Stomatitis

I have a 14 month old male kitty that was diagnosed with stomatitis about 3 months ago. He's currently seeing a holistic vet that has him taking a Chinese herb Yu Nu Jian (Jade Lady) twice a day and he has started laser therapy. If the laser therapy doesn't heal his gums the next course of action is to have gum surgery to remove the excess tissue.  I was wondering if anyone else has had this done? 

Just bumping this thread up.  I, personally, have never heard of this before.  I do know there is a specialist in the Dallas area that has come up with something that supposedly works well for treating stomatitis, but don't thing it's removal of excess tissue....I think it's just the use of some sort of syrup

Here's a little information on that:  http://www.thecatsite.com/t/282669/dallas-cocktail-full-mouth-extraction

When Gilligan was diagnosed with stomatitis I researched it and came across that syrup from Dallas.  When I asked the vet about it she said she would research and let me know. She advised me that a holistic vet would be a better course of action then the syrup. I didn't ask why but reading the link you attached it might be the kidney problems that a lot of cats have after taking the syrup. Thanks for the link it help me understand a little more about stomatitis.

Please know that there are excellent sites which will explain pretty clearly what can be done.  I have personal experience with stomatitis.  There are 2 kind: First, at age 4 to 5 months a kitten may show inflammation of the gums followed by infections of the gums.  The cat will also have inflammed rear palate and eventually the whole mouth will become inflammed.  This is a genetic kind of stomatitis and only a full mouth extraction will work.  But the more common kind, gingivostomatitis can be best described and explained on sites I will list. I do not feel that what you are having done is appropriate.  If the roof and soft palate of the mough, esp in the rear, are MILDLY inflammed, at the very early stage, some things can be done but most people don't see it till it is at the later stage adn then aggressive and the only known way to cure it is a full mouth extraction. Stomatitis is distinct from gingivitis in the the gums only are inflammed in the latter.  Gingivo stomatitis is always and must be characterized by not only the gums, but the other soft tissue of the mouth, esp starting in the rear of the mouth (inside the cheeks, etc.) being red and inflammed.  We have had 3 full mouth extractions done for 3 of our 11 cats.  They were all successful:  See this:http://healthypets.mercola.com/site...06/dr-becker-discusses-feline-stomatitis.aspx

Also, this is a great explanation: It is included along with other dental diseases:  http://www.vmcli.com/veterinary-articles-feline-dental-problems.html

Be sure to have at least one consultation with a veterinary dental surgeon who has completed post-graduate specialized training in dentistry.  I would not use a general practicioner.

He doesn't have any inflammation/redness in the rear of his mouth/cheeks or bottom row of teeth. It's the top teeth from the front about half way back that have the problem. My vet referred us to a dental surgeon who said it was early stage of stomatitis and that's when we started with the holistic vet. He has never shown any signs of pain, he eats wet and dry food and plays/chews his toys like every other kitten does. Do you not feel his treatment is appropriate because it's holistic? Or the gum surgery is inappropriate? I don't want to do the gum surgery but was curious if anyone else did and what the outcome was. The links were very helpful thank you.

I deeply like holistic treatment.  I am also a total raw feeder of 14 cats. I am not therefore against it.  It's just what the data has shown.  You really need to be SURE you are not wasting time because the earlier the surgery the more likely the cure, unless he really knows his stuff and is not wasting valuable time.    Stomatitis is almost always beginning of inflammation at the back of the mouth.  My dental surgeon at the teaching hospital gave me a private talk with photos about it.  It starts in the back on soft tissue. Maybe it is the kitten kind? "The gum lesions seen with feline stomatitis usually start at the back of the mouth, behind the last molars, and advance forward."http://www.drjeffnichol.com/?p=2820   Did you see Karen Becker's video?  It is outstanding.  I am hoping your vet is doing the right thing...

4pawsx5 said:

 
When Gilligan was diagnosed with stomatitis I researched it and came across that syrup from Dallas.  When I asked the vet about it she said she would research and let me know. She advised me that a holistic vet would be a better course of action then the syrup. I didn't ask why but reading the link you attached it might be the kidney problems that a lot of cats have after taking the syrup. Thanks for the link it help me understand a little more about stomatitis.

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Can you say where in those links you read about kidney issues with the Dallas treatment? I've read through them and can't find any mention of kidney issues.

