Ask Hopeful Henry: Silly or Serious?

Dear Henry,

Just curious, my cat has started sticking his tongue out, I mean a lot. He will just sit and stick his tongue out at me. It’s cute but should I be concerned?

Thanks,

Dear Arnold.

I’m actually glad you brought this up. While yes it’s cute, I had a kitty with this habit. While some cats just do this for no apparent reason my concern with your kitty is that it is new behavior. If you cat was doing this its whole life and your veterinarian had seen no signs of trouble then I would say you just have a silly kitty.

A protruding tongue can be a sign of fairly serious oral issues such as periodontal disease which is very common in cats. Periodontal disease is easily diagnosed by your veterinarian during an oral examination. Some cats also experience gingivitis or stomatitis (inflammation of the entire mouth), when severe your cat will often paw at their mouth, refuse to eat, drool excessively and stick out their tongues. This particular oral disease is very painful and requires immediate treatment which can include antibiotics, anti-inflammatory medications, and in extreme cases, extraction of all the teeth. Don’t worry cats get along just fine toothless.

Oral tumors, Ulcers on the gums (a common sign of Kidney Failure), broken teeth with nerve damage or exposed nerves and temporomandibular joint disorders are traumatic injuries causing pain and the inability for your cat to properly close their mouths which could also be a cause for their tongue to stick out.

The bottom line is any time your cats or dogs behavior changes in a noticeable way don’t take a chance and call your veterinarian, a checkup will make sure your furry family member is happy and healthy and give you peace of mind.

Hoping this was Helpful,
Hopeful Henry

Just wanted to remind everyone, if you have a pet that goes missing make sure you contact The El Dorado County Animal Services, 530-573-7925 right away! If it is after hours leave a message and call back as soon as they reopen.

Also give the Lake Tahoe Humane Society a call 530-542-2857 they will be happy to post on their Facebook page which has over 6000 followers of which 80% are local. It has proven to be a very successful means of getting lost pets found. You can also text them a pic and full description including where the animal was lost (text info to 530-577-4521).

Send e-mails to LostPets@LakeTahoeHumaneSociety.org. Just remember the sooner the better don’t wait a few hours to see if you can find them or to see if they come home, the most successful cases of lost animals being found is when they are reported lost right away.