Inflamed gums in cats
The veterinary term for red inflamed gums is gingivitis. If the whole mouth appears red and swollen, we call it stomatitis.
wIts exact cause is still unknown but thought to be due to a combination of Feline Calicivirus infection and an inappropriate immune response in the mouth which causes the swelling.
wThe condition does occur in humans and can be due to an allergic response to certain ingredients such as food additives in our fast food diets. It is believed that the same may occur in cats. If affected by inflamed gums, your cat may improve purely with a change of diet to an additive free cat food.
wA diagnosis of Feline Calicivirus is made by your vet sending a simple swab from the mouth to a laboratory in Glasgow.
wTreatment involves feeding a non-allergenic, additive-free diet, eliminating the virus if it is present and making sure your cat has a strong immune system.
wCortisone lowers the immune system but is used by many vets as it has such good anti-inflammatory properties. Long term use may result in diabetes mellitus.
w It is better for them to prescribe an anti-inflammatory with no cortisone in it such as Metacam. This is given as drops in your cat's food. It does work very well though and the only side-effect I have seen so far is an owner saying that their cat appeared a little 'dazed' or 'distant' on the initial higher dose of 3 drops a day. It is reduced after 3 days to 1 drop a day on the food.
wAntibiotics specific for the mouth appear to help too such as Antirobe or Stomorgyl. If your cat suffers with bad dental tartar, it is best to have him in for a descale, but often the red gums remain if the underlying cause is an inappropriate immune response or due to Feline Calicivirus.
wIf the results from Glasgow indicate that your cat is indeed affected with Feline Calicivirus, there are injections available that fight this specific virus. They are injected into your cats' gums with him under a full anaesthetic, so it is a costly procedure as your vet would need to order the specific vaccine in and there is the cost of a few anaesthetics.
wRadical treatment in many cases involves extracting all the teeth. This has its complications such as eyeball puncture as the roots of your cat's back molars are so firmly embedded. It is a solution however for severe cases and your cat would need to be on strong painkillers after the operation.
Treatment of inflamed gums
For advice and treatment of cats at home with gum disease including a special diet, click on my e-book below.
The veterinary term for red inflamed gums is gingivitis. If the whole mouth appears red and swollen, we call it stomatitis.
wIts exact cause is still unknown but thought to be due to a combination of Feline Calicivirus infection and an inappropriate immune response in the mouth which causes the swelling.
wThe condition does occur in humans and can be due to an allergic response to certain ingredients such as food additives in our fast food diets. It is believed that the same may occur in cats. If affected by inflamed gums, your cat may improve purely with a change of diet to an additive free cat food.
wA diagnosis of Feline Calicivirus is made by your vet sending a simple swab from the mouth to a laboratory in Glasgow.
wTreatment involves feeding a non-allergenic, additive-free diet, eliminating the virus if it is present and making sure your cat has a strong immune system.
wCortisone lowers the immune system but is used by many vets as it has such good anti-inflammatory properties. Long term use may result in diabetes mellitus.
w It is better for them to prescribe an anti-inflammatory with no cortisone in it such as Metacam. This is given as drops in your cat's food. It does work very well though and the only side-effect I have seen so far is an owner saying that their cat appeared a little 'dazed' or 'distant' on the initial higher dose of 3 drops a day. It is reduced after 3 days to 1 drop a day on the food.
wAntibiotics specific for the mouth appear to help too such as Antirobe or Stomorgyl. If your cat suffers with bad dental tartar, it is best to have him in for a descale, but often the red gums remain if the underlying cause is an inappropriate immune response or due to Feline Calicivirus.
wIf the results from Glasgow indicate that your cat is indeed affected with Feline Calicivirus, there are injections available that fight this specific virus. They are injected into your cats' gums with him under a full anaesthetic, so it is a costly procedure as your vet would need to order the specific vaccine in and there is the cost of a few anaesthetics.
wRadical treatment in many cases involves extracting all the teeth. This has its complications such as eyeball puncture as the roots of your cat's back molars are so firmly embedded. It is a solution however for severe cases and your cat would need to be on strong painkillers after the operation.
Treatment of inflamed gums
For advice and treatment of cats at home with gum disease including a special diet, click on my e-book below.
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