Cat gagging, trouble swallowing, and not moving much. What to do?

I am so sorry that your pet is not doing well. The swelling is likely due to infection (bacterial or viral) or an inflammatory response to some kind of allergy. There are lymph nodes on the neck near the jawline. I would definitely get Runiyah seen by your vet to have this swelling looked at and also to get her temperature to make sure she is not running a fever. I do hope that your fur baby feels better soon! Best wishes and take care!

She may be trying to vomit a hairball, or have a cold or sore throat. I give cat laxitive daily for several days to help pass a hairball, then once weekly for hairball prevention. If she has a cold they usually have some clear nasal and eye discharge. This a a virus so no medication is needed, it usually runs it’s course in a few days to a week. If she becomes ill and stops eating or drinking then I recommend a veterinary exam and treatment. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Khaleesi.

AT her age there may be an infection or mild obstruction causing the problem. If there is no improvement, then she may need to be sedated to get xrays on her neck and throat and a good exam down her throat to check for anything abnormal. If there was something irritating it at one point, then this will be evident and they can adjust medicine to help get her better.

She probably has an upper respiratory infection or cold. Please keep her warm and feed her often. As long as she’s eating she should recover in a week or two. If she stops eating you should take her in for an exam and treatment. They may need to treat her with antibiotics and fluids. This is common in kittens and they usually recover fine. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Nicole.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. Based on your description and the pictures, I suspect that he has an upper respiratory infection. Many times upper respiratory infections can be contributed to the herpes virus in cats. I would recommend taking Catty in to be seen by a veterinarian so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. An antibiotic will likely be prescribed / administered to help with any secondary bacterial infections. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction and that Catty feels better soon. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

It is very possible it is a viral illness, in which case supportive care (giving fluids, treating secondary infections or fevers, continuing to get her to eat and drink) are needed as the virus runs its course. Making sure Katniss is away from other pets is also good to prevent the spread of the illness. If she goes downhill again, doesn't want to eat or drink, or is still very weak or ill, she may need to be seen by your vet again or kept in the hospital on fluids and other treatment for a few days to help her recover.

It sounds like she has an upper respiratory infection or cold. Use a warm wet cloth to clean her eyes and nostrils. You can use a thin film of Vaseline around her nose to prevent the discharge from sticking to the skin. I recommend warming wet food, fish is best since cats often won’t eat if they can’t smell the food. You can try chicken broth or tuna juice dribbled in her mouth to get some liquid in her. Usually the cold will last a week or two. If you can’t get her to eat she may become dehydrated so a veterinary exam and treatment may be needed to bring her around. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Alice.