Treatment for a cat with gingivitis and Feline Herpes virus

First of all, I'd like to say "hi' to everyone. I am new in this forum. I have a few questions regarding my beloved cat. He is 6 years old and recently diagnosed with gingivitis. The vet gave him antibiotic treatment for a week. The thing is that few days after he started his meds, he showed other feline herpes virus symptoms, like sneezing and lethargy. Actually he already had an feline herpes episode when he was 2. This is his 2nd time. Now the med is finished and he is still sick. I am not sure what to do. Should I take him back to the vet and get him more antibiotic treatment and perhaps an anti-inflammatory shot as well? I don't like the idea of him taking too much meds. It only weakens his immune system in the long run. Do the FHV symptoms get resolved by themselves eventually? Do you think that he could get his teeth cleaned or even removed when he is still sick? What is the best treatment for chronic gingivitis? I am probably asking too many questions for a first time visitor p

Thank you for advice

Yanni

Originally Posted by yannniii

First of all, I'd like to say "hi' to everyone. I am new in this forum. I have a few questions regarding my beloved cat. He is 6 years old and recently diagnosed with gingivitis. The vet gave him antibiotic treatment for a week. The thing is that few days after he started his meds, he showed other feline herpes virus symptoms, like sneezing and lethargy. Actually he already had an feline herpes episode when he was 2. This is his 2nd time. Now the med is finished and he is still sick.

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Yes I would recommend you bring him back to the veterinarian .

Originally Posted by yannniii

I am not sure what to do. Should I take him back to the vet and get him more antibiotic treatment and perhaps an anti-inflammatory shot as well? I don't like the idea of him taking too much meds. It only weakens his immune system in the long run. Do the FHV symptoms get resolved by themselves eventually? Do you think that he could get his teeth cleaned or even removed when he is still sick? What is the best treatment for chronic gingivitis? I am probably asking too many questions for a first time visitor p

Thank you for advice

Yanni

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When I first got my F3 Savannah he got VERY sick with the Feline Herpes virus. I had him on three different antibiotics. As a veterinarian technician, I agree too much medication is not a good thing in the long run.

However in the case of my Loki he got so sick he stopped eating and so on. So some more medical treatment had to be done.

Well I finally used Doxycycline twice a day for two weeks along with L-Lysine 500MG twice a day for two months. That finally got the virus under control .

My boy is now a year and a couple of months old and still gets 500MG of L-Lysine twice a week, need it or not .

This seems to have helped my cat . But the information expressed above is just my personal experience.

The L-Lysine is probably what you need more than anything else. I've seen it bring back a cat that was at death's door, when no antibiotics would work. Remember, herpes is a virus, so an antibiotic won't affect it.

For the L-Lysine, most of us order the NOW powder, easily found online. It has no taste, and is easily mixed into wet food. Even our picky cats that won't eat food with anything mixed into it eat food with the L-Lysine in it. It has been proven in clinical studies to help fight/prefent herpes virus flare-ups.

As to the gingivitis, this treatment depends completely on how well you can handle your cat. If you can get him used to your finger on his gums (use baby food), or use a baby toothbrush with the bristles cut down (again, use baby food to get him used to it), then you can treat the gingivitis with RAW ORGANIC honey. Not processed, not treated, it MUST be RAW. It's messy, so have a warm, damp cloth at the ready or you'll have one really sticky cat. But rub it on the gums once a day for a week. Honey has antisceptic, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties.

I am surprised the vet didn't suggest a dental. Removing the plaque build-up on teeth goes a long way to preventing the bacteria that causes gingivitis.

Originally Posted by mrblanche

The L-Lysine is probably what you need more than anything else. I've seen it bring back a cat that was at death's door, when no antibiotics would work.

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That is because that particular cat was having an issue related to the virus. But that is not always the case.

Originally Posted by mrblanche

Remember, herpes is a virus, so an antibiotic won't affect it.

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Often times this virus causes secondary infections to take hold in the animal. So that is why some animals need the proper antibiotic. I have seen this scenario many times in veterinary practices, shelters, and in my own cat Loki.

