Whenever it involves health problems, owning a cat can be challenging because cats are known to be secretive and will often try to conceal themselves when they are uncomfortable. This implies that you should be alert for signs that anything is off. Furthermore, dental problems might frequently arise.
What is feline stomatitis?
What is feline stomatitis?
A medical ailment called stomatitis causes cats' mouths and gums to become extremely inflamed. Cats with this inflammation will have a reddish-purple appearance and will be in great agony. It may also result in oral bleeding in severe circumstances.
What is the most typical reason cats get stomatitis?
What signs of stomatitis do cats exhibit?
If you believe your cat might have feline stomatitis, there are several clinical indicators you can check for. It's critical to get them checked out by a veterinarian as soon as you observe any of them.
1 - Bleeding or inflamed gums
One of the main indicators that a cat may have feline stomatitis is extremely inflamed gums. The gums will expand and turn red when they get irritated. The gums can start to bleed if treatment is not received. Not only may this inflammation affect the gums, but it can also spread to other parts of the mouth, including the back of the throat, where ulcers may also form.
2 - Loss of weight
Rapid weight loss is another sign that your cat might have feline stomatitis. This is due to the fact that your cat may eat extremely slowly or perhaps cease eating altogether as a result of the severe pain and discomfort caused by the swelling and inflammation in the mouth. A cat that rushes to its bowl of food when it's hungry but struggles to finish it, leaving any or all of it, is one indicator to watch out for. When cats eat dry food instead of wet food, this can happen more frequently.
3 - Drooling excessively
Cats with feline stomatitis frequently drool excessively. Drooling is not as common in cats as it is in dogs, and it is frequently an indication of discomfort. This makes it simpler to identify a red flag that your cat's dental health may be compromised.
4 - Improper grooming
A lot of cats that have stomatitis will start grooming themselves less frequently. This is since cats groom themselves with their tongues and mouths, and because feline stomatitis may be very painful, grooming can be rather uncomfortable. Sometimes the symptoms of your cat's lack of maintenance, including a matted coat, may go unnoticed by you.
5 - Stale breath
Cats with stomatitis often have bad breath. It's crucial to know that poor breath is not necessarily a sign of illness when conducting a breathalyzer test. But stomatitis leaves behind an especially nasty odor that is typically very apparent. Read This: How can you treat cat bad breath at home and what causes it?
Therapy for feline stomatitis
Taking your cat to the veterinarian is the first step in treating stomatitis in cats. Your veterinarian can examine them to see if they are suffering from dental disease and, if so, to assess the severity of the condition. Additionally, they can offer advice on the most effective course of treatment.
1 - Antibiotics
Antibiotics are one treatment your veterinarian might recommend to you. Antibiotics are occasionally used to stop secondary bacterial infections that could aggravate pain and inflammation and to restore control of a disease that flares up. Antibiotics can help feline stomatitis get better, which will lessen discomfort and inflammation. Your cat's condition needs to be watched after it goes away since it may return. Antibiotics are only recommended during flare-ups and not over the long term.
2 - Steroids
Cat stomatitis can be effectively treated with steroids. They are typically saved for severe cases, though, in order to restore control throughout a flare-up.
3 - Medication that isn't steroids
NSAIDs, or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines, are another popular treatment for feline stomatitis. These medications are used to treat pain in addition to inflammation.
4 - Extracting teeth
The most appropriate course of action might be to extract the tooth if the cat's stomatitis has gotten too severe. Both the inflammation and the quantity of bacteria in the cat's mouth will decrease if the teeth surrounding the inflammatory area are extracted. In severe situations, the condition may need to be controlled by extracting a significant number of teeth. Read This: How can I improve my cat's dental health? Why is dental care important?
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