23 May Groundbreaking New Treatment Option for Cats with Stomatitis
What is Stomatitis?
One of the most painful and frustrating conditions to treat in cats is feline chronic gingivostomatitis (FCGS), also known as caudal stomatitis, faucitis or just stomatitis. FCGS affects adult cats and results in inflammation of the soft tissues in the mouth, both the gums and other areas like the inside of the cheeks and lips, or around the back of the throat. Cats with stomatitis are very painful. They have difficulty eating and grooming. They have bad breath and may drool. Some cats will scream in pain when trying to swallow or yawn. They may growl, grimace or paw at their mouth after opening it.
Why Extract Teeth?
Extraction of all the teeth will resolve symptoms in a large percentage of affected cats. Some cats will improve even if only the premolars and molars (side teeth) are extracted, and the canines and incisors are left in place. Tooth extractions have the best chance of success in cats if the surgery is done soon after the diagnosis. Cats who have had repeated doses of steroids before surgery have less of a chance of responding.
What if Extractions Don’t Work?
If your cat is still showing signs of oral pain (drooling, difficulty eating and grooming, being antisocial) after the mouth has healed from surgery, they may need further treatment. Up until recently, the choices were limited to medications that had to be given orally at home or administered by injection by a veterinarian. Most medications were aimed at treating pain and inflammation, but didn’t treat the underlying cause of the disease, which is a dysfunction of the immune system.
But now we have reason to hope that a new product may help!
Animal Dental Care & Oral Surgery is a site for a clinical trial for a new treatment for a cat who has symptoms of stomatitis despite having had teeth extracted. The product consists of stem cells derived from the uterus of a cat. These stem cells may have the ability to change a cat’s immune system so that they no longer experience symptoms of stomatitis.
What is a Clinical Trial?
A clinical trial is a research study where patients test a new drug to be sure it is effective and safe. The FDA requires clinical trials to be done on any new drug before it can be brought to the market. Clinical trials are structured according to the dictates of the FDA, so not every affected cat may qualify for treatment. This clinical trial relies on data collected both in the hospital and at home. All testing and treatment related to the trial are free, and every cat will receive stem cells- there are no placebos.
Does My Cat Qualify for the New Cat Stomatitis Treatment?
To enroll in the trial, cats must have had at least all premolars and molars extracted and have dental radiographs that show that there are no retained roots. Cats who are on medications to treat their symptoms may continue taking those medications, even steroids like prednisolone. Cats enrolled in the study will need to visit the practice multiple times during the year-long trial. If you think your cat could benefit from stem cell therapy, please contact our office for additional screening questions. We look forward to helping you and your kitty!
Images used under creative commons license – commercial use (05/23/2025). Photo by Tim King on Unsplash