DrBarchas.com is a free resource for people with pets. Searchable articles are available on diseases, behavior, symptoms, and medical treatments for dogs and cats.
Cats, usually middle-aged or older.
Overview
Kidney disease, or kidney failure, is the most common major medical problem of older cats. Many cats survive with kidney disease for months or years after diagnosis. However, kidney disease generally is not curable. The disease is chronic and progressive, and over time causes fatality in most cases.
Foaming at the mouth and drooling have similar causes. Most cases of foaming or frothing at the mouth simply involve drooling combined with panting (cats, dogs) or rapid breathing. Drooling is also known as hypersalivation.
More common causes are listed first. Less common causes are listed later.
Cimetidine, ranitidine, and famotidine are related medicines. They are in a class of drugs called H2 blockers. They have similar effects and uses in veterinary medicine.
H2 blockers cause decreased production of stomach acid. In pets, these medicines are prescribed mainly to treat or prevent gastrointestinal upset (vomiting, diarrhea, or lack of appetite). They also may be used to prevent or treat ulcers or irritation of the esophagus, stomach, or intestines.
Dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens.
Tapeworms are parasites of dogs and cats. They live in the intestines and, although they rarely cause clinical symptoms or disease in pets, they rob their hosts of nutrients. Tapeworms are aesthetically unpleasant.
The most common type of tapeworm is spread by fleas. Pets contract this species of tapeworm when they swallow fleas in the process of grooming. Other tapeworms are spread through improperly prepared food.
Causes are listed in order from most common to least common. In dogs and cats, ear problems are by far the most common cause of head shaking.
Enalapril and benazepril are related members of a class of drugs called ACE inhibitors. They have similar effects and uses in veterinary medicine.
Cats, dogs, puppies, and kittens.
Ear mites are parasitic organisms that infest pets. They may cause intense irritation and itching in the ears, accompanied by production of large amounts of ear wax.
Ear mites are a leading cause of ear problems in kittens and cats. They can infest dogs and puppies as well, but are a less frequent cause of problems in this species.
Laxatone® and Petromalt® are commonly prescribed to prevent and eliminate hairballs in cats. They are laxatives that promote the passage of intestinal contents through the rectum as feces. Although the two products (and other, similar products) primarily are marketed as hairball remedies, they also are used to treat and prevent constipation.
Tetracycline is an antibiotic that is prescribed to treat a variety of bacterial infections.
Tetracycline is administered orally. It is available as a pill or a liquid suspension. Compounding pharmacies may be able to produce palatable formulations of tetracycline to ease administration to pets.
Heartworm disease affects dogs most frequently. Cats suffer from heartworm disease less often but are still at risk. Heartworms have been found in people in rare cases.