How to naturally ease cat stomatitis pain, swelling, and bad breath?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Female | spayed | 4 years old | 8 lbs
My cat has stomatitis in two parts of her gums, and antibiotics did not help for very long. Her breath is smelling again. What can I do to ease her pain and reduce swelling without relying on more drugs? I was feeding her wet food with some turmeric mixed in, but she started having loose stools, so she is currently on dry food.
4 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on May 15th, 2017
I find that only 2 treatments definitively help stomatitis. The first is to remove the teeth that are in the portion of the mouth that is affected. Current theories are that stomatitis is an immune-mediated reaction to the teeth themselves that may be precipitated by feline viral diseases (typically chlamydophila and calici) and that is why steroid drugs also help to calm the inflammation and improve the condition of the gums. Antibiotics are very limited in their efficacy, because they don't address the true problem.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on April 3rd, 2018
Hello. This is definitely stomatitis. This is an extremely frustrating disease to deal with. Full mouth tooth extraction may be appropriate as this removes all the allergenic plaque present on the teeth, but some cats still suffer oral tissue lesions. Exact dental x rays need to be done to make sure no tooth roots are left behind. Have you tried cyclosporin? Some other treatments you & your vet may want to investigate include gold salts, omega interferon alpha products, coating the teeth with bovine lactoferrin, & hypoallergenic diets along with omega 3 & 6 fatty acid supplementation. CO2 lasers have been used, but mostly after extractions have been done, & finally, there is ongoing research using stem cell therapy to treat this terrible syndrome. If you have a feline specialty practice in your area or a university veterinary college, these are good places to discuss further treatment of your kitty. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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Published on May 10th, 2017
Please have Jaggy see a veterinarian to schedule a dental cleaning and tooth extractions if necessary as soon as possible. In some cases cats with stomatitis have teeth that are no longer functional and need to be removed to prevent further pain. Stomatitis is a very painful condition, and could lead to Jaggy losing weight due to an inability to eat because of the pain. The pain can significantly decrease her quality of life. The good news is that cats with stomatitis that undergo dental treatment/extractions as necessary and proper pain management can often enjoy a greatly improved quality of life. Your vet may recommend at home dental/gum care to help minimize the effects of stomatitis, as decreasing inflammation by minimizing bacteria in the mouth can help manage stomatitis. Many people do not notice when their cats are suffering from pain in the mouth, so you are doing a good job of monitoring her and seeking treatment. In the meantime try feeding her canned cat food or soaking her dry food in warm water for 10-15 minutes before feeding to make it softer and easier for her to eat. Pain medications meant for humans can be very dangerous (and even deadly) for cats, so I do not recommend giving any to your kitty without consulting with your vet. I hope she feels better soon!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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Published on October 17th, 2018
Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Mao! Unfortunately the standard of care and treatment of choice is full mouth extractions. This cures about 80% of stomatitis cats. Other less ideal options are: a prescription hypoallergenic diet, probiotics and long term steroids, and brushing his teeth twice daily. Also you can try cleaning his teeth under anesthesia and only removing the diseased teeth, not all of them, then commit to twice daily teeth brushing. Good luck
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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