Understanding Feline Stomatitis: A Guide for Cat Owners
This handout provides an overview of Feline Chronic Gingivo-Stomatitis (FCGS), a painful oral condition, to help you understand its diagnosis, treatment, and management.
What Is Stomatitis?
Stomatitis is a severe, painful, and complex disease that causes widespread inflammation throughout a cat’s mouth. Unlike gingivitis, which is confined to the gumline around the teeth, stomatitis can affect the gums, cheeks, tongue, and the roof and floor of the mouth. While most cats tolerate mild gingivitis, stomatitis is a debilitating condition that significantly impacts their quality of life.
Symptoms to Watch For
The signs of stomatitis are often related to severe oral pain. Be observant for the following symptoms:
- A strong, foul odor from the mouth
- Excessive drooling or salivation
- Poor grooming, leading to a matted or unkempt coat
- Dropping food or crying out while eating
- Hesitancy to eat, sometimes leading to weight loss
Stomatitis: Causes & Diagnosis
Causes
The exact cause of stomatitis is unknown. It is understood to be an abnormal and exaggerated immune system response to bacteria and plaque on the teeth. While the trigger for this overreaction is not fully understood, certain viruses can be contributing factors.
Diagnosis
A diagnosis is primarily made through a thorough oral examination under sedation or anesthesia. Key steps in the diagnostic process include:
- Oral Exam: Identifying severe inflammation of the gums, cheeks, and back of the mouth.
- Blood and Urine Tests: To rule out underlying systemic diseases.
- Viral Screening: Testing for Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) and Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV), which can contribute to the condition.
- Dental X-rays: To identify concurrent issues like tooth resorption or inflammation of the bone surrounding the teeth (periodontitis).
- Biopsy: In some cases, a tissue sample may be taken to rule out other causes like infection or oral cancer.
Stomatitis Treatment Options
Successful treatment focuses on minimizing bacteria in the mouth to reduce the immune system’s inflammatory response.
Medical Management
For some cats, a combination of therapies may be used to manage the condition, including:
- Regular professional dental scaling and polishing.
- Pain relief medications, which may include non steroidals like Metacam, or injectable such as Solensia
- Specialized dental diets.
- Courses of antibiotics like Doxycycline, which can also help modulate the immune response.
However, medical management alone is often not enough for long-term comfort, and inflammation may return quickly.
Surgical Treatment: The Gold Standard
For cases that do not respond to medical management, partial or full-mouth tooth extractions are the recommended gold standard treatment. While this seems drastic, removing the teeth eliminates the plaque-retentive surfaces that trigger the inflammation.
- Studies show that up to 90% of cats experience complete resolution of their symptoms after extraction surgery.
- This procedure is often best performed by a specialist veterinary dentist.
Recovery and Long-Term Management
Post-Surgery
- Your cat will be sent home with pain relief and anti-inflammatory medications. Appetite stimulants may also be prescribed.
- A diet of soft or canned food is necessary for at least two to three weeks after extraction surgery to allow the gums to heal.
- Once healed, many cats are surprisingly able to eat dry kibble again without discomfort.
- Most owners report a dramatic improvement in their cat’s appetite, attitude, and overall quality of life once the source of chronic pain is removed.
Stomatitis Prevention & Home Care
While preventing stomatitis is difficult due to its unknown cause, maintaining excellent oral hygiene is the best defense against the bacterial buildup that may trigger it.
- Professional Cleanings: Regular veterinary dental cleanings are crucial.
- Dental Diets and Treats:
- The Hills t/d food is an excellent option for dental health and comes with a money-back guarantee for palatability.
- Products that have been scientifically tested for their effectiveness can be found on the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) website. Greenies are one such treat that can help reduce plaque.
- At-Home Brushing: Daily brushing with a cat-specific toothpaste can help prevent the excessive bacterial buildup that may contribute to stomatitis.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is stomatitis deadly? In severe cases, yes. The extreme pain can cause a cat to stop eating (anorexia), which can lead to a fatal form of liver failure called hepatic lipidosis.
- Is it contagious? Generally, no. Stomatitis is an individual cat’s immune response. However, if an underlying contagious virus is a contributing factor, that virus can be spread to other cats.
- Can it be treated at home? Unfortunately, once stomatitis develops, it requires veterinary intervention and cannot be effectively treated at home.
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If you would like to discuss the above information, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.