Here's How To Treat Cat Stomatitis Naturally AT HOME

Here's How To Treat Cat Stomatitis Naturally AT HOME

 

Does anyone out there brush their cats’ teeth?

 

If so, well done, it’s no easy task! As an animal health technician, I recommend it to virtually all of the clients at my vet clinic. But let's face it, not many people do it in practice! That said, brushing your pet’s teeth is still the best way to prevent periodontal disease.

 

 

Are you familiar with feline stomatitis? This is another disease that occurs in a cat’s mouth and it can be very serious. Do you have a pedigree cat? This article is all the more important for you!

 

Have you noticed that your cat's gums are inflamed or even that it has ulcers or sores in its mouth? Read on to learn more about this form of chronic gingivitis which is caused by something much more complex than a simple build-up of tartar and bacteria in the mouth.

 

In this article, you will learn more about natural home treatments for treating stomatitis in cats.

 

 

What is stomatitis in cats?

 

Stomatitis in cats is a syndrome that usually has three main components: severe gingivitis, mouth ulcers and gum hyperplasia. Vets don’t agree on a precise definition for this syndrome, and there is not necessarily unanimous consensus on its causes and treatments either.

 

Although periodontal disease is attributed to stomatitis, the most common form of stomatitis in cats is characterized by severe gingivitis, not associated with periodontal disease. We speak most often of stomatitis when a cat, despite having beautiful, healthy teeth with little or no tartar buildup, suffers from significant inflammation of the gums.

 

I personally saw such a case at the clinic where I worked. It was a Siamese cat around the age of one with beautiful teeth that had severe gingivitis despite its young age. The poor thing had difficulty eating because of this condition. Despite several treatments, he continued to present with mild gingivitis.

 

 

What are the causes of stomatitis in cats?

 

The causes of cat stomatitis are rather nebulous, but most agree that it is probably an overreaction of the immune system to plaque (the bacteria on the surface of the teeth). The cat would be, if you will, allergic to its own teeth! This cause is suspected due to the large amount of plasma cells found during microscopic analysis of inflamed tissue.

 

One study showed that in many cases of chronic gingivitis and stomatitis, cats were also positive for calicivirus. It is therefore possible to make an association between this virus and feline stomatitis. Young cat breeds are also at greater risk of developing this disease.

 

 

Symptoms of feline stomatitis

 

As you would expect, the most common symptom of feline stomatitis is severe gingivitis. But feline stomatitis has many other surprises in store. Here is a non-exhaustive list of symptoms of stomatitis in cats:

  • Disproportionate gingivitis for the stage of periodontal disease
  • Severe inflammation of the gums at the junction of the teeth and gums
  • Ulcers and lesions in the mouth
  • Gingival hyperplasia
  • Inflammation of the tongue, lips, palate and back of the throat
  • Intense pain in the mouth
  • Decreased or lack of appetite
  • Weight loss
  • Hypersalivation

 

You will agree, this disease is not easy and affected cats must be taken care of quickly. Read on to learn all about conventional and natural treatments to relieve symptoms related to feline stomatitis.

 

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Conventional treatments for feline stomatitis

 

As mentioned earlier, there is no scientific consensus on the therapeutic approach to feline stomatitis. There is no foolproof cure that works all the time. A good dental cleaning under anesthesia, antibiotics, corticosteroids and pain relievers are some of the things vets try to treat stomatitis in cats.

 

Natural treatments for feline stomatitis are detailed further below.

 

Dental cleaning and oral examination under anesthesia

 

Usually one of the first steps in treatment is a complete dental cleaning (under anesthesia) followed by polishing, like when we go to the dentist ourselves. During this, we remove as much plaque and tartar from the cat's teeth as possible, hoping to reduce its immune response against the bacteria in its mouth.

 

Under anesthesia, the vet can also truly assess the severity of the condition, as cats are well known to dislike having their mouths checked when they are awake!

 

Antibiotics

Afterwards, vets will often prescribe antibiotics to control the oral bacterial flora of the cat and therefore, to control the gingivitis. However, they are not always easy to administer, especially when puss has a sore mouth.

 

For the Siamese cat that I mentioned earlier, antibiotic treatment was enough to improve his condition, but it did not cure him completely.

 

Corticosteroids

 

Some vets will talk about corticosteroids for treating cat stomatitis. Studies have shown beneficial effects of this kind of treatment in the short term, but the long-term results are less conclusive.

 

These drugs usually cause side effects, such as drinking more and urinating more frequently.

 

Dental extractions

 

In cases of severe feline stomatitis, the only realistic solution for restoring a cat's comfort quickly is to extract several, if not all, of its teeth.

 

Domestic cats can live very well without a tooth, but yes, this is an extreme last resort. As a last resort it can, however, save the life of a suffering cat that is no longer feeding.

 

 

Natural treatments for stomatitis in cats

 

Now let's get to the heart of the matter. How to treat your cat of this dreadful gum disease and mouth sores with natural and home remedies? Of course, there are no quick fixes, but here are our home remedies; non-invasive ways to relieve your cat of this painful mouth pain.

 

Brush your cat’s teeth!

 

Yes, I’m coming back to this! What could be more natural than taking a good old toothbrush and removing bacteria manually from your cat's mouth! This is the best natural home treatment for infections in a cat’s mouth! You might find this a bit ambitious, but the ideal is to brush your cat's teeth twice a day (I will be happy if you do it once a day)!

