Cat Stomatitis: Causes, Treatment & Care Guide

For instance, symptoms like dehydration, prolonged hunger, gingivitis, urinary tract syndrome, and kidney failure can be indicators of illness. If you notice your cat starting to eat less, drool, or have bad breath, it's time to take notice!

This could be a sign that your feline friend is unwell. Pay close attention to any other symptoms and seek veterinary care promptly. Many stray cats suffer from cat stomatitis due to unsecure diets and consumption of unsanitary food. Severe stomatitis can lead to death, as cats are naturally sensitive and will refuse to eat if their mouths hurt. Add to that the hardships of a wandering life, and the consequences can be dire.

Without the help of kindhearted individuals, stray cats with stomatitis face a grim fate. So, if you come across such a cat, please do your best to take it to a vet to save a life. Stomatitis is one of the more challenging cat diseases to treat clinically.

Key characteristics of the disease include:

Complex causes

Difficult treatment procedures

Prone to recurrence

In some cases, fullmouth extraction may be necessary, which is both costly and painful for the cat.

Prevention is more important than treatment, so start early to keep your cat's mouth healthy and avoid the disease.

What is cat stomatitis?

Stomatitis is an inflammation, but its progression is not as simple as 'clean mouth → dirty mouth (unclean, bacteria buildup) → smelly, rotten mouth (microbial infection).' The development of stomatitis involves not only microbial infections but also immune factors.

Plaque, and even certain components in the teeth, can stimulate the oral mucosa and trigger inflammation, leading to ulcers and hyperplasia. In this process, immune factors may play a larger role.

Therefore, whether it's through antibiotics and daily cleaning to control plaque and microbial infections, or with drugs to suppress immune system function, these are only temporary solutions. The only way to truly eliminate the risk of immune stimulation is through tooth extraction, which can significantly improve the clinical symptoms of cats with stomatitis.

Common symptoms of cat stomatitis:

1. Drooling, halitosis, pain when eating, excessive saliva, drooling, weight loss, and depression.

2. Swollen and hyperplastic gums, ulcerated oral mucosa, pharynx, or tongue.

3. Missing teeth, a decrease in the number of teeth, and tooth loss.

4. Congested and red mucosa, and redness in the pharynx.

5. Swelling and ulcers in the throat, pharynx, and trachea.

Classification of cat stomatitis:

1. Gingivitis and periodontitis: Periodontitis is an inflammation of the periodontal ligament, alveolar bone, and alveolar bone, leading to the formation of cysts, recession of the gums, and loss of alveolar bone. Research shows that gingivitis and periodontitis are related to genetics, feline immunodeficiency virus, and regular oral care.

2. Stomatitis: Stomatitis is a widespread inflammation in the oral cavity, extending beyond the gums to the mucosa of the alveolar ridge and even the labial mucosa. Severe cases may involve inflammation and nodular hyperplasia in the posterior oral cavity, the lateral pharyngeal side to the palatoglossal arch, and other areas. Research suggests that stomatitis is associated with pathogens such as Pasteurella multocida, Capnocytophaga canimorsus, feline calicivirus, feline herpesvirus, feline leukemia, and feline AIDS. Due to its complex causes, recurrence, and limited effectiveness of medication, stomatitis is difficult to cure.

3. Squamous cell carcinoma: Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common oral tumor in domestic cats. These tumors can vary in appearance, sometimes presenting as ulcerated areas or masses. The prognosis for feline squamous cell carcinoma is poor, largely depending on the extent of primary tumor invasion.

4. Eosinophilic granuloma: Eosinophilic granuloma is an inflammatory disease related to type I allergy reactions. The most common cause in cats is exogenous parasites and other insects, environmental allergens (such as allergic dermatitis), or dietary hypersensitivity.

5. Immunemediated and autoimmune diseases: These diseases are caused by genetics, autoimmune reactions, or infections, and can manifest as erythema, erosion, ulcers, scales, and crusts. Pemphigus is a typical disease.

6. Metabolic diseases: Acute renal failure is defined as a rapid decline in kidney function. Renal failure and oral ulcers often occur together. Halitosis is typically a feature of this syndrome. In severe cases, there may be extensive sublingual necrosis and loss of the tip of the tongue.

