HELP!

[champ]

I have a cat with Stomatitis. The vet is treating her with Amoxi drops and Prednisone, but it has been over a month without much improvement. She is not getting worse, but is not improving a whole lot either.

She eats two cans of food a day. She has a hard time eating dry food, but does munch on it some during the day. She probably needs to have some back teeth taken out, but when we tried at the beginning of this, she crashed under the anesthesia. Now the vet and I are scared to try it again.

She is not dehydrated (because of the can food mixed with water twice a day), but does not clean herself as well as she should.

Anyway, do any of you know a way to get this under control? What antibiotics address this best? When we get it under control again, we can probably try the teeth pulling again.

This is an indoor only cat and negative for any other illnesses.

Please give me some advice, if you can.

THANKS!

[davet]

did the vet do a culture and sensitivity???the treatment is the normal treatment but are you applying anything with a que tip...it might be good to use a topical antiseptic or antibiotic if it is not already being done....course the teeth should come out but i would feel like your vet...having the anxieties abour reanesthetizing the cat...

[champ]

Thanks for the reply. No, we are not applying anything in the mouth directly. I need to ask about this. Seems very logical.

The first time that we tried to put her under, she completely crashed. It took about 45 seconds for them to revive her and nothing was done, since this happened right as she went under. Thank goodness that she didn't have any brain damage.

[Traci]

How old is your kitty, and was immunologic testing, serology, bacterial/fungal cultures done? Short of a biospy, I would opt for extensive immunoligic testing to rule out potential causes (which are numerous)

For conservative treatment, you can use chlohexadine solutions, gels, oral rinses and maybe ask your vet about clindamycin if he doesn't feel antibiotics like amoxicillin or clavamox are helping. One problem with long term antibiotic use would be GI tract problems and with prolonged use, neurological signs, might want to talk to your vet about which antibiotics would best suit your kitty in particular.

Has she also been tested for FELV/FIV, proven negative?

[Guest]

She is 6 years old and is negative for FELV and FIV.

The vet did no cultures, though, from the mouth. However, he ruled out cancer due to how both sides of the back of her mouth are absolutely identical. It almost looks like an allergic response.

When I looked up Stomatitis and saw the pictures, it was very obvious. It looks like they took a pictur of her mouth and put it on the internet.

She does have one more problem, though, that could be related. She has feline acne around the mouth. Seems that this could very easily be related.

I am in Texas and have asked for a referral to Texas A&M. It seems that I am educating my vet with my research more than he is me right now. I was going to just go find another vet, but I thought that an A&M referral would even be better.

[champ]

The vet prescribed baytril for her today. She took the first one this afternoon. I am talking to him again tomorrow about something to apply directly to the places in her mouth. Luckily, she is very easy to work with. She doesn't like the medicine, but she will lay upside down in my lap (with a towel around her) and let me do whatever I need to do.

I wonder if something like asodopholus would help her. Seems like that would put some good bacteria in her mouth aide in this. They make something like that for cats that I saw in Petsmart not long ago. Anyone have any opinions on that?

[Guest]

I haven't had any replies to my question about the asidophilus yet. Does anyone know if this would help. I certainly don't want to do any harm. I went ahead and bought some at Petsmart. It is called "Acidophilus For Cats" and is made by 21st Century Pet Nutrition.

[Traci]

I think about the only thing the acidophylus is going to do is target the GI tract, not necessarily the mouth. Your best bet for immediate bacteria is antibiotics and oral rinses.

On the other hand, if there is severe ongoing bacteria from the mouth, this can by all accounts, enter the the rest of the body, so the acidophylus may be ok for that, as in intestinal, or if there was a vomiting problem, abdominal discomfort or other associated bacterial problems. Feel free to run it by your vet...