Showing posts with label feline stomatitis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label feline stomatitis. Show all posts
Monday, August 10, 2015

Natural Supplements and Diet Change Helps Stomatitis

Max and Sasha
Here is a wonderful success story from our client Angie. The products she uses to help her kitties, Max and Sasha,  with stomatitis are Power Probiotic for Pets, Colostrom for Pets, Immune Harmony, and Quentans.

"Back in 2010, I adopted 2 kitties from an elderly gentleman who had been on the news. The news story said that Animal Control was going to come in and take all the old man's kitties and euthanize them if no one stepped forth to adopt them (supposedly because he had too many living in the city limits - a neighbor who didn't like him or the cats had complained and turned him in).
They were all so friendly! They acted like I visited the house all the time! So it was quite difficult for me to make my selections. I finally settled on this huge one - a domestic shorthair - that looked like a miniature black panther. I named him Max. He was lean and silky, so regal, and looked like he could be a formidable foe to anything threatening him. Next I selected his sister, a shy dainty puff ball of black fur... pure princess to every degree. So she became known as Sasha.
We all lived in bliss until I had to take a work detail overseas for a month. I was forced to leave my babies behind in the care of a veterinary hospital for boarding until I returned. The cats were "different" it seemed when we returned home. Max wasn't as zealous and playful and Sasha was just totally terrified of everything! I took them to their regular vet and that's when I found out that Max was suffering from a severe case of stomatitis and Sasha's case was mild. For almost a year, Max suffered through rounds of antibiotic and steroid shots trying to calm his symptoms just so he'd be able to eat. He got so skinny and was so miserable, I didn't know what else to do.

I began to scour the internet on alternative therapies and tried everything from switching food to switching litter. Finally a couple of years ago, I ran across the AskAriel site. And amazingly, there was a section all about stomatitis. I read everything I could find about it and even read about the other different conditions house pets can contract. The answers were reasonable so I placed my first order for some of the Power Probiotic. I also received a food recommendation from Ask Ariel that I was able to find in my local pet store. Over the next few months I continued to "fine-tune" Max's specific needs. Ask Ariel gave me recommendations about foods to avoid that would make the stomatitis worse.  In June of 2014, I took Max and Sasha to the vet one last time to have their teeth thoroughly cleaned, and Max received his steroid and antibiotic shots. After that, we started daily treatments with the supplements and recommended diet.  In June 2015, we visited the vet for the first time since the cleaning (for a different condition) and  she was thoroughly impressed and said she didn't see anything unusual... no redness, no sores, no buildup on the teeth or anything! She couldn't believe I was only feeding them wet food (not the dry her office had originally recommended) and nothing else.  
Anyway, I now have two of the happiest kitties on the planet! They are both in the elderly stage now with a few grey whiskers and a few strands of grey hair here and there coming out of their beautiful black coats, but Max loves playing the "baby" (even though he's the eldest)...Sasha has finally gotten over her fears as well. She loves to be picked up, but differently than Max. When she approaches you, she'll just sit there and wait, looking at you. When you reach down to pick her up she'll throw her little arms up in the air like a toddler begging. Then you'll have to pick her up and put her on your hip where she then likes to ride with her arms around your neck as she nuzzles your face.
Yes, I know it's a long success story but *my* kitties are extraordinary.
Thanks for coming up with such amazing products!"
-Angie (with Max & Sasha)
Zachary, LA
Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Feline Stomatitis, Stomatitis in Cats

Dear Dr Gordon: I have a 3 year old Maine Coon cat that has a constant odor coming from the mouth. When I took him to the vet, she was able to look into the back of the mouth and show me my cat’s throat. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. The back of my cat’s throat was raw and the gum tissue around the teeth was very red. The doctor convinced me to put my cat under anesthesia and biopsy the back part of the throat. All the teeth were cleaned and the biopsy revealed a disease (which I can’t remember) that the doctor says has no cure. I am worried that my cat will suffer his entire life with this sore mouth. Is there anything else that I can do? PB

Dear P.B.

Although it is possible that your cat may have some type of cancer in the back of the mouth (a disease that has no cure), I am hoping it is something else. You probably would have remembered if the doctor had said that your cat has a form of throat cancer. I suspect that the biopsy may have revealed a syndrome we see in a certain percentage of pure breed and mixed breed cats, called lymphocytic and/or plasmacytic stomatitis. Please call the doctor to get the name of the disease, for that can affect treatment and outcome.

It is essential to use immune support such as  Power Probiotic for your kitty to feel better. Probiotics can help restore the natural flora in the mouth and throughout the digestive tract.

Let’s dissect the words describing this syndrome. Stomatitis is an inflammation or infection in the mouth. Ok, so far so good. Lymphocytic and/or plasmacytic is a descriptive term illustrating the type of inflammatory cells that are migrating to this inflamed area.

What causes this infection/inflammation to occur in certain cats and not others? We are not sure.
Some viral infections are suspected of increasing the cat’s susceptibility to this disease. Your cat should be checked for the Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV or Feline Aids virus) and the Feline Leukemia Virus. I suspect your doctor has already done this. If not, get it done. The virus does not cause the disease but makes cats more vulnerable to the disease. Others speculate that certain cats (ones that are genetically predisposed), are having an exuberant response to antigens or foreign invaders in the mouth. The suspected culprits are the bacteria inhabiting the tooth roots of some of these cats.

The syndrome is first recognized in fairly young cats that have halitosis (very bad breath, trouble swallowing, lack of appetite, and sometimes gagging). Examination of the teeth and back part of the throat reveals areas of extreme inflammation. It looks (and I am sure feels) like the worst sore throat you have ever had your entire life.

How is this dealt with? If the cat is FIV or FeLV positive, steps should be taken to insure your cat stays indoors and does not expose other cats to the disease. Oral antibiotics and frequent dental cleanings will help keep the mouth in good shape. Although controversial, acupuncture, interferon and lactoferrin can be used to improve the condition of the cat’s lesions. Supplements that we have seen help include Not Drops and Power Probiotic  If the cat is negative for these viruses, most veterinarians will use some type of strong immunosuppressive drug (like corticosteroids or others) to calm down the inflammation and analgesics to relieve the pain.

Although it may sound very extreme, sometimes full mouth extraction of the teeth is the only thing that will bring about relief and return the cat to a decent quality of life. I have seen several cases over the years that have completely resolve only by removing all of the teeth. Most veterinarians will only do this as a last resort, when all other therapies have failed after repeated attempts. I personally have been reluctant to recommend this procedure because it is difficult for the pet in the short term, expensive for the owner, and time consuming for the doctor. The long term success rate, however, leads me to believe that this may be the only thing that will save the cat from life-long pain and suffering.