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I hope you can help me. I have a Japanese Bobtail named Keiko. She will be 4 years old 2/7/7. She began having noticeable problems with her mouth late in 2005. She was treated with DepoMedrol and antibiotic drops and when it did not appear to resolve the inflammation I took her in for a dental cleaning on 1/26/6 (I have owed many cats in my life - most living into their late teens and have never had to do this before). At that time she had 3 extractions. She has been back to vet for same symptoms on 5/16/6, 6/27/6 and on 8/316 after it appeared that she would get no relief from these treatments (my vet never gave Dx that I suspect but did mention treatments w/gold salt -- though not as if he thought it would work) I had all of her teeth extracted. This was apparently a good thing because by that time they were in very bad shape. Vet tried to save canines but 3 out of 4 had severely damaged roots....so out they came. After this visit she seemed to be better and was having no difficulty eating but on 11/27/6 she displayed pain again and back to vet, more DepoMedrol & Antirobe drops. Not always sucessful in getting antibiotics in her because she is fearsome to medicate even without teeth. Back to the vet again on 1/17/7 more DepoMedrol & Antirobe and I will be taking her in for follow up on 1/31. I am hoping that you may know of some natural approach that I may use to help her. I searched the net and found mention of Omega 3 Oils being beneficial and that this may be an allergic reaction and would also like to know of a food preparation/diet that might be beneficial -- perhaps resolving the problem if it is allergy related. My husband & I have decided that as long as we have money to treat her we will but I would rather find a way to help her have longer respites from the inflammation or maybe no inflammation at all. Thanks to anyone who can help me with this.

There are numerous theories as to the cause of feline stomatitis, but none proven and none that even give us a useful working hypothesis. Removing the teeth often helps, but, as you have discovered, not in all cases. You didn't mention what you had been feeding her, nor what vaccinations and other veterinary treatments she had gotten before the onset of symptoms, and when she got those vaccinations and treatments. She was already 2 plus years old before this started, so something must have brought it on; she wasn't born with this problem. I would like this information, if possible. In any case, 1 tsp of cod liver oil in her food daily, along with 30mg CoQ10 twice a day should help. As to a diet, raw ground meat with 1/4 tsp bonemeal per day and 1 tsp plain yogurt per meal will satisfy her nutritional needs.

This is Keiko's medical history:
2/7/3: Spayed, rabies shot
4/2003: Eclipse 4 & Leukemia vaccines (I administered)
1/3/4: Trip to vet: Apparent URI If I remember correctly the vet commented on her gums at that time and she was tested for Leukemia/Aids with negative results. Vet gave DepoMedrol & Cephalexin. 1/10/4: Re-check with vet and another shot of DepoMedrol.
9/16/5: I can't remember but probably another URI, she has had no other problems. She rec'd DepoMedrol & Orbax.
I have provided the other vet trips in original message. I do not believe in adminstering vaccines beyond the initial round given to kittens so she has had no further vaccinations. But you know after looking at her history, perhaps she was born with it but it took a while for it to progress to the intensity that it has now. Maybe? I can say that I had a kitten that came from the same breeder about 8 months later and he died of Leukemia (confirmed) in 2005. What is CoQ10 and where would I get it? And bonemeal? I did some further checking after writing to you and I know that there is a gardening version and human variation and I imagine you mean the human version. Would I find it at a health store like GNC? Would the ground meat be like ground beef? One of the leaner mixes? Right now she is eating Fancy Feast because it seems to be easier for her to handle. I was originally feeding her 9-Lives ground tuna which she really seemed to enjoy until she had a recurrence of the inflammation. She did not seem as interested in it, even after the inflammation went down. I think she associated the food with her pain. I know that you do not think dry food is good for cats but I was looking at getting a cat food at PetCo (Natural Balance: Highly digestible diet with no grains, dairy, soy, or eggs.) in a neighboring city that is comprised of a single meat source and single carb source because I thought her problem might have been allergy based. Like you said there are so many theories on what can cause this I was to address all issues in an effort to have her live a happier, healthier life. Thanks for you prompt response and suggestions for diet and supplements. How much would you feed her at one meal and how many meals a day? Right now I feed her in the morning and at night. There a many other cats in our home and there is other dry food available but I do not think that she eats much of it. As soon as I know what sort of meat and can obtain the CoQ10 and bonemeal I will begin feeding her a you suggested. Thanks again.

Ground beef or ground chicken is fine. You want to use human grade bonemeal, which should be available in powdered form in a healthfood store. If it is a problem to get, contact me. If it is a food allergy, start with ground beef, thus only one antigen source. You might ask your vet if he can test her for Bartonella. CoQ10 is also available from a healthfood store.

Hello SugarBear -

My Simon - rescued domestic shorthair - first had Bartonella and then Plasma Cell Stomatitis. The horrors this poor cat went through were unbearable to watch. In desperation and at the advice of researchers and my vet, we had all but his canines extracted. Two weeks later, all the symptoms reappeared in the same severity. I was afraid we would have to put him down. And then, one day he ate some Whiskas Temptations Dentabites out of one of my other cat's food dish. (I wasn't giving them to him 'cause - no teeth!). Low and behold, he has been eating them every day since then and for eight months now not one symptom has re-ocurred. If I stop feeding them to him, in two days the drooling starts up again, he stops grooming, his tail droops and the whole cycle begins once more. They work for him - maybe they will work for you. Maybe it's the chloraphyll. Good luck!

Nancy in NJ