My cat's mouth won't close, drooling, and can't eat. What's wrong?

Your cat needs to see his veterinarian ASAP. It is possible that your cat has a tooth abscess, severe periodontal disease, something lodged inside the mouth, an injury, or an oral tumor. Regardless of cause, this is a serious medical condition since it is preventing him from eating and drinking normally. Your cat is at risk of becoming dehydrated and developing a condition called hepatic liposis, which can lead to liver failure. Even going 24 hours without food can cause changes in liver functioning.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Sam. I recommend that he sees an emergency veterinarian today. He needs to be examined. If there is a smell coming from his mouth, I worry that he has a wound. If he is painful, then he will not open his mouth. There are also other causes of not being able to use the mouth properly such as infectious and inflammatory conditions. The veterinarian will examine him and may recommend some testing. Based on these results, treatment can be started to help him feel better. I worry that he will become dehydrated from not eating and drinking properly. This may need to be addressed as well. I hope this information helps!

This sounds like a serious problem, especially given the chronicity. A neurologic problem with the nerves to the face or a neuromuscular problem (facial muscles) may be options. Unfortunately there are many things that could be causing these symptoms. A good place to start is baseline bloodwork to check organ function along with a full neurologic exam by a vet. If your family vet is stumped then referral to a veterinary specialist (internist or neurologist) is indicated. More testing is needed in a case like this in order to know what is the best treatment. Your family vet should be able to provide referral or you can search for a specialist online. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

He needs to be seen by a veterinarian. He looks like he really doesn't feel well from the photo. The red spots on the tongue could be ulcerations (due to a toxin ingestion or kidney disease for example) or they could be cancer (very common in cats). This is not something you can fix at home. Please get him to a vet as soon as you can. Best wishes.

I'm very sorry to hear Frankie is having some difficulty. Frankie absolutely needs to be seen by a veterinarian for evaluation. His inability to open his mouth could be related to trauma that occurred during the seizure (i.e. Dislocation of the TMJ joint, etc) although this usually results in the animal stuck with the mouth open. There are also muscle diseases that can cause the same issue; however this is not common in cats. I would also highly recommend Frankie be evaluated, if he has not already, for his seizures. Hopefully this was helpful information and Frankie feels better soon.

Hi there. There could be a couple things going on with Jake. He could have a growth in his mouth or on his gums that is preventing him from closing his mouth. He could also have pain or something else going on in his TMJ joint which makes it uncomfortable for him to fully clothes his jaw. I would recommend you taking him to the vet for them to examine him and they may need to take an x-ray. They can then determine what is the next best step. Best wishes and thanks for using Pet Coach!

It sounds like you need to make an appointment for Sonny with the vet. Its not urgent if he is still eating and drinking and seems to be acting fine, but I would be concerned that he may have a fractured tooth or some similar oral problem. Make an appointment when you can, and it may help keep him comfortable to offer soft food rather than hard food until your vet can take a look. Thank you for asking Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!