Swallowing Difficulties in Cats
Swallowing Difficulties in Cats - Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, Recovery, Management, Cost
What are Swallowing Difficulties?
If your cat is having trouble swallowing, it may be a sign of an underlying health condition that needs to be treated as soon as possible.
Every animal occasionally coughs or gags while eating, but if you notice your cat experiencing swallowing difficulties repeatedly, it’s time to see a veterinarian to determine the cause. Besides coughing and gagging, cats may also drool, make repeated attempts to swallow, or get in unusual positions to eat their food when experiencing this condition, called “dysphagia”. If left untreated, cats may begin to rapidly lose weight because they are unable to eat. 
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Average Cost
$1,800
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Symptoms of Swallowing Difficulties in Cats
There are three types of dysphagia, and each may present with specific symptoms. 
Oral Dysphagia
  • Struggling to open the mouth or hold food in the mouth
  • Collecting food on the sides of the mouth
  • Throwing head backward to eat
Pharyngeal Dysphagia
  • Repeated attempts to swallow
  • Gagging
  • Coughing
  • Drooling
  • Spots of blood in the saliva
  • Excessive chewing before swallowing attempts
  • Unusual neck and head movements while eating
Cricopharyngeal Dysphagia
  • Regurgitating food
  • Weight loss
  • Loss of appetite
  • Repeated attempts to swallow
  • Gagging
Causes of Swallowing Difficulties in Cats
Each of the different types of dysphagia is caused by different factors. 
Oral dysphagia can be caused by:
  • Jaw or tongue paralysis
  • Muscle swelling
  • Mouth trauma
  • Dental disease or infection
Pharyngeal dysphagia can be caused by:
  • Cancer
  • Enlarged lymph nodes near the pharynx
  • Abscesses
  • Pharyngeal inflammation
Cricopharyngeal dysphagia can be caused by:
  • Strained or deteriorating muscles
  • Nerve damage
In some cases, the cause of dysphagia can be neurological. If your cat is suffering from a brain disorder or rabies, dysphagia may be one of the side effects of the condition. 
Diagnosis of Swallowing Difficulties in Cats
If you notice your cat having trouble swallowing on repeated occasions, bring him into a veterinarian as soon as possible. Tell the veterinarian what symptoms you have noticed, when they first began, and how often they have occurred. If your cat has been injured or suffered any form of trauma, make sure you let the veterinarian know.
After discussing your cat’s symptoms, the vet may perform diagnostic tests to get a better idea of the cat’s health. First, a complete blood count, urinalysis and biochemical profile will be completed to determine if your cat has an infection or muscle injury. 
Vets may also take X-rays of the mouth, skull, and chest, as well as an ultrasound of the pharynx. These tests are done to determine if there is any structural damage or growths. If growths are found, the vet will likely take a biopsy to test for cancerous cells. 
At this point, the vet should be able to determine the cat has some form of dysphagia. But, the vet may still need to run a test, known as a fluoroscopic barium swallow, to see how your cat is swallowing. During this test, food material and barium is given to your cat while the vet observes him swallowing using a video X-ray device. This will help the vet figure out where the issue lies within the cat’s oral cavity and throat.
Treatment of Swallowing Difficulties in Cats
The treatment plan for dysphagia will depend on the underlying cause. If an infection is causing the issue, antibiotics will be prescribed, but if the issue is inflammation, steroids may be given instead. Both of these medications may need to be administered to the cat at home for up to ten days.
If a strained or contracted muscle is causing your cat to gag and cough up food, the vet may prescribe muscle relaxers to help this muscle relax and allow your cat to swallow.
If the cause is some sort of structural damage or abscesses, surgery may be required to correct the issue.
If the biopsy reveals there are cancerous cells within the abscesses, your vet will discuss different chemotherapy and radiation treatment options with you.
Finally, dental disease may need to be treated by removing the infected teeth and administering antibiotics.
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Recovery of Swallowing Difficulties in Cats
Unless the cause of your cat’s swallowing difficulties was cancer, he or she should recover within one to two weeks. But, cats will have trouble eating food while they recover from dysphagia, so it’s your responsibility to make eating easier until they are well. Talk to your vet about how you can make your cat more comfortable and help him keep food down. For example, the vet may recommend you only feed the cat soft, mushy foods that will easy slide down the cat’s throat. Or, the vet may recommend you position the cat in a certain way while you feed him. In extreme cases when the cat has lost a significant amount of weight, the vet may keep your cat on a feeding tube while he recovers.
Any medication prescribed by the vet must be administered as advised. Be sure to bring your cat in for a follow-up so the vet can ensure everything is healing correctly.
Swallowing Difficulties Average Cost
From 584 quotes ranging from $300 - $3,000
Average Cost
$1,800
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Swallowing Difficulties Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
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Domestic cat
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Five Years
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My pet has the following symptoms:
Gagging
He threw up in the morning and seemed fine but not there is kind of a constant gaging. He did eat and drink water and did poop so I’m not sure if it is serious
Aug. 1, 2020
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
0 Recommendations
Thank you for your question. If he is eating and not vomiting, you may be okay to continue to monitor him, but if he keeps gagging, it would be best to have him seen by a veterinarian. It may be more than an irritated throat if it continues, and they would be able to examine him and see what might be going on. I hope that all goes well for him!
Aug. 1, 2020
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TORTOISE shell
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Mouse
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4 Years
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My pet has the following symptoms:
Aggression
Coughing
My cat has been coughing/heaving at random. It seems to have no cause but it's very scary because it seems like she can't breath. She's very uncomfortable and I can tell she's in pain. She's very aggressive when this happens where she growls at everyone and starts attacking the other cats (which isn't like her) symptoms subside after a while. But then they come back again a month or so later.
Sept. 20, 2018
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house cat
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Chris
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9 Years
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2 found this helpful

