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Swollen cheek

by Alissa Rios
(Selma ca )



Dear Alissa

My adult cat has a swoolen right cheek. He has
had it for 2 days and it seems to be getting worse. I touch it and it seems to be soft, like liquid, and it does not bother him. What is it and do I need to take him to the vet?




ANSWER

You absolutely need to take him to the vet. He most likely has an abscess. The abscess would most likely be secondary to an infected tooth or external trauma to the face, most likely a bite wound. Go to the vet right away.

Best,

Dr. Neely



Comments for
Swollen cheek

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Aug 27, 2009
 Cat with swollen cheek popped
by: Alicia

There is a stray cat roaming around our neighbor for the past couple of months and he comes to our house sometimes. I noticed a few days ago his cheek was very large and swollen. He didn't come around for a few days but just saw him and it's seems to have popped and there is dried blood. I'm not sure if I should still take him to the vet or just let him be. Even though he's not our I'm willing to do whatever possible for him

Certainly sounds like an abscess that ruptured and usually after the rupture, the cat returns to normal. Of course, there are many other reasons to take the cat to the vet. Felv/FIV test, vaccines, fleas, worms, exam, ....just to name a few.

Best,
Dr. Neely
Aug 10, 2009
 swollen cheek with sneezing?
by: Anonymous

Hello,
My cat's cheek has been swollen for 2 days, and she's been sneezing for about a week. She is one of 4 semi-feral barn cats that live outdoors, and it seems there has been a bit of a cold traveling among them. Do you think the swelling in the cheek is related to the 'cold'? FYI, we had them all spayed about a year ago, and they were given shots then too.


Most often, that is a bite wound that has abscessed or a tooth root abcsess.
Apr 03, 2009
 HELP
by: Lizi

MY cats face has been swollen for about two days too, from i think a bee sting. He just came in today with his nictating membrane, and it wont retract. Would his eye be taken out? His face is a bit hard, his eye is very firm, and the third eyelid seems to be inflated and its pink. I dont have money to take him to the vet, what should i do? :(

It is impossible to give advice on this without seeing him. You can read the other answers because the questions are very similar to yours, but ideally your kitty needs a vet right away.
Feb 19, 2009
 Rosco
by: Anonymous

My cats cheek is 3 times the size it shuld be wat should i do?

ANSWER: The condition sounds very similar to the previous question. A swollen check is most likely to be an abscess, either externally from a bite, or internally from a bad tooth. One should see the vet if it has not ruptured on its own and it will be lanced and/or antibiotics prescribed.

Dr. Neely


Jul 03, 2008
 swollen cheek gone
by: Anonymous

My cats cheek busted. It was filled with blood. I washed it out with peroxide and put neosporin on it. He seems to be doing ok. He is still eating and trying to go outside. Thank you for the advise.


From Dr. N. You are very welcome. Certainly appears to have been an abscess. I'm sure there was pus mixed in with the blood. Cleaning it with peroxide and putting neosporin on it is an excellent thing to do. Just keep in mind that there was a reason it developed and that reason could be a bad tooth. It can abscess again.

Also, abscesses in general can empty and appear to heal and then in a few days or even a week or so can start to swell again. If that happens, I would suggest you go to the vet to see if a tooth is responsible and also to get oral antibiotics in an effort to keep it from coming back again.

Thank you for letting me know the outcome. Write anytime! Dr. Neely

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