Flemoxin at a dose of 12.5 - 22 mg/kg 2 times a day for 7-10 days, orally); stimulation of the antiviral immune response (immunomodulators and immunostimulants for cats (“Immunofan”, “Fosprenil” and others) in the regimen recommended by the manufacturer), also for long-term use good results demonstrations of the human drug “Cycloferon”, although isolated cases were noted hypersensitivity in some individuals; prevention of dehydration when refusing food (0.9% sodium chloride solution, 5% glucose solution, Ringer's solution, Ringer-Locke solution; dosage depends on the weight of the cat, the degree of dehydration, the presence of vomiting, diarrhea, as well as the cat's ability to drink and take food; when complete refusal from water and drinking daily dosage a 1:1 mixture of 0.9% sodium chloride solution (Ringer's solution) and 5% glucose solution per 4 kg cat will be 80-130 ml; vitamin and mineral preparations and adaptogens (Gamavit); introduction of ready-made serums under the skin in dosages recommended by the manufacturer (Vitafel, Immunofel) for acute period illness; antipyretics if necessary, if body temperature by rectal measurement is more than 39.5 degrees Celsius (Ketofen 1% for injection or tablets 5 or 10 mg active substance for internal use, “Loxicom” (suspension for oral administration) and others; Paracetamol is not allowed for cats - see article “”). Severe pneumonia requires supplemental oxygen.
• Daily cleaning of the nose and eyes with special lotions with preventive concentrations of antiseptics. Ophthalmic antibacterial ointments and drops (only without hormones) to reduce the accumulation of bacterial infection (“Tobrex”, “Tetracycline eye ointment”, “Levomycetinaceous eye drops” – 6-8 times a day).
• Sanitation of the oral cavity. You can wash the ulcers with any antiseptic(Miramistin (it is better not to use chlorhexidine because of its bitterness, and cats are known to be very sensitive to bitterness; bitterness causes salivation and even vomiting in some animals), any antiseptic gels for treating the mouth of cats (“Dentavidin” good remedy, “Nibbler” - not worth it, it’s also very bitter, strong salivation is guaranteed), weak solutions of “potassium permanganate” and also decoctions medicinal herbs(daisies). Only the cat’s own immunity can eliminate the virus. Your task is to reduce bacterial complications with such treatments. It is necessary to wash the ulcers 2-3 times a day, especially after meals.
• Anti-inflammatory drugs for arthritis (Ketofen 1% for subcutaneous injections or in tablets with a dosage in one tablet of 5-10 mg of the drug for oral administration once a day according to the instructions, as well as “Loxicom” suspension for oral administration).
• To prevent contact and infection of other cats with calcivirus, as well as the spread of the virus, it is necessary to reduce the activity and movement of the sick cat.
• No diet composition required. If a cat has anorexia, you need high-calorie and most attractive and appetizing food (Hill's a/d (pate), Royal Canine Сonvalescenсe Support C/O jelly, pieces), Royal Canine Recovery (pate), Pro Plan C/N (pate), Eucanuba Hight Calory(pate) . Soft foods are necessary for mouth ulcers. Remember, hunger is dangerous for a cat (). If the animal does not eat for more than 3 days, force feed it with the indicated high-calorie foods in the daily amount recommended by the manufacturer for the weight of your animal.
• Owners need to be aware of the importance of vaccination and not neglect it. In nurseries, kittens must be vaccinated as early as 6 weeks of age. When introducing a new animal into the home, its quarantine and subsequent vaccination is necessary not only to protect domestic cats, but also for its own protection.

Patient monitoring

It is important to monitor the onset of pneumonia for timely treatment.

Possible complications of calicivirus

Interstitial pneumonia is the most severe complication, can be life-threatening.
Secondary bacterial infections lungs and upper respiratory tract, you can exclude taking an antibiotic or a combination of antibiotics.
Oral ulcers and acute arthritis usually resolve without complications.

Duration of treatment and prognosis
Clinical disease occurs after 3-4 days from the moment of contact with the virus.
After the first neutralizing antibodies appear (which usually occurs on day 7), recovery occurs quickly.
The prognosis is good in the absence of interstitial pneumonia or pneumonia.
Recovered cats are continuously infected for a long period, excreting small amounts of virus in their saliva.
Kittens that did not receive mother's milk get sick more often and more severely than others.

