TL;DR: Excessive drooling and dizziness in cats can indicate poisoning, dental issues, or ear infections and require veterinary attention within a few hours. Seek immediate emergency care if your cat experiences seizures or difficulty breathing.
What causes excessive drooling and dizziness in my cat?
Excessive drooling, also known as ptyalism, combined with dizziness or a lack of coordination (ataxia), suggests that your cat is experiencing a physical or neurological disturbance. This combination of symptoms can stem from several sources, including:
- Ingestion of a toxic substance
- Severe dental pain
- Heatstroke
- An inner ear infection affecting balance
Is my cat's drooling and lack of coordination an emergency?
- Urgency Level: Medium. These symptoms require prompt medical attention and a planned trip to the veterinarian.
- Contact your vet or an emergency clinic within the next few hours to ensure your cat receives a proper diagnosis and relief from discomfort.
- Seek immediate emergency care if the symptoms are accompanied by seizures or difficulty breathing.
How can a photo or video help the vet triage my cat?
- Capturing a clear photo of the drool or a short video of your cat's dizzy movements allows the veterinary team to assess the severity of the ataxia.
- Visual documentation helps identify the consistency of the saliva, such as whether it is foamy or tinged with blood.
- Providing these visuals before you arrive helps the clinic prepare the necessary treatment tools in advance.
Clinical Context (Merck Veterinary Manual)
Causes of drooling in cats include oral diseases (especially in cats), oral foreign bodies, neoplasms, injuries, mucosal defects, infectious diseases (e.g., rabies or convulsive disorders), motion sickness, fear, nervousness, excitement, reluctance to swallow, esophageal obstruction, stimulation of GI receptors (gastritis or enteritis), sublingual lesions, tonsillitis, medicine administration (particularly in cats), conformational defects, metabolic disorders (e.g., hepatic encephalopathy, especially in cats, or uremia), and abscess or inflammatory conditions of the salivary gland. During triage, stupor, seizures (often with salivation and facial tremors), and changes in behavior may indicate a critical level of pain or distress. Treatment may be needed for hypocalcemia, organophosphate toxicity, thiamine deficiency, or sepsis; traumatic injuries require attention to blood loss, fluid therapy, respiratory support, and pain management. The possibility of rabies should always be eliminated before oral examination.
Chapter: Emergency, General Principles
Source: The Merck Veterinary Manual, 11th Edition (Page 1662)