Cat drooling after being spayed - Answered by Dr. Van Lienden
 

Hello,
I am hoping that someone has experienced this before. Yesterday I had my cat spayed. When I found her this morning her left eye was a little droopy and she was drooling. Her left eye was droopy when she left the vet as well. I was concerned that she was in pain, so I gave her a baby aspirin, per the vets instructions. She slept most of the day, and came out of hiding early this evening and ate a little baby food. She seems to be having trouble getting her tongue to work. I know this sounds strange, but that's the best I can do to describe it. Anyway, I just checked on her, and she is drooling again. Her eye is not drooping though...which is good. I spoke with the vet this morning and he thought that she was probably drooling from licking somewhere that might still have antiseptic on it or something like that. I suppose that is possible, but I am concerned. I have six other cats and have never had this happen after they were spayed or neutered. I am wondering if she is just having a hard time working the anesthetic out of her system? I will call the vet in the morning if she is still having this problem...but I am very concerned and thought maybe someone else was familiar with this problem and might be able to set my mind at ease. Any help would be appreciated.
Thank you so much.
Chris

Fallout from the anaesthetic would be my guess, or a reaction to the drug they used. Sometimes they give a little too much. I would just keep an eye on her, no more aspirin for the time being, make sure she's eating and drinking OK and don't let the other cats get in her face.

Many post anesthetic/surgery problems surface within 48 hours after the procedure. In this case, a stormy recovery with violent attempts to stand up/escape may have caused the eye problem simply because of running into the cage walls. The drooling may be a result on an endotracheal tube used during surgery, or because of biting the tongue during recovery, or because of running into the cage wall and injuring lip/tooth/gum.

Some patients have trouble metabolizing some anesthetic agents either because of genetic predisposition or because of some underlying metabolic impairment/disease. Only time will resolve the symptoms. Care should be chosen if an underlying metabolic issue is suspected whenever anesthesia is required.

Dr. Van Lienden

Dr. Raymond Van Lienden DVM
The Animal Clinic of Clifton
12702 Chapel Road, Clifton
Virginia, U.S.A. 20124
703-802-0490