Companion Animals

Companion Cat Gingivostomatitis Treatment

Management of feline chronic gingivostomatitis, a painful oral condition, including tooth extraction and emerging therapies.

Key Facts

Feline chronic gingivostomatitis causes severe oral pain and profoundly reduces quality of life
The condition is poorly understood and thought to involve immune-mediated inflammation
Full-mouth tooth extraction achieves resolution or improvement in around 60-70% of cases
Remaining cases require long-term medical management and careful pain control
Stem cell therapy is under investigation as a novel treatment approach

Welfare Considerations

Gingivostomatitis causes some of the most severe oral pain of any cat condition. Cats with the disease typically stop eating, lose weight, and experience constant discomfort. Prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment, including extraction when indicated, is essential.

What You Can Do

Seek specialist dental assessment if your cat shows signs of severe oral pain
Discuss the evidence for full-mouth extraction with your veterinarian if medication is failing
Support research into novel therapies including stem cell treatment for this condition