Expert: Jana Connell RVT, CVT - 10/25/2011

Question
QUESTION: My 8 year old male cat has had most of his teeth removed due to what is diagnosed as Somatitus (spelling?)

Since then, however, he has had to go back in about every three months for reoccuring episodes. He is in such extreme pain that when he tries to eat he runs frantically around the house.

They give him an inflammatory shot each time but tell me this "can't be cured". So about every three months I have to take him back for another shot. Cost: $95.00

They said it would probably keep happening "for the rest of his life".

Is there really no cure for this disease?

My cat is really a sweetheart but I can't stand to see him go through this. This last time the anti-inflammatory was only effective for about 2 mo.

DeBee

ANSWER: Hi BeDee,

Your cat has one of the most awful diseases that a cat can get. Unfortunately, at least to my knowledge, stomatitis cannot be cured and is a life long affliction.

Most cats have ALL of their teeth pulled as it seems to be the only way to settle this dreadful inflammatory disease down. I don't know if low-dose prednisone can help with this problem, but it would be worth discussing this with your vet.

Prednisone is a steroid that can help manage chronic inflammation.
There are many articles online about this disease:
http://www.petplace.com/article-printer-friendly.aspx?id=690

http://www.virginiaveterinarydentistry.com/647115.html

http://drbarchas.com/stomatitis

Most of these articles advocate the use of corticosteroids for controlling the inflammation. I would talk to your doctor about this and that would help lower your vet bill.

As you will also read, there is no cure for this disease but the extractions help the most.

I hope that you can get this poor guy some relief. It's a terrible thing to be saddled with.


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Follow-up on cat with stomatitus:

He has has all but his front (4) teeth pulled. I think those front teeth are what keeps his tongue in his mouth! My older cat is 13 and missing a front tooth; his tongue often hangs out and he drools a lot.

However, if pulling these teeth will stop the problem I will do it rather than see him go through this.

I didn't realize it might be  the remaining teeth causing the problem. I thought it was a "gum specific" disease, because his gums get really sore in the back of his mouth.  Does this mean it spreads UNDER the gums?

Thank you very much  for the info. My vet did not inform me of this or suggest pulling the remaining teeth.

Answer
Like the articles I sent mentioned, sometimes the cats must have EVERY tooth pulled, even the canines. Most cats don't get the tongue issue until they are older but the canines do help hold the tongue into their mouths.

It is not gum specific, it is an inflammatory disease so it affects the soft tissues, not the teeth, but the bacteria is harbored under the gum line. The most commonly affected area is in the back of the mouth. The whole mouth is affected, but the joints in the back are really affected and right in the front on the upper palate is also frequently affected badly.

The reason so many cats do well after ALL the teeth are pulled is because there is no longer a place to harbor the bacteria.  

So talk to your vet about a complete extraction and see what he comes up with. Stomatitis is very rare but not uncommon, so that is my 35 years of being in the Veterinary Medical field I think we saw it maybe twice.

I hope that your kitty finds relief soon. He has to be miserable most of the time...