Swollen Lip

[cecie]

Our cat Molson has a swollen bottom lip. We first noticed it yesterday and this morning it is much more pronounced.

He doesn't appear to be in any pain and he is eating, but it is rather large and sore looking and we can't help but be concerned.

There appears to be a white spot on the swollen area... almost like a pimple. Any ideas on what this could be?

With it being Labour Day, we don't imagine the vet is open and if there is a vet open, it'll likely cost and arm and a leg. Do you supposed we could wait until tomorrow to see the Vet?

cecie

[jason]

was going to say a possible ulcer, but not sure about the white spot. a vet visit is most certainly in order.

perhaps others here could offer more advice.

[jdf]

Curious if Molson eats/drinks from plastic bowls... during manufacture, chemicals (antioxidants and stabilizers) are added to plastic to ensure stability during processing. These chemicals can leach out later into water and food and can cause dermititis around the mouth of cats and dogs who eat and/or drink from plastic containers. In dogs the resulting condition is called 'canine acne' . Our dog had a bout of this and our vet supplied us with a peroxide based shampoo to cleanse her chin and we stopped using plastic bowls - the problem cleared up with no further problems.

Also, any time there's a swelling around the mouth, I wonder about a tooth problem but this sounds more like dermititis. Might also be a foreign body like a sliver or bone fragment.

[Traci]

I always strongly recommend a prompt examination when symptoms as you describe are noticed. Swelling and white areas can indeed indicate indolent ulcers (eosinophilic granuloma complex), and need to be treated accordingly. If your vet is experienced, he should be able to determine upon exam what it is, but if he's perplexed in the least, he should rule out granulomas.

Also want to rule out ingestion of any toxins.