Please, I have been using 2 dental surgeons at the Animal Medical Center in Manhattan, NYC  and they have a lot to teach me about stomatitis.  And I have read so much by so many dental surgeons and so forth.  Inform yourself from the right sources.  I am very much in favor of homeopathic and holistic medicine and yet in this instance I would go exactly as Dr. Karen Becker advises.  She is correct and she is echoed by our dental surgeons.   http://healthypets.mercola.com/site...06/dr-becker-discusses-feline-stomatitis.aspx

Please, I am so afraid of a cat not being diagnosed properly of the stage of the disease.  At anything past the very mild, very earliest stage, my dental surgeon told me, you really must do a full mouth extraction and ONLY by a qualified dentist.  A GP is simply not trained to do it right and can think they took out all fragments when they didn't, even if they do x-rays which of course always must be done.  Do it right.  Inform yourself.  TALK TO TO A DENTIST (VET).  

The facebook link from the reply and the stomatitis facebook page too. Have you tried the Syrup? Did it work?

4pawsx5 said:

 
The facebook link from the reply and the stomatitis facebook page too. Have you tried the Syrup? Did it work?

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OK, I missed the facebook links.

No, I haven't tried it. I have one cat that has a history of stomatitis. I got lucky, it cleared up after a couple of rounds of antibiotics and my removing fish from her diet. Luckily I realized her symptoms may have started at about the time I started adding sardines to their food. She's been clear for a year and a half. 

hi martha anne, do you guys by any chance live in the chicago area?  my cat is diagnosed with severe stomatitis.  i adopted her a month ago, i am guessing she was given up for this disease.  it would have been nice if we were told...oh well.  she is 1 year 9 months. so very young.

today we had a full lab run on her to see if there are other issues that are linked to this.  if she comes back clear, next is full mouth extraction.

we are 'controlling' it with supplements and raw diet today but not a long term solution.  she had a round of antibiotics she finished 3 weeks ago and she is holding strong with the supplements and the diet, but she is severely inflamed and a miracle she is handling this so well: no drooling, eating right, no bad breath.  but it was confirmed today that she is severe and after the lab clears hopefully she is off to the dental vet.

we are in the hole for 1000 already and have another 2000 maybe to spend on this.  i really need a cost efficient but good vet in the hood.

any recommendations?  thanks!!!

thanks for all the great posts!  i checked out all this info before my vet visit today and really helped have a good convo going with the vet!

Do you do Facebook?  If so, I am an administrator for the group "Feline Severe Stomatitis/Calici Virus" and you ought to join because you will get feedback from many people there.

I cannot speak for your ability to pay and will simply state the facts:  If the full mouth extraction (which is your only hope of a cure) is not done by a trained dentist, your cat may never get better.  Any roots or fragments left in can mean that the inflammation will continue. General veterinarians do not have the technical training to extract all fragments of the tooth and root. They do not know how to properly interpret dental x-rays and this is of paramount importance.   A regular vet is capable of assuming that the root is all gone and they are looking at the jaw when in fact some root may be left. This happens a lot.  Would you go to your regular doctor for your human dental work? I don't think so. So, you need a trained dentist who is also a vet.  

I don't care if your vet says they can do the job.  What is your vet's training in dentistry?   A dental surgeon requires a few YEARS of specialized training.  Not months, YEARS. Usually at least 2 to 3 years minimum.

Your veterinary dental specialist will know how to use a block for pain which reduces the amount of post surgery pain control needed, will likely have a second person in the room to handle anesthesia while he does the surgery and will have state of the art radiography and dental equipment.

Yes, it costs more but you get it done right.  I do not support or encourage anyone to use a local GP to do this surgery.

Re: antibiotics, they are not recommended nor are steroids.  http://veterinarymedicine.dvm360.co...osteroids-helpful-cats-with-gingivostomatitis

I am in New York City.  To find a dental specialist, go to this site:  http://www.avdc-dms.org/dms/list/di...onid=30FF80CC92E35982C442C70B454A0878.cfusion

I don't want to sound harsh or unsympathetic, but it's just that you have to do this surgery right.  Not only that, there are post surgery exams to be done and they must be done by a dentist.

We took our cat to a real vet dentist for stomatitis.  He found 17 roots left in by previous general vets who have dental radiography and claimed they "got out all the roots".  Well, guess what. They did not.