what is stomatitis in cats

Stomatitis in cats is a painful and complex disease that causes severe inflammation of the entire mouth, including the gingiva and mucous membranes. It is also known as gingivostomatitis, lymphoplasmacytic stomatitis, or more accurately mucositis. Feline stomatitis affects up to 10% of cats. The first symptom of feline stomatitis you may notice is a foul odor coming from your cat’s mouth. This may be accompanied by excessive salivation/drooling, or you may notice that your cat is not grooming themselves as much. Other common signs of stomatitis include bright red, inflamed gums and oral mucosa that extends throughout the mouth. Stomatitis is often very painful causing a decreased appetite due to the pain. Often the cat’s haircoat will appear unkempt due to lack of self-grooming (which becomes too painful for the cat to do) . The cause of stomatitis in cats is unknown, but it is considered to be an atypical immune response to one or more etiologic agents. Veterinarians diagnose stomatitis in cats primarily by doing a thorough oral examination. Successful treatment of feline stomatitis requires minimizing bacteria in the cat’s mouth as much as possible. This is rarely achieved through at-home dental care or anesthetized cleanings alone, as even a small amount of bacteria or plaque can be seen in cats with severe stomatitis. The first step in the treatment of stomatitis is removal of some or all of the teeth. Multiple studies have shown that the majority of cats (60-80% or greater) will have a positive response to extractions. For those cats that have residual disease, there are multiple different treatment options out there, all of which aim to reduce inflammation and pain.