Cat Feline Infectious Gingivostomatitis Pain Management

Feline infectious gingivostomatitis (FIGS) causes severe oral pain and significantly affects quality of life. Treatment including full mouth extraction offers the best long-term welfare outcome.

Key Facts

FIGS causes proliferative inflammatory lesions throughout the mouth making eating extremely painful
Affected cats drool excessively, show pawing at the mouth, stop grooming and lose weight rapidly
The underlying cause involves an abnormal immune response to oral bacteria and potentially calicivirus
Full mouth extraction resolves the condition in approximately 60% of cases permanently
Remaining cases respond to continued medical management including anti-inflammatories and immunosuppressives

Welfare Considerations

FIGS causes severe chronic oral pain comparable to severe human mouth ulcers throughout the entire oral cavity simultaneously. Cats may be unable to eat normally for months or years before diagnosis and treatment. Early aggressive treatment including full mouth extraction, despite appearing drastic, eliminates the source of chronic pain and allows the majority of cats to eat normally and thrive.

What You Can Do

Seek veterinary assessment immediately for cats drooling, pawing at mouth or showing reduced appetite
Request referral to a feline dentistry specialist for diagnosis and treatment planning
Do not delay full mouth extraction if recommended as prolonging medical management prolongs suffering
Provide soft or liquid food during treatment to ensure adequate nutrition and hydration
Monitor cats post-extraction for recurrence of signs and maintain regular dental monitoring