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2 found this helpful

My pet has the following symptoms:
Won’ Eat Or Drink Very Little
My cat is not eating just drinking milk he just looks at the food an grouls at it if he eats a little the lets out a loud scream then runs away there are days that he’ll eat a lot An days he won’t eat at all
Sept. 16, 2018
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DOMESTIC
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Louie
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9 Years
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1 found this helpful

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1 found this helpful

My pet has the following symptoms:
Swallowing Difficulty
My Cat looks like he is having trouble swallowing when he is not eating food, just when he is laying down or standing there. Its like when we humans swallow our saliva, he is doing that but his head jolts forward like he is having trouble swallowing. He isn’t losing weight and seems to be eating fine though. Is there something wrong with him?
Aug. 17, 2018
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
1 Recommendations
If that behavior is a new one, there may be something going on with Louie's throat or mouth that needs attention. Since i can't see him or look at his mouth, it would be a good idea to have him examined by a veterinarian, as they can look at him and see if anything is wrong, and recommend any treatment that he might need.
Aug. 18, 2018
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Domestic shorthair
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Gladis
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4 Years
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1 found this helpful

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My pet has the following symptoms:
Loss Of Appetite
My cat is acting like it's hard to eat. She refuses dry kibble and will follow me around begging for food. Ive been adding warm water to wet food which she eat most of but is more interested in the water downed part. She will also randomly gag but not throw up. Pottying and drinking normal. Still playful and alert. No swollen lymph nodes. Teeth look good. Nothing stuck in throat that i can visibly see. Could she have cut her throat on her dry kibble from eating too fast? It isn't normal for her to be picky about food and the gagging is worrying me. It is like 4-5 times a day.
Aug. 13, 2018
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
1 Recommendations
Without seeing Gladis, I'm not sure what might be causing that behavior, but it is unusual, I agree with you. Since I can't see her, it would be a good idea to have a veterinarian examine her mouth and throat, as this doesn't seem to be improving.
Aug. 13, 2018
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Kitten
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Shadow
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8 Weeks
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My pet has the following symptoms:
Weight Loss
Weight Loss, Poor Appetite
Weight Loss, Poor Appetite, Diar
I have an 8 week old kitten. He has lost weight since I brought him home. We also got his brother too. His brother is doing just fine. But Shadow is his name, loss of appetite, or unable to eat correctly. He will lick the milk replacement I got for him but just a little, also a few licks of we're kitty food. I can tell he really wants to eat but he just can't seem to. When he is trying to eat I can hear like grinding from his jaw or something. And diarrhea when he goes which isn't often. I'm so confused on what could be going on.
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Short black haired moggy
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Sicario
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1 Year
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My pet has the following symptoms:
Trouble Swallowing,
My 1 year old cat (male) is having trouble swallowing. We went away for a night and came home to find our cats had gotten out of the house. Sicario (the cat) was fine when we got back and he was his normal self then 20mins later he was had changed. He wants to eats and manages to keep it down, but when he swallows, it is a massive effort. He is normally a very active cat and loves getting into mischief, now he just wants to sleep. Very worried can someone help? If you have experienced this with your cat maybe?
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Orange Tabby Savanna
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Pumpkin
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2 Years
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My pet has the following symptoms:
Gagging
My 2 year old male Tabby is gagging when he tries to eat. He was hurt somehow ... attacked by a wild animal I believe.... came home covered in mud and with puncture wounds. I treated him with antibiotics and cleaned him thoroughly. He ate at first but has started to gag each time he tries to eat .... also he can no longer meow. I think something injured his throat. I took him to the Vet but he could find nothing wrong. He looked down his throat and said it looked fine. He did give him a shot of cerenia. I am praying it will stop gagging and he will be back to normal. He can drink water. He was always a really good eater and I can tell he would like to eat but every time he gags. He can get one bite in but then the gag and he gives up. I have tried elevating his dish. Wet food with extra gravy. He now gags just from moving his mouth or swallowing the wrong way. I can find no help. He is using his litter pan fine. Could he be injured from trying to keep from being killed? Could that animal had crushed his neck on the inside so that the vet can’t see it? It has been a week.... might he get better on his own? How long might it take to recover? Perhaps he is swollen inside. His other wounds are healing. He is playing and purring. He now makes noise when he sleeps ... which he never does. Please help me .... I love him so much and I can find no help. They just say he’s fine .... but he isn’t fine and my heart breaks for him. He was feral until I tamed him and brought him inside a little over a year ago. Thank you in advance. :(
Swallowing Difficulties Average Cost
From 584 quotes ranging from $300 - $3,000
Average Cost
$1,800
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