There is so much information floating around, and sometimes it can be difficult to know what is correct and what is not. Because of this, we wanted to make a little medical corner with referenced information on common medical conditions. This is general information, but does not replace the advice of a veterinary professional. Please seek out veterinary care if you think your pet has any of these conditions. Prevention and early detection is very important.
Stomatitis
The ins and outs of Stomatitis.
Gingivostomatitis (GVS) is a painful disease that attacks the gingiva (gums) and mucosa that lines the oral cavity, marked by severe and chronic inflammation. This disease is considered uncommon, however in feral populations it is more common as it can accompany viral infections such as FIV, bacterial infection and nutritional deficiencies, which plague these groups of cats.
GVS is described as the immune system being overly reactive to plaque that then causes severe inflammation. Usually starting at one tooth and then spreading to the rest of the oral cavity including the gingiva, tongue, back of the throat and roof of the mouth.
The signs and symptoms of this disease can vary depending on severity. For animals that get regular veterinary care, the first thing that is noticed is swelling of the gums, bleeding and possibly ulcers. Unfortunately when dealing with cats in rescue situations they are not likely receiving yearly check ups with the vet. So we usually see extreme oral pain, excessive drooling with blood in the saliva, weight loss (due to pain while eating), foul breath, and pawing at the mouth. Depending on the stage of the disease the teeth can appear completely normal, have excessive tarter, or be in really bad shape. This condition is mostly seen in adult cats, but can be seen in juveniles as well, and there does not seem to be any breed predisposition.
If left untreated the condition can become so painful that the animal will stop eating altogether and ultimately die of starvation. Diagnosis is usually as simple as an oral exam, in some cases a biopsy of the tissue is needed (only in about 15% of cases). Treatment can vary depending on the stage of the disease, involving medical management with drugs (immunosuppressants) and/or surgical management involving removal of some or all teeth. This removes the associated bacteria that triggers the immune system.
Once a treatment plan has been decided on these cats can go on to live happy normal lives, abet they will usually require a soft diet.
There are no real preventive measures for this condition due to its immune system component, however yearly exams by your veterinarian can catch the disease early and start treatment before full mouth extractions are needed. This is the one condition of the mouth that brushing their teeth at home is not recommended because of how painful they can be. However in cats with normal oral cavities it is recommended to brush their teeth, if you can ;)