My cat's lower jaw is swollen, but she shows no pain. What's wrong?

A sudden swelling under the jaw could be an abscess. Typically these need to be seen by a vet; as they often need to be lanced/drained to get the pus and infection out; then started on antibiotics. Pain medication may be given as well. If he isn't eating, if he's acting lethargic or otherwise not feeling well (vomiting, diarrhea, any change in breathing) seek emergency care. If your vet's office is closed, they likely have a message with who to call or where to seek after hours care in the case of an emergency. If he's still eating and acting ok, you can call and make an appointment at the first possible time. I hope that helps you! Thanks for asking Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Hello and thank you for taking such good care of Rosie. I really appreciate you taking the time to submit pictures of her lips and mouth. Cats can sometimes get the same kinds of mouth and lip diseases that people get. Perhaps she bumped it against something or scraped it on rough surface as she was being curious. Another reason for swollen lips are possible allergic reactions to insect bites or noxious substances. In addition, dental disease or improper teeth occlusion can can cause lip abrasions. My best advice is this: As long as she is eating, drinking, and playing normally, give the lip 3 days to improve and get smaller. If there is no improvement in that time, or if the lip gets bigger in the meantime, please have her seen by your veterinarian for a thorough oral examination. I hope this helps. Thanks for your question.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Ronda and for providing pictures, they are very helpful. It is swollen but I would not say it's an emergency situation. As long as he is eating and drinking normally, you don't need to rush him into a vet asap but he should see one in the next few days. I am concerned that his lower lip is that swollen. Give his vet a call to see if you get him into a vet in the next few days. I hope this helps!

From the photos it looks like Xena has a "rodent ulcer" (aka: eosinophilic granuloma complex). It is best to have her checked out by your regular veterinarian to get a definitive diagnosis and treatment. ( https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4951528 ) Hope this helps. Best wishes.

She could have an eosinophilic granuloma which is common in cats and can be caused by an allergic response. The lesion may become ulcerated and is typically treated with a corticosteroid. If she has any fleas then she should be treated for fleas. You could also put her on a hypoallergenic diet and see if that helps. Try to find a low cost clinic or a vet that would take a payment plan so you can get her treated. If she just needs a corticosteroid then it shouldn't be very expensive. Hope she gets better soon!

Please make an appointment to have Gia seen by a vet as soon as possible. A swollen jaw can indicate infection, a foreign body stuck in the jaw, or a mass/ growth in the area, all of which can be extremely painful and require treatment by a veterinarian. Pain medications meant for humans can be very dangerous (and even deadly) for cats, so I do not recommend giving any to your kitty without consulting with your vet.

It is quite difficult to appreciate where the swelling is based on these images. I sort of think I can see what you are talking about in the third image. One of the most common reasons for swelling on the face in cats is when something is wrong with the teeth. Cats are known for getting abscesses in the roots of their teeth. When this happens, the area outside of the mouth on the face and around can get swollen (and eventually become painful). Other causes of swelling around the face and throat would be enlargement of the lymph nodes, allergic reactions, or some sort of mass. I would bring Genevieve to a veterinarian to have the area assessed in order to get to the bottom of things.