Lip ulcer causes/treatments?

I was wondering if anyone knows of causes or treatments of lip ulcers/rodent ulcers besides allergies? I have had a third cat develop this condition and I am wondering about possible other causes... Although maybe it is a genetic issue since my four cats are all littermates...

Two of my cats Mr Grey and Harlequin have had recurring lip ulcers, however I figured it was allergies because they have also shown other allergy symptoms (licking/chewing the skin and fur on the legs and feet, weight loss/intestinal inflammation), and Mr Grey was diagnosed with eosinophilic granuloma complex.   I've also had issues with foot infections several times (infections between the paw pads) with three of the littermates, and I don't know if there is any connection but their other littermate Spot has had issues with chin breakouts (and no, I don't use plastic dishes.)

Mr Grey and Harlequin were "runts" in the litter (they were from a feral litter I found/rescued at a few weeks old). The third runt from the litter is owned by an acquaintance, they adopted her from me over 3 years ago as a kitten and she also recently started developing the same symptoms (lip ulcers and chewing/licking the skin/fur on the feet and legs) which is why I am thinking there is a genetic component going on or else something to do with those three being "runts"  like maybe they were smaller due to some condition or just not being as healthy... They tested negative for FIV/FelV/etc (and were re-tested after the health issues started).

Harlequin recently developed a lip ulcer which got bigger after a steroid shot and has still not healed even after a second steroid shot, which is why I was wondering about other possibly treatment options...

Then in the last few weeks their other littermate, Blaze, has also developed a lip ulcer. Blaze has generally been the healthy one in the family, he was not one of the "runts" in the litter and he been relatively healthy and robust so I was surprised when he developed one too. This is making me wonder whether it may be possible for there to be something "catching" here or wonder what else may cause the lip ulcers since he has not shown other allergy symptoms like the others and has been healthy up until now.

Are you feeding them in a ceramic or stainless steel bowl that you clean every day?
 

I use glass and ceramic bowls and clean them regularly but maybe I need to do it more often..

Their water fountain is stainless steel too, but the actual filter used inside it is plastic (I clean it too), I suppose that could be an issue? Although the problems started before I ever used a fountain...

I also supplement their food with lysine and they are on an allergy formula food because of Mr Grey. I was thinking I might try switching them to a different food with a different protein source?

A food allergy was the first thing that came to mind when I read about the rodent ulcers and itchy legs or feet. Have you tried a different allergy food? Is it wet or dry? Jamie was a real mess as a kitten, with hyperesthesia and rodent ulcers, and he didn't get any relief until the vet did (blood) allergy tests and it turned out that he was allergic to beet pulp and soy, which were in a lot of his beloved dry foods and some wet ones. Being really careful about his food and giving fish oil as a supplement worked wonders. He gets mainly grain-free cat food and some cooked meats/fish.

How about cleaning products? Everything gets steamcleaned here, and I use a "low-allergan" laundry detergent.

My suspicion, since it's affecting several cats, is something in the environment, and I've seen feline acne turn into very painful ulcers around the mouth.
 

Clean the bowls every day, maybe get an extra set.  I have lots of cheap stainless dishes which I put in the dishwasher, and it's a clean bowl every time unless it's just a couple of hours since I last put food down.  I put them in the dishwasher which washes them hotter than I would and rinses well.

I was thinking of getting an extra set of bowls so I think I'll do that. Unfortunately the dishwasher is broken right now though so I have to wash everything by hand so they don't get washed quite as often as when the dishwasher was working but having an extra set should help...

They mostly eat dry food because most of them refuse to touch any canned stuff. There weren't a lot of choices to pick from for allergy formulas, since they would only eat dry food. I offer canned anyway (Instinct rabbit) and Mr Grey usually will lick the juice off, sometimes my other cat Spot will eat a little but the other two won't touch it.  I usually use paper bowls for the canned food though so I always use a clean bowl when I give them canned stuff since I toss out the used bowl.

I use 'free/clear' detergent and have tried to avoid cleaning products that might have extra ingredients or fragrances since Mr Grey's allergy issues started. He was the first to develop symptoms. Mr Grey's issues got better when we switched to the allergy formula food, but they didn't go away completely and my vet said most likely that means he has some environmental allergies too. He was on cyclosporine for a while but my vet switched him back to pred recently.

I have a cat who has a rodent ulcer the first thing my vet said is to find out what causes the rodent ulcer to reappear. I suspected it is because she is allergic to a canned food with fish as a main ingredient. After 3 months with no rodent ulcer I tried feeding her again wet food fish flavor then the rodent ulcer reappeared again. That made me think it is really because of food allergy. I also clean her stainless bowl always just after she ate. Even without steroids shot my vet suggested me to apply Oxyfresh pet gel into her mouth and it worked for her. Every time I see her lips become reddish I rub the gel to her lips about 3 times a day and of course stop feeding her the food that causes her rodent ulcer to reappear. Now, it's been almost a year and since the last time I saw her got rodent ulcer

mrblanche said:

My suspicion, since it's affecting several cats, is something in the environment, and I've seen feline acne turn into very painful ulcers around the mouth.

 

Click to expand...

I agree!

Just an update, they are still not healing. Harley is supposed to go back for another steroid shot this week.

Mr Grey is also having a "flare up" now, his lips are all red and he's got an ulcer too but I think it may be due to a new canned food I had given him.

Stress and feline herpes also cause rodent ulcers.  Have there been any changes in your home recently?  I know someone who gives their kitty evening primrose oil (1/8 to 1/4 t once daily) in wet food to help the ulcers clear up.  Be sure to get pure EPO (I order the NOW brand online for myself) and start with 1/8 t in wet food.  Just mix it in.