Cat with stomatitis

J and M

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Hi. Where I work we do many full mouth extractions due to stomatitis. We get referrals from other hospitals. I have never seen it well controlled with steroids and antibiotics. It is a very painful disease and they don't know what causes it. It can advance to the back of the throat as well. Best to have an experienced dentist with dental radiography and the ability to keep the cat comfortable before during and after the procedure. We do full anesthesia, nerve blocks, and run fentanyl for pain during and after the procedure. We keep them for at least 3 days after on a fentanyl IV drip with IV fluids and IV antibiotics. They usually are eating by the first night. We wean them off of the fentanyl and send them home with buprenorphine. We recheck them in a week if all is going well.
Hi there. I adopted a loving senior cat. two months ago The shelter extracted all of her teeth due to stomatitus and I took her home. She was fine for about one month, but one day began pawing at her face when she tried to eat and stopped eating. I took her to the vet and he discovered that her gums were inflamed and a little bloody. He put her on antibiotics for 10 days and gave her prednisone. I fed her broth mixed with wet food and she was able to eat again after about 7 days. But ten days later, the problem came back and she was in pain when she tried to eat (pawing at her face). I took her back to the vet immediately and she is back on antibiotics for two weeks and had another shot of prednisone. I have an appointment with a dental vet specialist but not until mid-January, the first available slot. She is now able to eat food again, but I'm quite worried. She looked to be in great pain. The vet said this is not curable and can only be managed. Would you have any advice? Thank you so much.
 

silent meowlook

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I would think that there is a retained root or roots. Should be way to detect with a dental X-ray.
The fact that the shelter extracted her teeth is surprising. Usually it is a big job that requires special skills to do.
In the mean time I would ask your vet for pain medication like buprenorphine. Not Metacam. See if you can find another veterinary dentist that will see your cat sooner. Some cat only hospitals are capable of doing this as well.
 

nanniecat

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Hi there. I adopted a loving senior cat. two months ago The shelter extracted all of her teeth due to stomatitus and I took her home. She was fine for about one month, but one day began pawing at her face when she tried to eat and stopped eating. I took her to the vet and he discovered that her gums were inflamed and a little bloody. He put her on antibiotics for 10 days and gave her prednisone. I fed her broth mixed with wet food and she was able to eat again after about 7 days. But ten days later, the problem came back and she was in pain when she tried to eat (pawing at her face). I took her back to the vet immediately and she is back on antibiotics for two weeks and had another shot of prednisone. I have an appointment with a dental vet specialist but not until mid-January, the first available slot. She is now able to eat food again, but I'm quite worried. She looked to be in great pain. The vet said this is not curable and can only be managed. Would you have any advice? Thank you so much.
this breaks my heart. i wonder why just a shot of pred and not a steady lo dose? but i do agree that a second opinion is the best plan. the disease seems genetic. my cat has FGESF(no known cause or cure) but has been on 5 mg of pred for 5 yrs with no side effects and it keeps the disease at bay.........her onco says cats tolerate pred very well. i will pray for your precious kitty. and you!🙏
 

J and M

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I would think that there is a retained root or roots. Should be way to detect with a dental X-ray.
The fact that the shelter extracted her teeth is surprising. Usually it is a big job that requires special skills to do.
In the mean time I would ask your vet for pain medication like buprenorphine. Not Metacam. See if you can find another veterinary dentist that will see your cat sooner. Some cat only hospitals are capable of doing this as well.
Thank you so much, Silent Meow. At this time, she does not seem to be in any pain and she is eating a lot. She spends most of her time purring. The shelter is Best Friends and they have an veterinary hospital attached, so it was a trained vet that performed the surgery. But they did not do X-rays and I will ask the vet dental expert to do so if they don't suggest it. I am on the wait-list for the dental vet expert and am hoping to go sooner than Jan 12. It is quite impossible to see a vet or vet specialist in Los Angeles. Thank you so much for writing back to me. She is so loving and gentle. I will make a donation to the shelter in your honor!

I've stopped giving her pate (which I used to mixed with a home-made chicken broth that I made in a Vitamix blender, lots of chicken meat) and now give her Weyruva chicken (in a can) and I iex that with a little broth. Do you think the pate forms a stickiness on their gums which they have to lick off? Or is it just as easy to eat?
 

J and M

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this breaks my heart. i wonder why just a shot of pred and not a steady lo dose? but i do agree that a second opinion is the best plan. the disease seems genetic. my cat has FGESF(no known cause or cure) but has been on 5 mg of pred for 5 yrs with no side effects and it keeps the disease at bay.........her onco says cats tolerate pred very well. i will pray for your precious kitty. and you!🙏
That is good to know that she can be on prednisone for a long-time, because it defintely made her feel better. As of now, still on antibiotics, and doing quite well. And eating a lot. Thank you for writing to me Nanniecat to share your story.
 

nanniecat

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That is good to know that she can be on prednisone for a long-time, because it defintely made her feel better. As of now, still on antibiotics, and doing quite well. And eating a lot. Thank you for writing to me Nanniecat to share your story.
Thank you so much, Silent Meow. At this time, she does not seem to be in any pain and she is eating a lot. She spends most of her time purring. The shelter is Best Friends and they have an veterinary hospital attached, so it was a trained vet that performed the surgery. But they did not do X-rays and I will ask the vet dental expert to do so if they don't suggest it. I am on the wait-list for the dental vet expert and am hoping to go sooner than Jan 12. It is quite impossible to see a vet or vet specialist in Los Angeles. Thank you so much for writing back to me. She is so loving and gentle. I will make a donation to the shelter in your honor!

I've stopped giving her pate (which I used to mixed with a home-made chicken broth that I made in a Vitamix blender, lots of chicken meat) and now give her Weyruva chicken (in a can) and I iex that with a little broth. Do you think the pate forms a stickiness on their gums which they have to lick off? Or is it just as easy to eat?
surprised they did not do xray b4 dental work. mostly so they know what they r dealing with? did u ck w/them? maybe they forgot to mention it? bless u for the care and luv u give your kitty(kitties) they r Gods little angels!
 

silent meowlook

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Hi. I am south of you at a feline only hospital in Valley Center. We recommend pate canned foods for our cat patients. I have not seen a problem with it in our dental cats. Although if we do multiple extractions the cats are kept in hospital a few days on IV fluids and a constant rate IV infusion of a very potent pain medication as well as injection of an anti-anxiety medication that has the benefit of also being an appetite stimulant. So, they are always drunk happy hungry cats with us after their dental surgery. When they are comfortable eating without the constant rate IV pain medication, they are sent home on oral medications to maintain a good level of comfort at home. I have yet to see a cat come back sooner than the standard 2 week recheck time for any problems, such as difficulty eating.

That being said, each cat is different and if the Weruva is working for her, stick with it. It is a good quality canned food that we recommend.

I am so glad she is doing better.

I have only heard good things about Best Friends. Glad they have a Veterinary Hospital there. I am surprised they didn’t do X-rays before and after extractions, but there must be a valid reason why. Perhaps they didn’t want her under anesthesia any longer for health reasons.

I am so glad she has improved and thank you for adopting her. Sounds like this kitty won the jackpot as far as a new home!
 
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