Flaucitis?

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Vyktors Mum

Vyktors Mum

Member Since 2011
Vyktor is 18 1/2 and has been diagnosed with flaucitis (inflammation in the mouth of the area where the top and bottom jaws join). He had surgery yesterday to remove the excess tissue, a procedure that was also done with his dental last October.

One side wasn't too bad but the other side was very overgrown and infected and he has ulcers in his mouth and a huge one down the side of his tongue - amazing he was eating at all. The tissue the vet cut away has been sent off to a histologist (or something like that) to see if the cause can be pinpointed. In October the samples were tested for cancer but found to be ok.

I understand that the chances are it's being caused by a dodgy immune response but it's not related to bacteria on the teeth (which seems to be the usual cause and can often be resolved by removing the teeth) as he has no teeth left in the problem areas (he only has 3 teeth) so his flaucitis can't be resolved with further removals. Because it has reoccurred the chances are it will continue to reoccur.

Obviously, particularly in a cat his age, repeated surgeries are not the solution. He hasn't come out of the anaesthetic so well this time. Apparently his vitals were all fine throughout but he took a lot longer than usual to wake up.

The usual options to treat as the vet sees it are intermittent ABs (I have huge issues pilling Vyktor so even this creates a problem) with steroids (which the vet has said he won't give to Vyktor because of his diabetes) or the diabolical Metacam. So pretty depressing news.

I said I was keen to look at natural options and he has supplied me with the contacts for a naturopath vet working out of a vet hospital and a homeopathy vet. I will await the histo results to get a better idea of what we're looking at but slippery elm as an anti-inflam comes to mind immediately so I might go ahead and order some of that.

Dr Google seems to be telling me that ABs, steroids, metacam aren't going to be able to resolve the issues in the longer term anyway. Any experiences (good or bad, I need the whole truth in order to face reality) or suggestions that you have would be most appreciated.
 
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aww.... I'm sorry Vyktor continues to have issues with his mouth. That's amazing that he keeps eating.
Does he fight a lot for pills?
I've gotten lightening quick at thrusting it in..... and again if she spits it out. well buttered and all.

I'm guessing you don't have a compounding pharmacy to create.something easier to give.
adding prayers and miracle vines....
 
I think Vyktor would be impossible to pill on a regular basis. I might get one or two in but after that he's suspicious and he goes absolutely berserk to the point of frothing at the mouth and that's when his mouth isn't sore :(
 
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So sorry Vyktor has this problem with his mouth. Poor boy. I hope you find a solution soon.
I crush any pills Sheba needs to have and put them in her food and she doesn't seem to notice. Would he let you do that-- you could try putting it in a food he really likes and at the beginning when he is hungry......just a thought
Bron
 
I'm sorry to hear about Vyktor's problems. That sounds painful. I have problems pilling my cat too. Coating them in butter worked at one time years ago, but that was for a short term medication. Crushing Edwin's pills and putting his pills in food doesn't work as he always seems to be onto me when I try that. I've ended up crushing his pills, mixing them with yogurt, and then administering them with an oral syringe. He doesn't love it, but it gets the meds in him.
 
Definitely can't crush pills and put them in his food he just refuses to eat it @bsmith the yoghurt is an interesting idea. I assume you use natural yoghurt. What type of syringe do you use? I'm surprised Edwin doesn't just spit it out again though, how does that work? And, it sounds like you are but just to double check, are you able to do that on a long term basis?

That Assisi loop looks interesting too, I've emailed them and they think it would help so I will forward the info to my vet and see what he thinks.

@BJM you were right on the money, the histologist report came back - lymphoplasmacytic and ulcerative stomatitis

@rhiannon and shadow your miracle vines worked to some extent - looks like Perth does have a couple of compounding pharmacies now - please send more so we don't need to try them out!
 
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Vyktors Mum said:
@bsmith the yoghurt is an interesting idea. I assume you use natural yoghurt. What type of syringe do you use? I'm surprised Edwin doesn't just spit it out again though, how does that work? And, it sounds like you are but just to double check, are you able to do that on a long term basis?
Click to expand...

Yup, I just use regular plain yogurt and a 3 cc oral syringe. I put a little yogurt in, then the crushed pills, then some more yogurt for a total of about 1 cc of yogurt. I also add 4 drops of his Bach's mix, a squirt of the TrueDose calming, and 250 mcg of B12. I shake that up to mix it together. I find that heating it in a warm washcloth a bit, and then cooling it before administration, also helps, at least when using crushed Tramadol.

As far as administration that depends on your cat. Edwin tends to struggle less with the minimum amount of restraint. I tried rolling him in a towel once and wow, cats are really really strong for their size. I just put him on a chair/recliner with me kneeling in front, the arms of the chair block him in a bit, hold his head and press on the sides of his jaws to get his mouth open, squirt the meds in, and then hold his mouth closed with his head up to get him to swallow. I also have a damp washcloth nearby since the Tramadol makes him foam at the mouth. (Though how much of that is psychosomatic I don't know as sometimes he sometimes starts foaming before I even give him any medication.) After doing this for a couple on months, I've had to add a towel, like a bib, around his neck as he started actively trying to push me off and has scratched me up pretty good in the process on a number of occasions. The towel keeps his claws off me while still not restraining him tightly.

I usually hold him in the chair for a few minutes with his mouth closed and head up to make sure he swallows everything. He's also very tricky and will try to throw the meds back up if he gets a chance (he's a very pukey cat normally, always has been). After he is allowed out of the chair he's usually okay, but I generally watch him for about 10 minutes afterwards. If I can get to him before he really gets gagging, I can hold his head up again, calm him, and manage to keep him from throwing up.

I've been giving him meds this way for about four months or so. Hopefully your cat will be easier. Give it a try and find out what works best for you. If needed, I can suggest other restraints that might work to help you get meds into your cat.
 
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You might want to join this Yahoo group for Feline Stomatitis. Lots of ideas folks have found helpful.

I've attached an interesting PDF on Bartonella infection. It can be related to stomatitis, so its something to discuss with your vet.
 

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