Symptoms of gingivitis, stomatitis and other gum diseases in cats, home treatment: how to quickly cure your pet?

Similar to human gum disease, feline gum disease can easily go undiagnosed until it causes discomfort for your pet. If left untreated, gingivitis, stomatitis, and other oral problems can hurt, make eating uncomfortable, and even have an impact on your cat’s general health.

Early symptom recognition is essential to providing your pet with the care they require. Drooling, bad breath, and swollen, red gums are all indicators that something might not be right. Your cat may occasionally stop eating or appear angrier than normal if they are experiencing oral pain.

Thankfully, there are methods for treating these gum issues at home that can hasten your cat’s recovery. This post will discuss the symptoms to look out for as well as a few easy at-home remedies that can significantly speed up your cat’s healing.

In cats, gum conditions such as stomatitis and gingivitis can lead to discomfort, foul breath, and trouble eating. It’s critical for your pet’s health to identify the early signs, which include swollen, red gums, excessive drooling, or a change in appetite. Serious infections frequently require veterinary care, even though mild cases can be managed at home with techniques like soft brushing and the use of cat-safe antiseptic gels. Later on, more serious problems can be avoided by detecting these issues early and practicing good oral hygiene.

What the gums of a healthy cat normally look like?

When a cat yawns, its owners will occasionally glance into its mouth out of curiosity. For the benefit of a pet, this is an opportunity to evaluate the state of its oral cavity.

How can one tell if pathology is present or not? Normally, there are no red streaks and the gums are painted a uniform pale pink color. An ulcer, a wound, or dark patches indicate inflammation. Cats should have light teeth free of toothstone and signs of caries. The tongue’s surface is rough, pink, and free of growths and ulcers. Breath: fresh, devoid of any putrefactive, sour, or other disagreeable mouth odors.

Any departures from the average suggest that the animal’s oral cavity is experiencing inflammation. How can we ascertain what precisely was the cause of it?

What diseases of the gums are in kittens, adults and elderly cats?

Mature cats and cats older than 5 years old are more likely to have the mouth mucous membranes defeated. Gum inflammation around one or more teeth that is reddened is a common sign of gingivitis. But young pets can also get oral illnesses. Juvenile gingivitis, which results from overproduction of hormones, is a common condition in cats under one and a half years old as well as kittens going through the transition from milk teeth to permanent teeth.

Healthy adult cats may be vulnerable during pregnancy, lactation, following surgery or an infectious illness. It is common to see gum issues in pets with compromised immune systems.

Gingivitis can lead to periodontosis, which is characterized by severe swelling of the mucous membranes and hyperemia. It damages the tissues of the maxillofacial apparatus and results in their necrosis if treatment is not received. A pet may experience partial or total tooth loss as a result.

Stomatitis is another term for the gum inflammation process. In what ways does it vary from gingivitis? How can I tell if my cat has stomatitis?

Stomatitis: causes, symptoms and treatment

An inflammation of the oral cavity’s mucous membranes is called stomatitis. In contrast to gingivitis, it can impact the lips, tongue, and sublingual space in addition to the gums. An infection that has made its way into the animal’s oral cavity may be the cause of stomatitis.

Stomatitis can occasionally be an aftereffect, a secondary ailment brought on by other bodily functions:

• congenital anomalies in the structure of the oral cavity;
• renal failure, leading to the accumulation of nitrogenous substances in the blood;
• diabetes mellitus;
• parathyroid gland pathology;
• autoimmune pathologies (for example, systemic lupus erythematosus);
• the presence of tartar;
• poisoning of the body with plant or chemical poisons;
• decreased immunity.

The swelling and redness of the lips and gums are signs of stomatitis. The animal may completely refuse to eat if it has stomatitis because chewing food causes excruciating pain.

The goal of treating stomatitis should be to eradicate the source of the oral mucosa’s inflammation. A veterinarian can examine the animal and perform diagnostic tests to ascertain the precise cause of the illness. In the event that the pet has a bacterial etiology, broad-spectrum antibiotics, immune-suppressive medications, and antimycotics are prescribed.

Gingivitis in kittens and cats

Cat gingivitis is a dangerous condition that could worsen if left untreated. Without treatment, inflammation results in periodontitis, periodontal disease, jaw tissue necrosis, and total tooth loss. The illness results in severe pain for the animal, which prevents the cat from eating. Fatigue and issues with the gastrointestinal system can arise from untreated gingivitis.

Causes of gum inflammation in cats

What causes a cat’s gums to swell and become inflamed? Simple tartar is typically the first step in this problem. If food debris is not removed promptly, it starts to break down on the gums and tooth surfaces. The soft plaque eventually becomes tartar as it gradually hardens.

