At Naperville Animal Hospital, experienced veterinarians provide pets with comprehensive medical care, including dental disease prevention and treatment. Naperville Animal Hospital also stands out as a cat-friendly practice, as certified by the American Association of Feline Practitioners, and is committed to understanding the unique health risks that cats face. Feline stomatitis, clinically known as feline chronic gingivostomatitis (FCGS), is a painful condition that involves chronic swelling of a cat's gum tissue. The exact cause of FCGS is unknown, though periodontal disease and oral infections may be contributing factors. Regardless of the cause, veterinarians believe the inciting process is an altered immune response in which the cat's immune system overreacts to normal dental plaque, which leads to excessive inflammation in nearby tissue. If left untreated, FCGS can spread to the teeth and other areas of the mouth, including the bone. The discomfort that comes from FCGS may cause a cat to drool, paw at its mouth, or refuse to eat. Because extended food refusal can lead to dehydration, weight loss, and muscle deterioration, cat owners and veterinarians should discuss a course of treatment. Most treatment plans begin with medical management, which includes controlling plaque and mitigating the immune response. However, because anti-inflammatory and steroid medications tend to be neither effective nor safe in the long term, many cats with FCGS require full-mouth extractions to eliminate plaque growth and stop the immune response.
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AuthorAt Naperville Animal Hospital, located in Naperville, Illinois, a team of qualified, veterinary professionals work hard to ensure that pet owners have a trustworthy and reliable resource for all of their pet care needs. Archives
February 2019
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