 

You can even kill two birds with one stone by using a cranberry-based toothpaste, which acts as a natural antibacterial agent.

 

So, brushing your cat’s teeth is out of the question for you? Is it a question of safety for your hands? I understand! There are dental gels that can be applied simply to the gums to once again achieve this antibacterial effect. It's not as effective as good old-fashioned tooth brushing though.

 

Nutrition

 

When I talk about nutrition, I'm talking more about the shape and size of the kibble. Some veterinary dental-type foods generally offer larger kibbles and are literally engineered in the lab to achieve the perfect consistency to have a mechanical effect on a cat's teeth. This mechanical action is again no substitute for brushing the teeth, but it does a lot of help in preventing plaque from building up on the teeth.

 

On the other hand, if your cat already has a loss of appetite caused by pain in its mouth, I do not recommend changing its food. The important thing for your cat will be to feed it what it loves the most, because it will need all of its energy to heal.

 

Frozen Toys

 

A bit like teething babies, we can give our cat frozen toys to relieve painful gums. The cold acts as an analgesic. Not all cats will be receptive, but it's worth a try!

 

You can try making small ice cubes for your cat with canned food or with pieces of kibble in water to encourage them to chew the ice.

 

Our natural homeopathic product to support you cat gums during stomatitis

 

If you read our articles regularly, you probably often read about the importance of boosting the immune system for helping your pet to help itself. For cat stomatitis, this is the exception that proves the rule!

 

As we suspect the cat is having an autoimmune reaction to the bacteria in its mouth, like an allergic reaction, we don't want to stimulate its immune system any further! We therefore suggest a remedy of another nature.

 

Our GUMHAPPY product is recommended for cases of feline stomatitis. It’s made from a blend of four homeopathic ingredients that work together. As a pet parent, you want to reduce redness and swelling of the gums to avoid sores and pain.

It contains a powerful natural anti-inflammatory that can help during your effort to control your cat's pain and thus help them return to their normal eating habits. Try it out now, as it is even more effective in the early stages of gingivitis.

 

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Is cat stomatitis fatal?

 

Several cases of feline stomatitis are resistant to treatment. Although an improvement can be observed, as in the case of the Siamese cat that presented at the clinic where I worked, this improvement is often temporary and the symptoms return when the treatment is stopped. Fortunately, in many cases only moderate gingivitis persists.

 

Untreated cases can quickly deteriorate; while the cat is in pain, it may stop feeding. Cats who also have feline AIDS (FIV) or feline leukemia (FeLV) have a much poorer prognosis.

 

FIV-positive cats generally respond less to treatment for feline stomatitis, and more than 70% of them die within 12 months of diagnosis.

 

 

Conclusion

 

Finally, a cat can live very well with feline stomatitis, as long as we give it every chance and are proactive with its treatments. Help your cat with its pain and sores caused by stomatitis. Take a look at our website for more information on our natural and homeopathic products.

 

I challenge you to brush your cat's teeth at least once this week (with animal toothpaste of course)! With realistic goals, we are more likely to create a habit! You can help you cat maintain impeccable oral health and increase its well-being and comfort!

 

Have you tried the experiment? How did your cat react? Share your tips with us in the comments below.

 

Veronique Fournier
Veronique Fournier

8 Responses

ZUMALKA
ZUMALKA

June 09, 2023

Hi Patricia,
Thank you for your comment. I can sympathize with how stressful it is to see our beloved cat unwell. But rest assured you are not alone and we are more than happy to help!
We have sent you a private email to help your cat in a more personalized way.
We look forward to helping your cat feel much better soon!
Zumalka

Patricia indiviglio
Patricia indiviglio

June 09, 2023

Hi thank you for taking my message my cat a very bad case of stomatitis I’m so worried about her what can I give her natural as welll as medically I am treaty her medically can you help please

Zumalka
Zumalka

February 17, 2023

Hi Tamera,
Thank you for your comment. We have sent you an email questionnaire to help us better target your pet’s need ! We hope to hear from you soon.

Tamera
Tamera

February 17, 2023

I brushed my cats teeth tonight. She has really bad breath and red gums. This little girl is only 2 yrs old. Daisy, my cat, was brought to BC from California and put in shelter first. Then off to Bosleys were I saved her. She also suffers from ear infections which I have had to put her on special vet kibbles as the vet thinks its from allergies.

HOMEOANIMAL
HOMEOANIMAL

September 06, 2022

Hi Virginia,
Baking soda can be safe for pets as well but we would recommend seeing your vet or natural specialist before starting this at home option.
If you would like free online guidance from one of our specialists, please feel free to contact us any time!!

Regards,
Zumalka

Virginia Apel
Virginia Apel

September 06, 2022

I have heard that baking soda taken orally is effective for humans in curing autoimmune diseases. ny suggestion for a cat dosis?

HOMEOANIMAL
HOMEOANIMAL

September 27, 2021

Hi Kate,

Thank you for sharing you cat’s situation with us. You are doing great with what you are doing. However, we have sent you a private email so we can help you cat more specifically as well to see his gums look and feel better soon.
We look forward to working with you!
HOMEOANIMAL

Kate
Kate

September 27, 2021

My cat was diagnosed with FORL Feline……. Vet said extraction. Are there any other options? My cat still eats and does not look like he is in pain. Although not sure about that. I am massaging his gums with coconut oil mixed with a tiny bit of clay and a few sprinkles of baking soda and grains of salt. Any other ideas?

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