Gingivitis and Stomatitis

Two mouth diseases in cats that commonly come together are:

Gingivitis: inflammation of the gums
Stomatitis: inflammation of the entire mouth, including the tongue, inner lips, floor and roof of the mouth

Bacteria build-up on the teeth can enter your pet’s bloodstream and infect other organs. If left untreated, it will lead to tooth loss.

Gingivostomatitis is treatable and preventable. Regular dental care, at home and by your veterinarian, is necessary for your pet to have good dental health.

CAUSES:

There are no proven causes, but some theories include:

Diseases that suppresses the immune system
Poor oral hygiene
Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV)
Feline Immunodeficiency virus (FIV)
Metabolic disorders
Kidney failure
Diabetes
Bacterial or fungal infections
Trauma to the face or mouth
Cancer
Chemotherapy or radiation therapy

SIGNS:

Obvious signs that your cat has developed gingivitis and stomatitis are:

Severe inflammation where the teeth meet the gums
Severe pain: this can cause behavioral change, including irritability, aggressiveness, depression
Excessive drooling
Difficulty eating and weight loss
Bad breath
Inadequate grooming
Bumpy gums which bleed easily

DIAGNOSIS:

In order to properly diagnose your cat with gingivitis and stomatitis, your veterinarian may perform the following:

Physical exam: teeth and gums
Dental x-rays
Blood and urine tests: to look for underlying diseases

TREATMENT:

Most veterinarians will recommend the following treatments for cats with gingivostomatitis:

Dental cleaning: using anesthesia, ultrasonic scaling and polishing tools
Dental surgery: to remove badly affected teeth
Oral antibiotics

You will not be able to remove the plaque and tartar yourself, because:

Tartar can reside below the gumline and continue causing problems, and you can only remove tartar above the gumline
It’s unsafe to clean the inner parts of the teeth while your pet is conscious
Using dental instruments may scratch your pet’s teeth, which will cause further damage. Your veterinarian will polish your pet’s teeth to prevent this

PREVENTION:

Annual oral exams
Brush your pet’s teeth daily with toothpaste made for pets only! Human toothpaste contains ingredients that are toxic for pets. It is crucial to brush your pet’s teeth on a daily basis as plaque and tartar can begin accumulating in just six hours after a dental cleaning. Your veterinarian will instruct you how to brush pet’s teeth
Your veterinarian can design a prescription dental diet to remove plaque as your pet chews
You can add gels and liquid products to the drinking water
Give your pet special chew toys which are designed to reduce tartar

PROGNOSIS:

The prognosis depends on the underlying cause. In simple cases, the prognosis is excellent with professional dental cleaning and home care.