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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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
Top
Swallowing Difficulties Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
Kitten
Doesn't have one
2 Years
1 found this helpful
1 found this helpful
I have this stray cat that i try to feed but whenever it eats it chokes.It has never eaten peacefully.It always chokes.My question is what food can i give him so he won't choke.
July 8, 2018
1 Recommendations
There are various causes for swallowing difficulties which should be narrowed down by a Veterinarian (charity clinic would do) as it is important to determine the cause than just try to prevent it; other than feeding a smooth wet food, there is nothing else I can directly recommend for you to give her to prevent choking. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
July 8, 2018
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Calico
Lucy
12 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Poor Appetite
Lucy hasn't been eating very well for about a month. Blood work came back normal last week. I'm changed her food from dry to wet, adding tuna fish to dry and adding water. She isn't drinking much either so I've added pedia light to her water and started giving her baby food. She liked the baby food, but she seems to have something mouth salivation and difficulty eating when she does. She started sneezing this morning while eating the baby food.
June 28, 2018
0 Recommendations
There are various causes of swallowing difficulties which may include nerve damage, trauma to the neck, masses (tumours, enlarged glands), foreign objects among other causes; it can be difficult to determine a cause especially if the cause is neurological. Without examining Lucy, it is difficult to say what the specific cause is and many causes wouldn’t show on regular blood tests; a more thorough examination is needed to see if a cause can be determined. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
June 29, 2018
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tabby
Bimma( like lion king Simba.)
9 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Not Eating, Moving, Choking
About 3-4 weeks ago my 9 year old Male tabby started to act strange. He stayed outside on a chair for 2 days during this I noticed that he would shake his head like something was caught in his teeth. I could not see anything when I looked. Then I noticed a fever and I took him to the hospital.
The doc said infection. Gave him something for fever and a 10 day antibiotic. This was a wednesday he said to call 24 to 48 hours. My Bimma was not any better AnD appeared to be deteriorating quickly. I called the vet, doc was not in till Monday. ARGG. They set an appointment for THAT Wednesday another week. Everyday I expected to wake up to my boy gone.
So Wednesday bloodwork a .9 bilirubine was the only thing he saw that concerned him. This time he forced fed him some thick food in a tube. And gave him two shots and only charged me with one of them. Dexamethasone. Said call(again)and again it took a
Read more week
(The visit prior convenia,onsior, and subQ fluids.) He has not been eating, only a few licks of fluid from food. He is using the litter box quite regularly, and I see him at the water dish often. He has hung in there so long. I was thinking I would have to put hum down. I can not seem to bring myself to it. He had lost a lot of weight. Sleeps, wabbles when he walks. Scratches his ears quite vigorously. Not sure which one but one more then the other. I try to give him something different to eat every couple of hours to see if I can get him to eat.
He knows that the food causes the choking feeling he hates, so therefore he only takes in a little if any at all. His bowel movement were hard, but today I had to wipe some wet bm off his bum. He is so weak. I'm trying to remember everything that has happened. Oh he has some green in his eyes. I thought it odd but his second eyelid has never shown. Not that this would make a difference but I figure I'd add it.
June 5 was the first visit, the 13 the second. And Friday will be his third of he makes it. I've ordered some liquid cat food. And other stuff he could use if he plans on making it through. He looks at me his eyes says oh I feel bad & it breaks my heart. I'll sit and comb him. He purrs but I know he died not feel good. I can see he wants to eat. What torture starving to death? I cry and tell him I'm so sorry. Thank you in advance for your help. Nana
June 20, 2018
0 Recommendations
Without examining Bimma it is difficult to narrow in on a specific cause, there are many conditions which may cause swallowing difficulties and it is important to rule each of them out until you reach a diagnosis; neurological disorders, trauma to the pharynx, foreign objects, masses among other causes may lead to swallowing difficulties. I wish I could help narrow in on a specific cause, however if there is no specific diagnosis I would suggest visiting another Veterinarian for a second opinion. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
June 21, 2018
My 9 year old cat is experiencing the exact same thing. Tomorrow she is getting a full head, neck, and chest ultra-sound. If nothing helps by next Sunday, I will have to put her down. She has been sleeping in a cat bed next to me in my bed for 2 weeks. I am literally watching her die and it’s heartbreaking.
I was wondering how Bimma is doing?
Aug. 18, 2018
Angie M.
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Not sure
Beth
4 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Trouble Breathing And Swallowing
My cat is coughing/gagging kind of and is swallowing hard. She’s still able to eat and drink, but her breathing is also having a hard time breathing. Is there something I can do to prevent me having to take her to a vet?
June 19, 2018
0 Recommendations
There are many possible causes for the symptoms you’ve described and if Beth is having difficulties breathing you should visit a Veterinarian immediately to ensure that she is getting an adequate amount of oxygen. Infections, trauma, foreign objects among many other issues may lead to these symptoms so it would be worthwhile visiting your Veterinarian to determine the underlying cause. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
June 19, 2018
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Swallowing Difficulties Average Cost
From 584 quotes ranging from $300 - $3,000
Average Cost
$1,800
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Easily compare quotes from the most trusted pet insurance companies in the United States.