Prevention of calicivirus in cats and kittens

1. Reduce stress factors as much as possible, avoid overcrowding of animals.
2. Observe zoohygienic standards when keeping animals in groups, ensure timely disinfection of utensils, premises, and care products. (sodium hypochlorite 250 ml per 8 liters of water - for disinfection).
3. If a cat (female) has chronic damage to the respiratory tract, it is not allowed to reproduce (the birth of non-viable fetuses, their early death, abortion).
4. 2-4 weeks before giving birth, pregnant cats are isolated from the main group.
5. Females are vaccinated before mating.
6. Isolation of newborn kittens from older kittens and adult cats until these kittens are vaccinated and the vaccine has its effect.
7. All cats should be vaccinated at the same time as the feline rhinotracheitis vaccine; Routine vaccination should be given at 8-10 weeks of age and repeated after 3-4 weeks.
8. In nurseries, feline calicivirus is becoming a problem and vaccination of kittens must begin at early age, either with additional vaccination at 4-5 weeks, or with the use of an intranasal vaccine at 10-14 days, and then vaccination at 6, 10 and 14 weeks.
9. Annual booster vaccination is recommended. All over the world, among veterinarians, vaccination against rhinotracheitis, panleukopenia and feline calicivirus is considered basic and always necessary. The vaccine does not remove the infection, but makes its course milder, with fewer complications for the body.
10. When introducing a new animal, both that animal and your animals must be vaccinated 14 days before contact. The duration of the effect of vaccination is 1 year, so if you have not repeated the vaccination for more than a year, repeat it.

Diseases of the oral cavity and pharynx in cats are not uncommon and are interpreted as oropharyngeal. Their range is wide, from light ones that do not require inpatient treatment, to intractable. A cat's oral cavity has a slightly alkaline environment; antibacterial enzymes contained in saliva provide protection against bacterial infections.

Causes of diseases

With a strong immune system pathogens do not cause significant harm to the cat. The animal's saliva contains thiocyanate ions, which destroy bacteria, and lysozyme, an enzyme that lyses food particles and prevents microorganisms from feeding.

Lysozyme destroys pathogenic cells or slows down their reproduction by facilitating the access of thiocyanate ions.

When the body’s defenses are weakened, the oral cavity and pharynx are at the forefront; the gums (gingivitis) and tonsils are especially affected.

The formation of tartar begins with plaque; when bacteria attach, the plaque thickens and gradually increases.

The first signs of pathologies

The very first symptom of oral diseases in cats is anorexia, food refusal. This is explained by pain when chewing and swallowing food. Typical symptom– the cat sits near a bowl or water, tries to eat (drink), but cannot due to strong inflammatory reaction, pain.

Inspecting the oral cavity at home on your own is problematic; even a calm animal does not allow the owner to forcibly open its mouth.

Heavy, bad breath indicates a problem with the teeth (tartar), infection, ulcers, or suppuration.

Untidy appearance in a cat indicates that she has stopped licking herself, which is almost impossible with diseases of the oral cavity. Drooling, which causes the fur on the chin and front legs to become damp, is a symptom that indicates a problem.

Symptoms of oral diseases in cats:

• lack of appetite;
• dysphagia (difficulty swallowing);
• ptyalism (excessive drooling);
• halitosis (pungent odor);
• weight loss;
• trying to get something out of your mouth.

With stomatitis and gingivitis, a strong odor from the mouth is felt from a distance. Suspect foreign body in the throat can be based on symptoms of choking, nausea, drooling and difficulty swallowing.

Oral diseases: list and characteristics

Cats suffer most from gum disease that develops as a result of feeding poor quality food. Symptoms: hyperemia, swelling, ulcers, similar to signs of scurvy.

• Inflammation of the gums.

A strong odor from the mouth indicates tartar, an accumulation of food particles between the teeth. During the inflammatory process, there is a danger of tooth decay and the development of periodontitis.

Upon examination, reddened, swollen gums are visible, painful with areas of bleeding. If left untreated, the gums gradually recede from the tooth, forming pockets in which food accumulates. Putrefactive inflammation, caries, and periodontitis develop. The cat refuses to eat, becomes weaker, has unkempt fur, and saliva may flow from its mouth.

• Inflammation of the tongue.

