Foaming at the mouth

henna

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Help!
I don't know where to turn. My 10 year old female (spayed) is normally a very docile, lazy, mellow cat. Last weekend, out of the blue, she came running into my bedroom like she was scared and meowing in a tone I've never heard from her (except when she's been in the car once or twice, like a hoarse yelp). She was looking around frantically and then seemed frozen for a minute. I was concerned and thought maybe fleas were agitating her (since I had taken her to the vet for excessive licking two years ago and the doc had suggested a possible flea allergy). Prior, I did notice her licking alot and though I hadn't seen any fleas on her suspected she might have one or two since I'd been bitten a couple of times over the last month. She is strictly an indoor cat but I may have drug one or two in. She was also not herself personality wise. She was restless and sleepless. Constantly raoming the house. I foolishly bought some over the counter flea medicine and an ear mite medicine right away. When I put it on her this exasperated the problem. She hated the ear medicine I think the most. Within a couple of days I took her to the vet. He found no fleas, no skin irritation or hair loss. Her ears looked fine. Her temp was fine. I let him know that she was eating and going to the bathroom fine it seemed. Ultimately, he felt there was no sign of infection. He also did a blood panel which came back normal. All of a sudden that same night she started foaming at the mouth. The foaming followed a salivating sound and then sometimes a hoarse cry and then her body would freeze up for a minute then it would come out. This scared me to death. I don;t know what it is. Afterwards, she seems to be happy that its all over and runs to me for affection. But this accompanied by manic roaming of the house, she's NOT sleeping at all, I don't really see her drinking (though the eating is in check), her personality has changed completely and she does nothing she used to do. When she isn't manically roaming then she's under the bed. On top of updating my regular vet on the behavior, I've been to the emergency vet yesterday and she suggested these "episodes" of foaming could be a seizure. Although, there is no spasming or falling, etc. She suggested I videotape this and take it to my vet for a diagnosis (in lieu of more expensive tests I cannot afford). I have done this and am waiting to talk to someone but in the meantime........any ideas? Please.
 

catsallover

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What kind of OTC flea medicine did you use? Hartz has quit making theirs, but the stores are still selling it until it's gone. There have been numerous, serious problems with this flea med, thus the discontinuation. If my cats lick a spot of their flea meds (with a squirming cat it happens!
), they foam and get very upset. I would ask my vet about bathing her (and what kind of shampoo to get it off of her) and see if it helps. Prayers and Good luck!
 

spiritedstef

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Originally Posted by Henna

Help!
I don't know where to turn. My 10 year old female (spayed) is normally a very docile, lazy, mellow cat. Last weekend, out of the blue, she came running into my bedroom like she was scared and meowing in a tone I've never heard from her (except when she's been in the car once or twice, like a hoarse yelp). She was looking around frantically and then seemed frozen for a minute. I was concerned and thought maybe fleas were agitating her (since I had taken her to the vet for excessive licking two years ago and the doc had suggested a possible flea allergy). Prior, I did notice her licking alot and though I hadn't seen any fleas on her suspected she might have one or two since I'd been bitten a couple of times over the last month. She is strictly an indoor cat but I may have drug one or two in. She was also not herself personality wise. She was restless and sleepless. Constantly raoming the house. I foolishly bought some over the counter flea medicine and an ear mite medicine right away. When I put it on her this exasperated the problem. She hated the ear medicine I think the most. Within a couple of days I took her to the vet. He found no fleas, no skin irritation or hair loss. Her ears looked fine. Her temp was fine. I let him know that she was eating and going to the bathroom fine it seemed. Ultimately, he felt there was no sign of infection. He also did a blood panel which came back normal. All of a sudden that same night she started foaming at the mouth. The foaming followed a salivating sound and then sometimes a hoarse cry and then her body would freeze up for a minute then it would come out. This scared me to death. I don;t know what it is. Afterwards, she seems to be happy that its all over and runs to me for affection. But this accompanied by manic roaming of the house, she's NOT sleeping at all, I don't really see her drinking (though the eating is in check), her personality has changed completely and she does nothing she used to do. When she isn't manically roaming then she's under the bed. On top of updating my regular vet on the behavior, I've been to the emergency vet yesterday and she suggested these "episodes" of foaming could be a seizure. Although, there is no spasming or falling, etc. She suggested I videotape this and take it to my vet for a diagnosis (in lieu of more expensive tests I cannot afford). I have done this and am waiting to talk to someone but in the meantime........any ideas? Please.
She hasn't been bitten by anything or eaten any rodents, has she?
 