See also: Inflammation, infectious diseases, and injuries as symptoms and treatments of intestinal diseases in cats

Apart from tartar, the subsequent elements may cause inflammation:

• genetic predisposition of some breeds (Persians, Siamese cats, Maine Coons);
• hormonal imbalance in young animals (juvenile form);
• malocclusion;
• decreased immunity, vitamin deficiency;
• hard and spicy food that leads to injuries;
• infections;
• autoimmune processes in the body;
• lack of oral care;
• diabetes;
• benign and malignant tumors.

Symptoms of the disease with photos

It’s challenging to determine your cat’s gum inflammation on your own. The presence of red gums in a pet does not necessarily indicate the onset of gingivitis. After inspecting the oral cavity and performing laboratory diagnostics, a veterinarian can make a diagnosis and identify the disease’s cause.

The following symptoms can be used to suspect gingivitis at home:

• unpleasant odor;
• swollen gums;
• increased salivation;
• bleeding (gums bleed when pressed);
• pet"s anxiety during palpation of the oral cavity;
• lethargy, apathy, lack of appetite;
• complete refusal to eat in severe forms of the disease.

It is possible to diagnose advanced gingivitis without seeing a physician. The pet has visible bleeding ulcers on its palate and gums, and its mouth has an awful, bad smell. The animal is unable to shut its mouth and chew food on its own due to the development of periodontitis and periodontal disease.

Types of gingivitis

Tartar accumulation is the most frequent cause of gingivitis. Gum inflammation is brought on by poor oral hygiene. However, a pet may still experience this condition despite receiving regular, excellent dental brushing.

Gingivitis caused by plasma cell lymphocytic differs in type and severity. Immunodeficiency facilitates this type’s development. It is more common to find the plasma cell-lymphocytic form in adult animals with weakened immune systems and kittens. characterized by a significant buildup of soft palate and gum wounds and ulcers. The animal is in excruciating pain and is unable to eat. Secondary diseases could arise if treatment is not received.

Treatment of gum disease at home

How can gingivitis be treated quickly? The doctor’s prescription list is based on the disease’s etiology. Most of the time, the patient can receive treatment at home; inpatient care is not necessary.

Medications that effectively reduce gum inflammation in cats:

• antibiotics (Amoxicillin, Sinulox, Tylosin and others) – if the cause of gingivitis was a bacterial infection;
• Metrogyl Denta, Zubastik, Dentavedin gels – have a local anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect, relieve swelling, disinfect;
• antiseptic solutions (chlorhexidine, miramistin) for irrigation of the oral cavity;
• Interferon, Fosprenil – immunomodulators, prescribed for immunodeficiency or reduced immunity.

Also see: The most common malignant tumors, their three types of treatment, and the causes and symptoms of oncology in cats.

You can try using folk remedies for treatment in the early stages. Strawberries, chamomile, and oregano decoctions are removed well. One glass of boiling water must be used to grind and steep one hour’s worth of dry herbs. After that, strain through gauze and cool. the final mixture used to process the gums. When treating a severe inflammatory process, veterinary medications must be combined with herbal remedies.

Other gum diseases in domestic cats

In cats, gingivitis is by no means the only oral illness. The following pathologies may affect the pet:

• gingivostomatitis (caudal stomatitis) – swelling and bleeding from the gums, pharynx and pharynx;
• eosinophilic granuloma – single or multiple growths in the form of ulcers on the upper or lower lip or on the gums;
• gingival hyperplasia – pathological tissue growth (the cause of hyperplasia is still unknown).

Symptom	Home Treatment
Red or swollen gums	Rinse with a mild antiseptic solution like diluted chlorhexidine
Bad breath	Brush the teeth gently with cat-safe toothpaste
Drooling or difficulty eating	Switch to soft food and ensure hydration
Pawing at the mouth	Apply a vet-recommended oral gel for pain relief
Bleeding gums	Use herbal rinses like chamomile to soothe and reduce inflammation
Refusal to eat	Offer soft, warm food and ensure the cat sees a vet if it persists

If left untreated, gum conditions such as stomatitis and gingivitis in cats can result in more serious health problems as well as a great deal of discomfort. It’s critical to monitor your cat’s behavior and routinely examine their mouth for indications of redness, swelling, or foul breath.

Early at-home therapy if you become aware of these symptoms can frequently have a significant impact. You can control the condition and keep it from getting worse by giving your cat regular cleanings, using vet-approved dental products, and making dietary adjustments.

However, don’t hesitate to speak with your veterinarian in the event of severe cases or persistent symptoms. To guarantee that your pet receives the best care and doesn’t sustain long-term harm, professional attention might be required.

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