What causes stomatitis in cats?
There are a number of causes of this chronic inflammation in the mouth and gums and may be a combination of factors. The three factors which are receiving the most attention are: • Hyperresponsiveness: Some cats may have a hypersensitivity or allergic reaction to bacterial plaque, called plaque-intolerant. In this disease, the lymphocytes and plasma cells involved in the immune system move into the tissues of the mouth and causes severe inflammation where the tooth meets the gumline. Another possible cause is an allergy to something else such as food or fleas which may manifest itself as skin and oral lesions called Feline Eosinophilic Granuloma. • Immunosuppression: A cat’s immune response may be suppressed for a number of reasons but the most common is viral infections. It is estimated that 15% of cats with chronic oral inflammation are infected with either Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV), Feline Immounodeficiency Virus (FIV), or both. • Viral or bacterial infections: Feline calicivirus
