Sores on cats’ tongues should be examined by vet
Q: “Buddy,” my sweet kitty, has these red sores on his tongue.
The sores have been there for a while, but now he is not eating very well, and I’m wondering if that is the reason.
Any thoughts on how to help him? M.C., Farragut
A: I’m sorry to hear about Buddy.
Glossitis, or inflammation of the tongue, isn’t too common in cats, but when it’s present, it absolutely can affect a cat’s ability to eat.
Buddy should be examined by your veterinarian, especially an oral exam.
Lesions could be raised, ulcerated, swollen and/or bleeding. The appearance of the lesions and their location may help your veterinarian try to identify the cause.
There are many things that could cause Buddy’s symptoms. There are plants and other objects in the environmental that could cause oral ulcerations if licked or ingested by the pet.
Other causes include severe dental disease, autoimmune reactions and food allergies.
In younger cats, we are concerned with potential viral causes, such as Feline Leukemia, FIV, Herpes and Calici.
With older cats, we are concerned with kidney disease and cancer causing those lesions.
Buddy’s treatment will depend on the cause. After Bud-dy’s exam, if the cause is not visible, your veterinarian may talk to you about diagnostic blood tests and possibly biopsies.
Sometimes, these sores are so painful that the kitties must be sedated for an oral exam. Hope-fully, that’s not the case for Buddy. Best of luck to both of you, and I hope he is feeling better soon.
If you have a question about your pet, you may email Myers at lenoircityac@gmail.com