Also, if he has herpes, no steroids as that will further suppress the immune system and help the herpes to replicate and take him longer to get well. It is possible that because of the compromised immune system to begin with, it will take him longer to recover from the gingivitis and any secondary type infection he's fighting. I'd definitely call the vet.

A call to the vet wouldn't hurt but I wouldn't run back with him just yet unless his symptoms are severe. The outbreak of herpes was most likely caused by the antibiotics and there is not much you can do about the herpes itself. It has to run its course just like when you have a cold. The best thing you can do is to start your cat on 500mg/day of L-Lysine, make sure that he eats and drinks well and treat his symptoms. You can use a vaporizer with Vicks drops if he has a stuffy nose or irritated throat. Benadryl can also help but I'd ask the vet before you give him that. L-Lysine is essential though. In fact you should put your cat on L-Lysine a few days ahead of time whenever something stressful is coming up or whenever he gets sick to prevent or lessen the strength of another outbreak.

It is true that herpes can sometimes lead to a secondary bacterial infection and vets will prescribe antibiotics when a cat has a URI just in case since there is really no way to tell if it's a viral problem only or if it has caused a bacterial problem. But I would venture to say that for the most part it is strictly a viral problem and antibiotics does no good. In the many fosters I've had with URI the antibiotic has had no effect. So, in my opinion, if the symptoms are not severe and the cat is eating and drinking fine it's best to just treat with Lysine and supportive care. If the cat is not getting better or the URI lasts for a long time then a vet visit is in order to get some antibiotics. Too much antibiotics is not good and should be avoided if they are not clearly needed.

Thank you for all the replies. I think I'll just wait a bit before taking him back to the vet since his herpes symptoms are not strong. He only sneezes from time to time and looks quite tired, but he is still eating and drinking fine. What I worry the most is that the ginginvitis symptoms seem to bother him a lot. I am sure he is in pain. I was thinking about taking him back to the vet to get descaling done after the first antibiotic treatment. Now he is sick from herpes as well, I don't know if it is a good time. Should I wait till his herpes symptoms get resolved first?

Thanks again
Yanni

Put him on the 500mg of L-lysine, and it should clear up the herpes flare-up in a few days. Then he can have the dental.

And if you're able to handle him to do it, you can try the raw honey on his gums in the meantime.

Yeah, you have to wait until the herpes flare up is over until you can take him in for any procedures. You don't want to put a cat with respiratory problems under general anesthesia if you don't absolutely have to. It could also cause him to get sicker.

Is it just gingivitis he has or could it be stomatitis (I know that some vets explain stomatitis as bad kitty gingivitis)? If so that's a whole different ball game. But if it's gingivitis a dental will help. You can also add some kitty "mouth wash" to his water, like Oxyfresh, to help his teeth and start brushing if you can. Gingivitis should not be very painful though. If it is it makes me wonder if it may just be stomatitis. I've had pretty bad gingivitis and it only hurt when I brushed.

Hi again

Now you got me thinking. Maybe he has stomatitis then. He does look he is in pain when he eats, difficulty swallowing and chewing. If that's the case, what can I do then? Extract all of his teeth?

Thanks again
Yanni

Not necessarily.... Stomatitis can get resolved in a lot of cats with full extraction, but in a lot of kitties it returns afterwards; you then need to treat the kitty for life anyways after putting the kitty through a huge surgical trauma.
I have a cat with stomatitis and he gets a daily medicine and yearly dentals - he does amazingly well, and I have no intention whatsoever of doing a full mouth extraction. He had 2 extractions so far for periodontal disease and an abscessed tooth.

IMHO, your best bet is taking your kitty to a veterinary dentist, someone who is experienced with stomatitis. Even if you want to do a full mouth extraction, you want to get someone who is experienced with the disease, as it is a more involved procedure than a regular extraction - nothing, not a spec of tooth can be left behind, the teeth are more brittle and tend to crack at roots... Stomatitis kitties have quite the complicated little mouths