Glossitis indicates immunodeficiency conditions, feline leukemia, acute respiratory disease, viral immunodeficiency syndrome. Sometimes an inflammatory process occurs when exposed to external factors, licking highly irritating substances. Symptoms: profuse drooling, sometimes foamy, anorexia, pain. Externally, the cat looks unkempt. After healing and disappearance inflammatory process the surface of the tongue is smoothed, it becomes varnished, smooth without a hard brush. Erosions and ulcers often form.

• Stomatitis.

Oral cavity disease is manifested by severe salivation and inflammation of the mucous membrane. The cat refuses to eat, inspection of its mouth is difficult, it rubs its face with its paws and shakes its head.

Redness, swelling are noticeable on the mucous membrane, gums bleed, from the mouth strong smell. The cat seems to be “ruffling up”, looking unkempt and disheveled. In young cats, candidiasis (thrush) is diagnosed; the disease becomes more pronounced when treated with antibiotics, steroids, with low immunity, or after a serious illness. Symptoms of thrush: a whitish film on the tongue, gums; if left untreated, ulcers form on the mucous membrane.

• Pharyngitis.

This rare disease oral cavity, occurs as secondary pathology against the background of a viral infection, diseases of the mouth and pharynx. With pharyngitis, the temperature rises, pain, cough, and nausea appear. No appetite.

• Tonsillitis.

Inflammation of the tonsils is rarely diagnosed in cats. Hyperthermia (above 39.4C), lethargy, and anorexia are observed. The underlying cause of the disease is a bacterial infection.

In case of recurrent tonsillitis, removal of the tonsils is indicated, since greatly enlarged tonsils interfere with the normal passage of air into the lungs, cause attacks of suffocation, and interfere with food intake.

• Neoplasms of the salivary glands.

Cysts and tumors form under the influence of external factors. Usually, salivary gland damaged in cat fights, when hit by a foreign object. The accumulating fluid ruptures the duct and a cyst is formed - a mucocele.

The submandibular gland is most often affected; when palpated under the tongue, a smooth, large cyst can be detected. Neoplasms disturb the animal, making it difficult to breathe and swallow. More often required complete removal damaged salivary gland, punctures and rinses do not give the desired effect.

In older cats, tumors are (usually) malignant and appear as hard, slow-growing lumps on the side of the face or neck.

• Foreign bodies.

Needles, bones, fragments, chips, thorns, threads get into the oral cavity. The specific structure of the tongue with papillae curved inward does not allow foreign object fall out. It is easy for a breeder to understand that something has got into the cat’s mouth; she shakes her head, meows, and tries to reach with her paws what is bothering her. Severe drooling, restlessness, refusal to eat.

Particularly dangerous are fish bones that dig into soft fabrics mouth, gulp and “sit” there without causing signs of concern. After a few days, the bone rots, a strong odor from the mouth appears, intoxication, weakness, and apathy develop. If the outcome is successful, the bone comes out with a ruptured abscess and pus.

• Jacobs ulcer.

She is found in the middle upper lip, sometimes on the lower or oral mucosa. It looks like a yellow or reddish shiny spot that turns into a weeping erosion without pain or itching. Diffuse growth: the ulcerated surface increases, teeth and gums are exposed. Jacobs ulcer has a tendency to develop into cancer or fibrosarcoma. The cause of the pathology is not clear; a connection is suggested with dental infections and the feline leukemia virus.

Developmental anomalies and acquired pathologies

In fights cats get lacerations in the mouth area, less often the animal injures itself by accidentally biting its lip. The tongue can be cut on sharp objects (tin cans), or peeled off by accidentally licking an iron object in the cold.

Squamous cell carcinoma, malignancy, forms around the nose and on the lips, mucous membranes of the mouth and tongue. Neoplasia must be differentiated from eosinophilic ulcers by biopsy.

Nasopharyngeal polyps are localized in the nasopharynx, closer to the back of the nose, in the passage to the throat. Provoke difficulty breathing and swallowing food. Polyps are removed surgically.

Cleft lip in cats, a congenital defect, is characterized by incomplete development of the upper lip. The pathology is visible at the birth of a kitten, sometimes the cleft lip is combined with a cleft palate.

Cleft palate, a disease most often of a genetic nature, is sometimes diagnosed along with cleft lip. The disease manifests itself in the first day of life, the kitten has difficulty sucking milk, and it leaks into the nose. The anomaly is accompanied constant sneezing, noises are heard when breathing, and pneumonia develops when milk enters the lungs.

