Question:
I have a 5-year-old male cat. When he was about 1-year-old, his mouth smelled terrible, and his gums turned bright red. We took him to a cat dentist who recommended we remove his teeth. All teeth were removed except the front teeth. The removal didn't help the situation. He still has sore gums, which makes it painful for him to eat, yawn, clean himself, or even relax. My vet has been giving him a cortisone shot every three months for the past four years. The shot used to work for an entire three-month period, and then it lasted two-and-a-half months, two months -- now it only works for two weeks. But my poor cat can't get the shot again until the three-month period is up. My vet said it would be bad for his kidneys if he gets it too often. Plus, the shot doesn't even work for him anymore. We can't figure out why his gums do this. The gums start turning red in the back, and the redness works its way to the front. My vet doesn't think pulling the front teeth will help. It's as though his body is rejecting his own gums, according to the vet. Is there anything you can suggest that may help my poor cat? In between shots, I give him Metacam to relieve the pain.
D.T., Monroe, CT Nov 29, 2009
Answer:
Your veterinarian is correct: Your cat's serious disease has an autoimmune component, but the removal of all teeth is questionable. First, do not give your cat more vaccinations or anti-flea drugs. Avoid all gluten-containing food ingredients such as corn and wheat. Try transitioning to a whole-food, ideally raw-food diet. Load your cat up with natural anti-inflammatory supplements such as fish oil and skullcap herb; and super-antioxidants such as Vitamin C and bioflavonoids, CoQ10, zinc, selenium and N-acetylcysteine, along with amino acids L-carnitine, folic acid and taurine. Discuss these options with your veterinarian who can advise you on sources and doses. I would also encourage you to try PetzLife oral-care products and consider applying aloe-vera gel, propolis and sangre de drago to the cat's gums twice daily.
Subscribe