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Treating Chronic Feline Stomatitis

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A Cat With Feline Stomatits

Last year at her annual checkup Luna was diagnosed with Chronic Feline Stomatitis.  The vet couldn't think of a reason why.  Luna is young and healthy.  She's exhibited no signs of mouth pain and has no trouble eating. 

After getting back from the vet, I spent the next few days reading everything I could find on feline stomatitis.  There isn't a cure, but there are different ways of treating it.  I've compiled all of the information here so it will hopefully save others some time. 

Information on Feline Stomatitis

Feline stomatitis is also known as Feline gingivostomatitis (FGS) . Its longer name is Lymphocytic-Plasmacytic Gingivitis Stomatitis, or LPGS. This is a fairly rare disease and unfortunately not much is known about it.

With FGS there is severe iinflammation in the mouth and gums. Ulcers may form in the mouth and it is often red.

Cats with stomatitis may have difficulty eating and grooming, due to the pain it causes them.

The cause of LPGS is unknown.

There are many treatments available, but not cures. In severe cases, the cat may have her teeth removed. Although this seems like a drastic measure, cats can function without their teeth and they will no longer have to deal with the pain.

Oral Cleansing Gel

I give this to my cat on a regular basis. She struggles at first because her mouth is the one thing she doesn't like messed with, but she doesn't seem to mind once my finger is in her mouth. I've noticed a definite difference in the redness of her gums from using this product.

I first purchased this at the recommendation of other parents of cats with chronic feline stomatitits.
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An herbal remedy

Goldenseal is not just for humans. It can be safely used for cats as well to help treat chronic feline stomatitis. It is an antiseptic that is helpful for new gun tissue growth. While you don't want to use it continuously, you can use goldenseal on your cat twice a day for ten days.

Instructions:

1. Boil one pint of water.
2. Steep one teaspoon of powdered rootstock until it cools.
3. Pour off the clear liquid.
4. Flush out the mouth and gums.

As I said, you can do this twice a day, or you can use the herb in the morning and apply vitamin E to your cat's gums at night. Purchase vitamin E in capsule form, open it up, and use your fingers to rub it on the gums.
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Helpful Resources

When Luna was first diagnosed, I spent hours reading through information from other owners of chronic feline stomatitis cats. Joining a group is a great way to get support for this rare condition.

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Reader Feedback

Are you treating a cat with feline stomatitis? If so, what have you found works for you?

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  • Reply
    D.Barron Oct 19, 2011 @ 2:55 pm | delete
    I currently have one cat with stomatitis. Sammy was very healthy for about ten years but now has been suffering with stomatitis for about six months. We have tried clindimycin tabs and liquid, prednisone injections and topical prednisone gel/cream applied to the ears. He would get better for a week or so and then the red, swollen gums and throat would return. This week he really took a turn for the worse and just quit eating. His mouth was a bloody mess. I have read everything online that I could find and was about to try the interferon and/or extraction. But I decided first to try him on Vitalzym, the systemic enzymes that I take for inflammation from lupus.....these enzymes give me a lot of pain relief and also kill virus and bacteria. The gel caps are very small and soft and Sammy is able to swallow them very easily. He's only been on them for three days but this morning his gums look almost normal....swelling is down, redness almost gone, and bleeding has stopped. His appetite is also better......he ate most of the chicken and rice that I cooked for him. I am so relieved that maybe these enzymes will be the cure for him. If anyone is interested, there are many places to get them online or at a local health food store. But I have been ordering mine from EnergeticNutrition.com. They have the best price that I have found and free priority mail shipping. There really aren't any negative side effects so I will keep Sammy on these enzymes daily and hope for continued improvement. I took him off everything else....no antibiotics or steroids.....I think these were only making him worse. I will report any changes or improvements as the occur.
  • Reply
    Linda Oct 20, 2011 @ 1:00 pm | delete
    Hi D. Barron, I did some research on the internet about Vitalzym and it may not be very good for the kitty. I see that it's mostly used in dogs. Things to remember is that kitty's size is a lot smaller than humans and the dose may be too much for him. I would mostly be concerned about the constipation issue. Constipation is not good for kitty. This website listed some side effects caused in humans: http://www.ehow.com/facts_5006078_side-effects-vitalzym.html.
    Tara and I can definitely say that extractions and interferon work. My kitty had extractions from canines back and is not on interferon but he shows very little signs of the stomatitis and if he does, it is above his canines. He is on Prednisolone gel (for ear) once every 3rd day to manage the condition. We are going to wean him off the pred soon. Prolong prednisone/prednisolone can cause diabetes in cats. Tara has had great results with the interferon. Jamie's kitty has had extractions as well but the inflammation has returned in the throat cavity and she's thinking of trying the interferon. We will check with her updates on the results. Please keep us posted on your kitty. It is a dreadful condition for any kitty to endure and regretfully so common with no known cure. Linda
  • Reply
    Tara broida Aug 17, 2010 @ 7:28 pm | delete
    If anyone wants to call me, email me at tara.Broida@ gmail.com and I will send you my number. I am happy to discuss our experience with anyone because we struggled for so long and if we can help one other cat it will help make it all worth it
  • Reply
    Linda Aug 17, 2010 @ 7:56 pm | delete
    Tara, Thanks so much for the info! I tried your email but it's not going through.