7. Other causes: Oral inflammation caused by foreign objects, burns, and other factors. Diagnosis is based on medical history and clinical examination.

What to know about cat tooth extraction:

In treating stomatitis, tooth extraction is usually categorized into fullmouth extraction and fullmouth molar extraction.

Fullmouth extraction: Removal of all teeth in the cat's mouth.

Fullmouth molar extraction (also known as halfmouth extraction): Removal of the premolars and molars only, while retaining the canines and incisors.

There are two different treatment methods because extracting canines is difficult and may have adverse effects on the jawbone. However, the remaining incisors and canines can still become a breeding ground for plaque or cause immune stimulation to the mucosa, which may affect the efficacy of treatment.

A 2015 retrospective study showed that there was no statistically significant difference in efficacy between fullmouth extraction and halfmouth extraction. However, it is still unknown whether this single study's findings align with reality.

Therefore, if possible, it is recommended to opt for fullmouth extraction to "eliminate the root of the problem." However, if there is no inflammation in the gingival tissue around the canines and incisors, it may be considered to retain them.

Risks of tooth extraction:

1. The risks of tooth extraction, as a routine dental procedure, are mainly divided into two aspects: anesthesia and complications.

2. The risk of anesthesia is wellknown, and due to individual differences, careful communication between the owner and the attending veterinarian is necessary.

3. Complications of tooth extraction include oronasal fistula, bleeding, bone damage, and the most common complication is root retention.

To prevent complications, two important steps are crucial:

1. Dental Xrays can help identify retained roots and remove them, reducing the likelihood of recurrent oral inflammation due to root retention.

2. Gingival modification can make the healed oral cavity smoother and more regular, reducing the risk of infection caused by oral secretions or food residue.

Therefore, the owner should inquire whether the doctor will perform these two steps during preextraction communication.

Postextraction diet:

1. After tooth extraction, there's no need to worry about your cat's eating. Cats mainly rely on swallowing to eat dry and wet food.

2. However, cats that have had fullmouth extraction may have difficulty biting into large pieces of food due to the loss of canines. Please be aware of this.

3. Additionally, some cats may prefer soft foods if they are in pain and inflammation has not yet been controlled. In this case, you can choose to feed them patestyle canned food or mix dry and wet food and blend it into a paste using a blender.

Cat oral care:

In summary, cat stomatitis is a challenging disease to cure, and prevention is crucial. Pet owners should pay close attention to their cat's oral health and regularly clean their cats' mouths.

There are several methods for oral cleaning:

1. Use an oral spray once a day, 2 hours after meals.

2. Brush teeth regularly, about 34 times a week.

3. Professional dental cleaning, once a year, depending on the situation and medical advice.

Specific operation methods:

1. Oral spray: Open the cat's mouth and spray the spray into the cat's mouth.

2. Brushing: It is recommended to use gauze instead of a toothbrush, as most toothbrushes are too large for cats to accept, unless they start brushing teeth from a young age and may be able to adapt.

Gently rub the teeth with the gauze dipped in toothpaste to achieve a satisfactory effect. Who knows, your cat might even start to enjoy brushing its teeth!

3. Professional dental cleaning: Just bring the cat to the vet, and the rest is up to the doctor. However, professional dental cleaning requires general anesthesia, and the cat must fast for 812 hours before the procedure and undergo preoperative examination and risk assessment.

In terms of difficulty, professional dental cleaning < oral spray < regular brushing.

Pricewise, oral spray < brushing < professional dental cleaning.

Owners can choose the cleaning method based on their budget and the cat's cooperation level.

For a healthy life for your cat, please also avoid feeding it chocolate and other sweets, as this can cause discomfort. You can feed it vegetable sticks and other chew toys, which can not only exercise the cat's bite strength but also clean the teeth and remove tartar and plaque.

In summary, cat stomatitis is an immunerelated disease that can be lifethreatening and difficult to rescue. The only thing pet owners can do is to maintain their cat's oral hygiene, help them boost their immunity, and, most importantly, observe and check frequently. If you notice any signs, seek veterinary care promptly.