cathyc

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It does sort of sound like seizures. My kitty had episodes where he would sort of freeze up and have facial twitching and drooling. It didn't last long but when it was over he would let out an anguished sounding meow. The vet called these petite seizures and eventually he progressed to grand mal seizures. With those he always foams from the mouth, urinates and does that awful meowing when it's over. He will be dazed out for a little while afterwards. Did you use the OTC flea medicine before this started or after? Did you mention to the vet that you used the flea medication? While I don't know a lot about it I know it can be toxic. They did a special on our local news about this stuff and interviewed vets who warned how dangerous it can be. I'm sure there are some people on here that know much more about it and what it can do. Is there anything toxic in your house she could have gotten into? Plants, cleaning supplies etc.? I sure hope you can figure out what is going on. If the seizures get worse or more frequent you do need to get her back to the vet so that they can get her on meds to treat them. Good Luck!
 
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henna

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Thank you. I used the OTC medicine the day before the foaming started. However, I did start to see the odd behavior with the howling before that. I brought the medicine with me to the vet appointment so he could see it. Although, he told me he wasn't familiar with the brand called "PurrScriptions" by Sentry. The ear mite medicine was called "Ear Miticide for Cats and Kittens" by Lambert Kay. I have since flushed her ear out with water and bathed her with a gentle oatmael based shampoo the vet gave me. This hasn't seemed to alleviate her manicness and odd behavior. There was a plant in the home that she been eating and chewing ob for the last three months or so. I've been looking this plant up online and cannot find it (don't know if its poisonous). Needless to say, I removed it yesterday from the household. Unfortunately, the vets are hestiatant to treat her for seizures until they can witness one. Hopefully, my tape will help. I DON'T WANT TO SUFFER. So I've been frantically trying to do research online for answers (no offense but vets can be a little out of it sometimes). Anyone who identifies with this sitaution please respond.
 
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henna

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One more thing.....upon inspection both vets found a cavity with moderate gingivitis. But said that it didn't look absessed and didn't feel this was the problem. Could it be the tooth? She is salivating alot now. And she is eating wet food (only). ??? Just thought I'd add.....
 

nelle

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So sorry to hear about your distress!
If you still have it outside, you may want to take your suspect plant either to the vet or to the local agriculture extension to have it identified. I don't have any experience with cats and plants (I have a brown thumb), but we had a horse that ate crotalaria weed and it caused severe manic/seizure episodes. So plants can cause this sort of thing if they are toxic to the particular species.
Best of luck to you both, and keep us updated.
 

xxpunkkittenxx

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This souds like a siezure, and a 10 year old cat is old enough to have them, but she is still cosidered young for a cat. Bring her to the vet ASAP. and they can perscribe a medicine for it. Call first and explain in great detail what has happened and if it would be benificial to bring her in...
 

blueyedgirl5946

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You need to get the plant identified so you will lknow if it is one that is toxic to cats. Maybe you could post a picture of it on here. Someone on this board might know. You have two things going on that could be causing your cat's behavior. One is the over the counter meds you used and the other is the plant your cat had been chewing on. Zoom in on both these things and you will probably find your answer.
 

malena

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It seem like a mild seizure. I have experienced this with two cats. In the latest case it escalated to epilepsy. I had the advise from a friend to stop giving her cat food. I did (except for a vetrinary dry food) and, nock on wood, She has had one seizure in eight months and that was after the stress of us moving. I am not saying cat food is bad but I think some cats can be over sensitive to some cat food.
The other case didn't end so good. Our little Tixie began to have small seizures but they became worse for every attack. A scan showed a grewing brain tumor. I know that x-rays are expensive but maybe this terrible option has to be ruled out. If it should be that bad there might be medication if it is slow-growing. For our Tixie it was too late.
 

jennyr

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When you washed her ear out did you leave any water in it? That could affect her balance and her behaviour. Other than that I have no suggestions, though the foaming I would guess is related to the OTC medicine. I have one cat (Ellie) who foams whenever she is given any medicine.
 

catsallover

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How is she today? I sent you a pm, because I don't remember the rules for posting links right off hand, and I though you may want to read this right away, just in case they have the same ingredient- the symptoms sound similar.
 
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