What is Feline Stomatitis?

Feline Stomatitis is a serious, chronic inflammation of the mouth which is believed to be caused by an exaggerated immune response to plaque. Essentially, the cat becomes allergic to its own teeth.

Stomatitis in cats can be debilitating and extremely painful, and can cause difficulty eating, decreased grooming, weight loss, and excess salivation. Tooth resorption may also be present oftentimes. In many cases, the only solution is to remove all of the teeth to relieve the pain from the disease, for which there is no cure. Fortunately, domestic cats do not need their teeth to thrive, and tend to do very well post-surgery. In fact, cats are still able to eat dry food without their teeth, as they typically only chew about 25% of their food even with their teeth.

If you are concerned about your cat’s dental health, please make an appointment with Dr. Jessy or Dr. Weimer for a dental examination. It is also recommended to have your cat seen by a veterinarian at least once a year for an annual wellness exam, where the teeth will be examined as well.