By Jennifer S. Hew, D.V.M.   

Feline stomatitis is a relatively common disease in cats that is, unfortunately, poorly understood. Stomatitis has a general condition that indicates inflammation of the oral cavity. This is a very painful disease; most owners bring in their cats for excessive drooling and lack of appetite. The disease is painful and difficult to manage. The story usually has a happy ending, but getting there can be a rough road! What happens in stomatitis is that gingivitis, or inflammation of the gums, spreads to the entire mouth. We don't know what causes this gingivitis in the first place. It is almost always a bacterium that is doing most of the damage, but we think this bacterium is not the true culprit. Pathology reports in virtually all cases of this disease suggest an underlying problem in the immune system. Originally, feline leukemia virus (Felv) and feline aids virus (FIV) were though to be the culprits, but they turned out to play a much smaller role than once thought. Felv-positive cats have not been shown to have a higher incidence. Still, because of the treatments used, we need to check FIV and Felv status. We also need to biopsy the gums because one form of oral cancer, squamous cell carcinoma, can mimic this disease. If your cat has this disease, one of the first things you will notice is a lot of drooling and a foul odor from the mouth. Some of the early signs are also less grooming, a loss of appetite and maybe even less playing with you. When the disease progresses, you may notice weight loss and pain when eating. Severely affected cats will appear anorectic, may become febrile, and may show bleeding or crusty gums. The disease is actually very easy for your veterinarian to diagnose; one good look (usually under sedation) is all that is needed to identify this disease. The hard part comes in trying to figure out not only why it occurs, but also how to manage it. Tests such as complete blood counts and viral tests (FIV and Felv) should be performed. Radiographs (x-rays) of the oral cavity will tell us how the tooth structures (such as roots, etc.) are doing and will guide extractions. Bacterial cultures can direct appropriate antibiotic therapy. The next step is to anesthetize your cat and do a complete dental cleaning. This includes deep root planing of the gums, scaling and polishing of the teeth, and extraction of those that are diseased. Then the appropriate antibiotics and oral rinses for home care will be prescribed. Now the ball is in your court, but the game is certainly not over! Often we can control this intense inflammation in your cat's mouth with proper oral hygiene and antibiotics. But often we cannot. Understand that the basic mechanism of this disease is that immune cells in your cat's gums are overreacting to something believe it or not, usually the teeth. We need to quiet down this inflammation. In some cases, we need to use cortisone injections into the gums or oral cortisone to keep things under control. More often than that though, the best treatment is to extract the teeth in the areas of the mouth that are so severely inflamed. These teeth are almost always the molars and premolars. I have dealt with too many cases of this to dance lightly around the issue. In severe cases, I've tried dental cleanings every six to eight weeks, antibiotics, and several different forms of cortisone (i.e., prednisone, triamcinolone, or depomedrol), all with little or no relief of this painful condition. Multiple or even full mouth extractions may be required, but this just seems too drastic to many owners. I just wish you could see how happy these cats are once the teeth are extracted and the gums return to a normal pink state. Four or five days of post-operative discomfort, which can be controlled with pain medication, and you will have your happy cat back. And don't worry for a second about how your cat will eat without many of his or her teeth. Don't get me wrong! I always advocate trying to control this condition without extracting all my patient's teeth. I just don't want you to be too afraid to have your veterinarian perform multiple extractions if all else is failing. If you want, I can get you some testimonials! Dr. Jennifer S. Hew practices at Hammocks Veterinary Hospital in Kendall. She is a graduate of Ontario Veterinary College, and among her many affiliations is the American Association of Feline Practitioners. She can be reached at (305) 388-0880.

Top of Page

		Table of Contents  Our Latest Issue   Advertise   Chatroom  Comics   Contact   Departments   Discussion  Guestbook   Issues   Pet Links Katsation.com & PuppyStation.com Select Main   OR  Home About Advertising Comics Contact Departments Discussion Editors Guestbook Issues Related Sites Pet Links Directory Select Department Departments 20/20 Facts Ask Dr. Jane Ask A Trainer Bird Stop Book Reviews Breeds Cat's Meow Celebrities' Classifieds Dog Time Editorials Exotics Features Fishy Grooming Harry's Kitchen Holistic Care The Spotlight Kids & Pets Open Wide Pet Post Pets In Court Pet Travel While Away Wild Thing  OR Select Issue  Issues Main Covers 1995 Covers 1996 Covers 1997 September 1997 November 1997 Covers 1998 February 1998 April 1998 June 1998 August 1998 October 1998 Covers 1999 January 1999 March 1999 May 1999 July 1999 September 1999 November 1999 Covers 2000 January 2000 March 2000 May 2000 July 2000 September 2000 November 2000 Covers 2001 February 2001 April 2001 July 2001 September 2001 Covers 2002 March 2002 June 2002 November 2002* Covers 2003
	Have the Tyme? Suggest This Page to a Friend! Your Name and E-Mail: Your Friends E-Mail:		Search The Pet Tribune On-Line ! More Search Options !