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Stomatitis and Dental Disease Mouth Inflammation Unfortunately, little is known about the causes of stomatitis (mouth inflammation). Treatment focuses on ruling out potential causes, and managing symptoms. Causes and Symptoms Stomatitis is inflammation of the mouth tissue. While gingivitis is limited to inflammation along the gum line, stomatitis often includes ulcerated tissue in the back of the mouth, inside the cheek pouches, and even back in the throat. Cats with stomatitis may drool and express discomfort while eating. They may cry out, run or walk away from their food bowl, and/or refuse to eat. Upon examination of the mouth, there may be bright red tissue along the gums, in the cheek pouches, and/or in the back of the mouth. Stomatitis may be more accurately described as a symptom rather than a disease. Some cases seem caused by viruses such as bartonella and calici. Food allergies could be the culprit. In other cases, the cause is unknown. Some believe many cases are caused by an autoimmune condition, where the cat’s body attacks what it perceives as a foreign substance – perhaps the enamel of their own teeth. Others feel the acidic coating on dry cat food causes many cases. As symptoms for stomatitis are similar to those of dental disease, the best place to start may be a thorough dental examination and cleaning under anesthesia. Your veterinarian may wish to biopsy any nodules or other tissue he finds suspicious, to rule out mouth cancer. Treatment Options As the causes of stomatitis are often unknown, treatment often consists of trying various remedies to see what works. A limited-ingredient grain-free poultry or rabbit diet, canned or raw, could rule out food allergies. An all-wet diet may be more comfortable for a cat’s inflamed mouth, and may reduce the chance of developing diabetes. If making your own food, use a reputable recipe such as those found on catinfo.org or catnutrition.org. Supplements such as agaricus blazei, lactoferrin, omega fatty acids, or Coenzyme Q10 may be helpful. Interferron has reportedly been used with success with some cats. Chlorhexadine rinses or water additives may help. In other cases, antibiotics such as metronidazole (Flagyl), clindamycin (Antirobe or CliniDrops), amoxicillin (Clavamox) or Zithromax may work. Sometimes, the only option is to suppress the symptoms of pain or inflammation with anti-inflammatories (such as Metacam), immuno-suppressants (such as cyclosporine), or steroids (such as dexamethasone or prednisolone). Steroids should be utilized with care, as undesirable side effects can occur (such as diabetes). In some cases steroids have been reported to improve symptoms temporarily, but the symptoms later resume even worse than before. In half or more of cases, full mouth extractions or removing all teeth behind the canines has met with success. Finally There is much unknown about the cause and treatment of stomatitis. Therefore, it can be a frustrating disease to work with. However, there are many options to explore to enhance the comfort and quality of life of your cat. Case Studies Omaha struggles with a mild case of stomatitis, or inflammation of the mouth tissue. This is one of the most frustrating conditions Lynette has dealt with, as no one seems to know what causes it, or alleviates it. She has had the best luck using:
Prior treatments also included:
Latifah struggled with a more severe case of stomatitis. Latifah had a full-mouth extraction to remove all remaining teeth, but her symptoms prevailed. Various antibiotics were tried without success. She was fed a limited-ingredient poultry canned or raw diet, lactoferrin, and agaricus blazei which helped, but her mouth still caused her a great deal of pain. Lynette had to resort to using cyclosporine (Atopica, 25 mg given daily on an empty stomach) and Metacam (0.2 mL of the 0.5 mg/mL strength given every other day). These medications controlled her symptoms well and while her mouth would never be "normal" she could eat with enthusiasm and her mouth was significantly less red and raw. Cost Saving Ideas Generic drugs may save cost. Shop around, including online sources, for cost savings on various medications. For futher information, visit: Lymphoplasmacytic gingivitis in a cat Boot's Story: Lymphocytic-Plasmacytic Stomatitis Plasma Cell Stomatitis by Mar Vista Animal Medical Center Treatment and Procedures by Vet Dentistry Feline Stomatitis by All Pets Dental Feline chronic gingivostomatitis by Dr. Addie Feline Odontoclastic Resorptive Lesions Does Dry Food Clean Teeth? by Dr. Hofve What Dry Food Does to Your Cat's Teeth by Guillermo Díaz, MV Feline Future - A Predator's Teeth (this is a commercial site, so the information needs to be evaluated in light of the product being sold and other available information) The Relation Between Dental Disease and Canned Food by Shawn Messonnier DVM Treating the Inflamed Mouth - WSAVA 2001 WSAVA 2001 Oral administration of bovine lactoferrin for treatment of intractable stomatitis in feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV)-positive and FIV-negative cats. - Am J Vet Res. 1996 Oct Treating chronic pain in the geriatric feline Zimmer Feline Foundation, Fall 2009 Date last updated: 12/3/2016 The content contained herein is protected by copyright, and may not be copied or altered without express permission of Feline Outreach. We encourage individuals, groups, and business to distribute the brochures as written and/or link to this information for personal and educational use, with credit for the content given to Feline Outreach. A lot of time and effort has gone into their preparation, and a donation to Feline Outreach in acknowledgment of our efforts is appreciated. |