    I've read about him! I've searched for vets who were AVDC (American Veterinary Dental College) certified here in Hawaii (which we have NONE) and came across Dr. Tsugawa. You are so lucky to have someone like him in your area!

    I'm going to have my vet contact Dr. Tsugawa and see if they can come up with something for my Gochan.

    I will definitely keep you posted. You're a blessing!

    Thanks again!
    Linda
  • Reply
    Tara Broida Aug 17, 2010 @ 8:42 pm | delete
    typo! sorry - it is tara.broida@gmail.com
  • Reply
    Tara broida Aug 17, 2010 @ 7:23 pm | delete
    My dr is Dr Anton Tsugawa in Culver City, CA

    http://www.dogandcatdentist.com/meetthedoctor.html

    I don't benefit in any way from this referral. Happy is still completely cured and at 13 prancing around and playing like a kitten. This Dr is amazing!
  • Reply
    Tara broida Aug 17, 2010 @ 7:23 pm | delete
    My dr is Dr Anton Tsugawa in Culver City, CA

    http://www.dogandcatdentist.com/meetthedoctor.html

    I don't benefit in any way from this referral. Happy is still completely cured and at 13 prancing around and playing like a kitten. This Dr is amazing!
  • Reply
    Tara Broida Aug 4, 2010 @ 9:58 am | delete
    My 13 year old cat Happy has struggled with stomatitis for years. I tried everything under the sun to avoid the full mouth extraction. I kind of felt like pulling all the teeth because of bleeding gums was kind of like cutting off your nose if you have allergies. But starting in about January she stopped responding to the antibiotics and prednisone I had been using to manage it. She lost a ton of weight, became severeley dehydrated so I relented. Her surgery was April 2010. Guess what, it didn't work. Two weeks after she had bleeding sores on her gums again. We switched her to wellness grain free and tiki cat food, added nu cat daily liquid multivitamin. I took her off the lactoferrin and all the other natural remedies I was trying, arnica, rinses, etc. and the doctor put her on Interferon .5 dose per day. She is completely cured. The doctor is cautiously optimistic cause she had a bad case but I would definitely recommend trying Interferon, vitamins and food change before full mouth extraction. Happy is super energetic, gained all her weight back, her mouth has zero redness and she is like a kitten again... I couldn't be happier. I want to share this with everyone because I went through so much agony trying to learn how to help her.
  • Reply
    Pam Sep 12, 2010 @ 9:00 am | delete
    Tara: I read your article about Interferon. My cat, Halo, eats Wellness canned food, since we had all her teeth removed. It hasn't helped at all unless we give her Metacam and Gabapentin every other day. Metacam is not a good drug for cats on a constant basis. My vet gave me some Interferon liquid to give Halo, after her teeth were all extracted, but that was it. Are you talking about the liquid Interferon? The vets I've spoken with say they cannot get the Interferon they use anymore from overseas, since the FDA will not approve it here.
  • Reply
    Tara Broida Sep 12, 2010 @ 5:12 pm | delete
    Hi Pam. Are you feeding Wellness Grain Free? Happy gets that and Vetri Science Senior Cat Vitamins daily. Regarding Interferon, Your vet can contact Dr. Anson Tsugawa in Culver City for more details but I believe we give Happy the Interferon for humans. It is a liquid given orally once a day. I do not give Happy any other meds. She is still in perfect health. I am so pleased - she is playful and has a great appetite and her mouth looks perfectly healthy. Good luck with Halo.
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Three Weeks of Supplements

Try these supplements for three weeks.

1. 1/8 to 1/2 teaspoon of bone meal powder.
2. 100 to 1000 miligrams of vitamin C twice a day.
3. 5 to 10 miligrams of a B complex tablet or capsule

It's hard to find a B vitamin complex in a low dose. I'm listing one in liquid form since it is easier to control the dosage that way.
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Reduce the Pain and Swelling

You can give your cat arnica 30c to help reduce the pain and swelling in the gums. It comes in pellet form and you can often give your cat the pellet straight. Of course, a lot cats won't swallow what you want them to, Christie Keith suggests putting " it into four ounces of water and stir ten times with a clean teaspoon, then give half a teaspoon of the liquid to the pet. It does not matter that the pellet will not have dissolved." http://www.caberfeidh.com/Pain2.htm
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Should You Get Pet Insurance?

Weighing the Pros and Cons

Visits to the vet can be expensive. Pet insurance can save you money at the vet and give you peace of mind. When Luna was diagnosed with LPGS, I panicked. Not just because I was worried about her health. I was also worried about how I was going to pay for her vet bills. Luna wasn't even two yet--I didn't expect her to have a major medical problem with her being so young and well cared for.

Fortunately, we're having great success with the natural remedies I have lsited on this page. Still, I wish I had purchased health insurance for her sooner.

Unfortunately, health insurance for pets is similar to health insurance for people. It does not cover previously diagnosed diseases. So if already have large vet bills and do not think it likely that your pet will develop any other ailments, the $10-$20 a month cost of pet insurance might be better spent directly on vet bills.

The one company I am most familiar with is the QuickCare Program. It is open to US and Canadian residents. Luna has been thankfully healthy, so I don't have any experience with the claims process, but if you are considering pet insurance, include this company in your research.

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