What are the causes of chronic gingivitis in cats

Chronic gingivitis is usually accompanied by oral diseases such as oral ulcers and stomatitis, and this disease only occurs in cats. Cats of any age may be infected with the disease. The disease can also cause symptoms such as excess saliva, bad breath, and gum recession, which will have a certain impact on the cat’s daily life.

Although it is generally accepted that a defect in the immune system is one of the causes of this disease, it is certain that there must be other factors that contribute to the disease. It has been suggested that chronic infection with calicivirus, feline immunodeficiency virus and feline leukemia (details) viruses are also stimulating factors of the disease, but only 50% to 75% of sick cats can be confirmed to be infected with these viruses. Oral lesions may be secondary to an overreaction of the immune system.

What are the effects of chronic gingivitis on cats

Failure to pay attention to the oral care of cats and being affected by some diseases are all causes of chronic gingivitis in cats. Although this disease is troublesome, removing the necrotic tooth roots and calculus in the oral cavity according to the situation will be of great help in improving the condition.

Cats with chronic gingivitis usually experience symptoms including excessive salivation, bad breath, difficulty swallowing, anorexia, oral pain, and reluctance to open their mouths. Lack of appetite causes the animal to lose weight and over time develop into severe emaciation. Oral examination reveals mucosal hyperemia, gingivitis, gingival recession, and sometimes hyperplastic gingivitis, periodontitis, and tooth loss. Gum infections on the premolars and molars are more severe than those on the incisors and canines. In severe cases, severe lesions can be seen on the mucosa of the corners of the mouth, the palatal arch, the soft palate, or the oropharynx.

What to do if your cat suffers from chronic gingivitis

In addition to having a certain impact on the cat’s mouth, chronic gingivitis may also cause other oral diseases, so it is best to treat it as soon as possible. Some cats may have a longer disease course, so it will take a certain amount of time to treat them. At this time, the owner must treat them patiently.

Symptomatic treatment is rarely effective. Cleaning the teeth, removing dead tissue, and removing any loose or problematic teeth (broken teeth or stumps) are the first steps. Antibiotics (such as amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, clindamycin, metronidazole, ampicillin, and doxycycline) may be helpful (at least in the short term). Multivitamins, megestrol acetate, prednisone, levamisole, thyroid hormones, and oral rinses have all been used for treatment, but with limited success.

Anti-inflammatory drugs can be used after the initial infection is controlled. Some cats may respond to cyclosporine injections. There are reports that using CQ2 laser to remove diseased tissue has good results. Painkillers canHelp sick cats regain their appetite and improve their nutritional status. Some sick cats refuse to eat dry cat food, possibly because it causes excessive pain in the mouth. However, they should still be fed dry cat food during the recovery period, because dry cat food is very beneficial to oral health.

The recommended next step in treatment is to remove all teeth. This can basically cure the disease, but 25% of cats still need continued care. Good nutrition levels can prevent animals from developing oral lesions secondary to improper food protein-to-energy ratios. Cats should be fed as much high-quality protein as possible, regardless of protein concentration. The prognosis after conservative treatment was poor, but the cat with all premolars and molars extracted had a good prognosis, indicating that the disease may be a mutation of periodontal disease.