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| Stomatitis is severe inflammation of the mouth and gums. (Image Source) |
February is Dental Awareness Month in our pets. It is a good
time to have your pet’s teeth and gums assessed. The mouth is the gateway to
the rest of the body and if it is not healthy it is unlikely for your pet to
stay healthy. One condition that is more prevalent in our feline friends is
stomatitis. Stomatitis is a painful inflammation in the mouth and gum of cats.
The causes for stomatitis are not always known. Sometimes it is a reaction to
the bacteria in the mouth that gets under the gum line. In other cases, there is not a lot of plaque
but the body’s immune system starts to attack the gums without cause leading to
inflammation.
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| Regular Veterinary Check ups can hopefully help detect the condition early. (Image Source) |
There are symptoms that will begin in the early stages of
the condition that may indicate a problem. Early stages would include bad
breathe, decreased appetite decrease in grooming themselves. As the condition
progresses, some owners may notice drooling, with or without blood, and weight
loss. On exam the gums will look VERY reddened. Sometimes there will be a large
amount of tartar build up and sometimes there will not.
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| This patient has severe inflammation and dental tartar. They definitely need a dental cleaning. (Image Source) |
The first line of treatment will include a dental cleaning
and fluoride application. At home care is recommended which includes brushing
teeth daily and rinsing with an antibacterial mouth wash. In some cases this
will be adequate to keep patients comfortable, but they can have recurrent flare
ups. Some flare ups can be managed with pain medication and antibiotics. But if
the flare ups become to frequent treatment involves removing affected teeth. In
severe cases this could include all teeth behind the canines. It may seem
extreme, but is sometimes necessary for long term oral health and comfort.
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