Mary Allen
The course of gingivitis is very different. In the case of four-year-old Parson, all of his molars had to be removed after just over a month. Possible cause: stress.
Eva Gasynova opens the little cat’s mouth with a practiced grip and frowns. “It doesn’t look good at all. Can you see it? The gums are massively inflamed,” she says, stroking Parson’s head soothingly. While the tomcat begins to purr happily, the words of the veterinarian at the Aarau West Animal Clinic give the cat owner and author of this text a real shock. Everything had just looked fine. The bite wound, the real reason for the visit to the vet, had healed well and the cat seemed fit and alert all around. And now this. In Parson’s mouth, a bacterial infection of the gums – called gingivitis in technical jargon – apparently developed within a very short time, which has already spread to the jawbone. Unfortunately, apart from removing the teeth, there is no effective treatment option, says the veterinarian. The cat can only keep incisors and canines – and only for the time being.
The diagnosis and the associated drastic and costly measures are completely unexpected. After all, the tomcat’s teeth were still largely fine when he visited the vet a month earlier. The vet also seems surprised at the poor condition of the teeth during the most recent examination and makes sure once again that the tomcat is really only four years old. At the same time, however, the dental expert notes that the course of periodontitis can vary.
Frequent Gingivitis
Patients with an immune deficiency are particularly susceptible. According to Gasynova, various viruses – calici, herpes, leukemia, immunodeficiency virus (FI) – can play a role. Cats receive short-term protection against these viruses after birth in the form of antibodies in their mother’s milk. In the long term, however, they must be vaccinated. However, 100% immune protection is not possible because there are different variants of each virus.
Inflammation of the gums is the most common disease in adult cats, says Gasynova. The majority of animals have some degree of inflammation. However, this is very individual, which is why the healthy animal should come for a veterinary check-up and, if necessary, for teeth cleaning (under anesthesia) at least once a year. The removal of the tartar is important because bacteria find ideal growth conditions on its rough surface, which promotes gingivitis. In fact, Parson had a lot of tartar compared to the second cat in the household, who was over ten years old. However, this finding alone does not explain why a mild inflammation of the gums could develop into acute peritonitis within a month.
Impaired Immune System
According to Gasynova, the cause is not necessarily in the cat’s mouth. Rather, three-bite injuries, for which the argumentative or socially awkward tomcat had to be treated surgically and with antibiotics in recent months, could be to blame for the fatal course. “Stress can impair the immune system, so that when fighting bites, for example, the gingivitis can worsen,” explains the veterinarian. It was amazing that Parson continued to eat happily and did not lose weight despite the massive inflammation.
A few weeks have now passed. Parson’s molars were removed, the gums and remaining teeth looked good at the check-up, and stress in the form of further bites has also been prevented so far. “The prognosis is good,” says Gasynova. By removing the teeth, the plaque bacteria were removed. Because the remaining incisors and canines could develop the same problems, regular checks are essential.