Feline Mouth Inflammation: An Article by Joanna Woodnutt, MRCVS, Reviewed by Brittany Kleszynski, DVM on 04/30/2024 and Published on 04/25/2020
Feline Chronic Gingivostomatitis (FCGS), commonly known as stomatitis in cats, is a painful and often difficult-to-treat oral inflammation condition. Understanding its risk factors and preventive measures is crucial for early detection and management.
Stomatitis affects a significant percentage of cats, causing severe pain and discomfort, as well as reluctance to eat. Apart from causing distress to the cat, any condition that causes cats to avoid eating can be potentially life-threatening.
The Nature of Stomatitis
Stomatitis, unlike gingivitis, doesn't only affect the gums near diseased teeth. Instead, it affects all the soft tissues in the mouth, including the gums, the back of the throat, the tongue, and even the roof of the mouth. Veterinarians are yet to identify the exact cause of stomatitis but believe it might be due to an over-reactive immune response to something.
Cats carrying Feline Calicivirus are more susceptible to developing stomatitis, as well as those infected with Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) or Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV), although the relationship is less clear. Cats living in multi-cat households or outdoor cats that form colonies also seem more prone to the condition.
Interestingly, while cats often experience flare-ups during the kitten stage, especially during tooth eruption, most cases of stomatitis occur in cats older than one year. Oral hygiene plays a role in the development of stomatitis. Many affected cats have an excessive immune response to bacterial plaque on their teeth, and reducing bacterial plaque significantly improves inflammation in the mouth.
Feline stomatitis presents symptoms such as drooling, pawing at the mouth, a change in the cat's eating habits, weight loss, bad breath, poor fur coat due to neglecting grooming, and swollen lymph nodes in the neck. Although it's unusual for cats to bleed from the mouth, severe cases of stomatitis may cause slightly bloody saliva, which could be noticed as patches of blood left behind on bedding, toys, or food bowls.
Diagnosis and Treatment
If your vet suspects your cat has stomatitis, they will conduct a full physical exam, including looking inside your cat's mouth, examining their head and neck, and checking the rest of the cat for other symptoms. Blood tests, mouth swabs, dental imaging, and biopsies may be necessary to confirm the diagnosis, rule out other dental issues, and investigate underlying causes.
Treatment typically starts with a full dental cleaning and removing any diseased teeth. Following this, home care with a chlorhexidine-based antiseptic paste is necessary, which needs to be brushed or wiped onto the cat's gums and teeth twice daily. In some cases, extraction of all cheek teeth might be recommended, a step that, while drastic, can lead to improvement in around 90 percent of cats.
Medications like Feline Recombinant Interferon Omega, corticosteroids, NSAIDs, and cyclosporine may also be used to treat stomatitis. Lifestyle adjustments, such as regular dental exams, and a dental diet can also help.
Costs for treating stomatitis in cats can vary depending on the individual cat's response to treatment, ranging from approximately $800 to $1,500 per year on average, with simple cases treated without referral to a specialist costing around $800 each year for repeated dental operations.
Since it isn't clear what causes stomatitis in cats, there's no proven way to prevent it. However, good dental hygiene from kittenhood, regular dental check-ups, and keeping cats up-to-date on vaccinations are effective in reducing risk. Monitoring cats for early signs like bad breath, difficulty eating, drooling, or head shaking is also essential to prevent progression to severe disease.
Cats with a history of Feline Calicivirus, Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV), or Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) might be more susceptible to developing stomatitis, although the relationship is less clear. Interestingly, while cats often experience flare-ups during the kitten stage, especially during tooth eruption, most cases of stomatitis occur in cats older than one year. The condition can affect various soft tissues in the mouth, including the gums, the back of the throat, the tongue, and even the roof of the mouth. Mental health concerns in cats can also be interconnected with their physical health, such as the toll that chronic conditions like stomatitis can take on a cat's overall well-being and quality of life.