Any disease requires the attention of a veterinarian and consultation within the walls veterinary clinic. The first symptoms of illness cannot be ignored. Diseases of the oral cavity and pharynx in cats are easier to treat at first. IN advanced cases excessive efforts will be required, sometimes the disease ends in death.

An ulcer on a cat's tongue requires immediate treatment. Painful sensations, characteristic for this phenomenon, will hinder normal nutrition animal, which threatens the pet with exhaustion and dehydration. In addition, this is how infectious viral diseases manifest themselves, dangerous complications and death.

Visit to the veterinary clinic for laboratory tests and examining your pet is the first thing you should do caring owner.

Dangerous viral disease, transmitted by airborne droplets at a distance of up to a meter. During the day it can remain viable on the shoes and clothes of its owners, so even domestic cats are at risk.

External signs:

• high temperature with fever and its normalization on days 3-4:
• clear discharge from the nose and eyes, which later becomes grayish-green with a strong odor;
• copious amounts of saliva;
• the oral cavity becomes covered with ulcers containing fluid, the gums become swollen;
• refusal of food, lethargy, diarrhea.

If left untreated, the disease progresses: coughing, sneezing, shortness of breath, pneumonia, pulmonary edema, inflammation of the brain begins, and a week later death.

Another type of calcivirosis is chronic, which occurs with symptoms of acute respiratory viral infection, but with a sharp decrease in immunity, an exacerbation begins.

Diagnosis is performed in a laboratory using a blood test. Vaccination is carried out against this infection.

Stomatitis

Inflammatory disease, affecting the oral cavity. The causes of the disease are not fully understood and it is conventionally believed that this is a peculiar reaction immune system to external stimuli.

A characteristic sign is difficulty and pain when opening the mouth. There is also salivation, difficulty swallowing and gradual refusal of food, weakness.

On examination it is observed white film on the tongue and gums, inflammation, swelling, in advanced stage purulent ulcers.

Visually, these symptoms do not allow an unambiguous diagnosis, so comprehensive examination to exclude viral and infectious diseases, as well as kidney and liver diseases. Surgery is required to cure the animal.

Oral cancer

This severe disease can affect older cats, older than 10-12 years, and the reasons for its occurrence are not fully understood. Used for treatment surgical methods, A early diagnosis allows you to minimize the consequences of the operation.

Symptoms of oral cancer or carcinoma include the following:

• difficulty swallowing food;
• profuse drooling;
• refusal of food and water;
• weight loss;
• unpleasant odor from the mouth;
• tooth loss
• visual increase in tissue around the jaws;
• nose and throat bleeding;
• problems when opening the mouth.

Carcinoma predominantly affects the sublingual areas, throat, palate, and gums, forming purulent ulcers on the cat’s tongue and areas with an erosive nature. As the disease progresses, tumors spread to the lymph nodes and jaw bones.

Diagnosis of the disease is carried out using radiography, which allows one to trace the development of metastases. Tissue analyzes of affected areas are performed while the animal is fully anesthetized and are used in extreme cases.

Treatment of carcinoma depends on the stage of the disease and is most often carried out surgical removal infected tissues.

Ulcers on a cat's tongue photo

Other reasons

1. Herpes or rhinotracheitis. Viral disease, is transmitted through direct contact with a carrier, but begins its destructive effect only against the background of acute immunodeficiency, stress, and other diseases. Manifests itself in the form of a runny nose, sneezing, coughing, and serous lacrimation. Further spread of the disease affects the bronchi and trachea. Diagnosis is carried out in a laboratory. If left untreated, the animal may die.
2. Burns. They can be obtained through negligence and affect the cat’s behavior. Refusal to eat with pronounced appetite, salivation, resistance during examination. Thermal, chemical or electrical injuries, depending on the severity, cause redness, wounds, ulcers, which can easily become infected and be the source of other negative processes.
3. Viral immunodeficiency. Inflammatory disease, causes weakness, profuse salivation, refusal to eat due to pain, ulcers on the cat’s tongue and mouth, unpleasant odor. External symptoms are similar to stomatitis and calcivirosis. Diagnosed based on blood results.

All of the above reasons require urgent veterinary care, since treatment can only be effective in the early stages.