Typically, stomach problems are not severe and the cat will recuperate without treatment. Why would food and water trigger a grand mal seizure in my old cat. Autoimmune muscle disorders can block the neuromuscular junction and result in voice change or loss. Many of these conditions are treatable or easily managed. Your cat may have laryngitis, which is an inflammation of the larynx or "voice box". There are a few reasons why your cat may be hoarse or have a crackly meow. Check your cat’s gums for signs of illness periodically. When a cat loses its voice, a likely cause is laryngitis, according to WebMD. Gagging can be a serious cause for concern. Laryngeal paralysis. It might be a serious problem. Vocal sounds are made by the physical vibration of the vocal folds. The cat will find it painful to swallow or verbalize. 4y.o. Similarly, a cat gagging is reflexively removing irritants from its larynx. ? When the larynx is paralyzed, the cat is unable to vocalize and breathing can be compromised. QUESTION Hi Dr Larry, I hope you are well. Unlike us, colds and flus are not the major reason for voice changes and loss in pets. There are a number of possible reasons for a cat to lose their voice. Causes of laryngeal paralysis in cats are usually idiopathic, i.e. Laryngitis is a condition that causes severe inflammation of the … My Siamese cat who is very talk ative has stopped talking. The cat is unique in that its vocal fold cords have an additional membrane called the ventricular cords that are used for purring. My cat, Pepper, is around 13 to 14 years old. It was annoying, but not a serious problem. The most natural source of cat coughing and gagging is when it is regurgitating a hairball. Kittens and shelter cat's are at high risk. Unvaccinated cats, cats that are under stress, and cats that are immunosuppressed because of conditions such as feline leukemia virus (FeLV) or feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) are also … He's app. Laryngitis is an inflammation of the larynx. Healthy gums are pink (or if your cat is black, gums may be black). Join Yahoo Answers and get 100 points today. needs to get toa vet asap!! Avoid any major changes and keep visitors to a minimum. Nerve damage causes the larynx—or voice box—to stop working properly during breathing or meowing. Your cat may experience issues with standing on all four legs, and you may even notice your cat leaning or falling over at times, which can be a frightening sight. Many of these conditions are treatable or easily managed. He is now randomely gagging and white spit comes out. It didn't seem to be from overuse even though she is a pretty vocal cat (if she doesn't like something, she'll let you know). 10 months old. If your dog or cat is losing their bark or meow do not put off a visit to your vet. Even though the cat may try to hide signs of illness, it won’t be possible for very long. The diagnostic work-up may include several types of blood tests, including heartworm antigen tests, laboratory cultures of a wash sample from the lower respiratory tract, endoscopic … This can cause a cat to lose its voice. If your cat got really old with no signs of dying should you put it to sleep anyway? He has been gagging every once in a while and swallows quite a bit when he does gag. ! Similarly, a cat gagging is reflexively removing irritants from its larynx. However, precautions can be taken to lower the risk of some of the common causes. They can vibrate these rapidly without closing the trachea completely and can breathe when they are purring. My two cats are always 'choking' but I have never seen any evidence of hairballs. However, nausea and vomiting play a major role in loss of appetite when they occur. If your dog or cat is losing their bark or meow do not put off a visit to your vet. Another more common reason for gagging in cats is because a foreign object has started to interfere with the vocal cords. Pet owners may notice other symptoms, such as a cough, bad breath, or discharge coming from the cat’s eyes and nose. Pharyngitis inflames the back of the throat. When I can get him to talk either nothing comes out or his voice is hoarse. This can signify a loss of blood flow or circulation, shock, or anemia. If your cat has very pale gums that aren’t pink or are white, time to take your cat to the vet. With less treatable conditions, early intervention can lead to a longer, higher quality of life. Cat Nutrition: What Makes a Nutritional Cat Food? Sometimes there is little you can do to prevent your cat loss of appetite. Yesterday we noticed that her meow had become pretty hoarse. Often it is hard for us to tell why this is happening. The larynx is the part of the throat often called the “voice box” in humans. Once a cat develops FHV, the virus never leaves its body. If you notice that after giving birth your cat is breathing quickly, restless, anxious, shows lack of coordination when walking, falls, hypersalivates, has a fever and/or her mucous membranes seem pale; she … He also seems to be swollen on each side of his face. The vocal folds open and close the opening of the trachea, producing the characteristic bark and growls of dogs, the meow and purr of cats, and our own voices. The most common causes of laryngitis are excessive vocalization and chronic coughing. Hairballs are relatively common, and maybe since she has been grooming herself more lately (as cats do after a bath), maybe she's got one doozy of a hairball. My cat lost his voice yesterday. Pharyngitis inflames the back of the throat. 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