Mouth Ulcers In Cats: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

This article aims to explain the ins and outs of canker sores in cats, providing a simple and clear explanation of canker sores for pet owners who may be infected in their cats and for those who want to learn more.

What are canker sores in cats?

Ulcers are open sores caused by breaks in the skin or mucous membranes that do not heal. Ulcers may appear internally or externally. In the oral cavity, this means a breakdown of the oral mucosa.

Cats with canker sores have painful areas inside the mouth. Canker sores are also known as canker sores or canker sores. Ulcers look raw and red, and they can be seen as obvious defects in the smooth mucous membranes that line the inside of the lips, gums, tongue, hard palate, and other structures.

Canker sores are often seen as part of a general condition called feline stomatitis, which means inflammation of the mouth, concurrent with gingivitis (inflammation of the gums) and/or gingivitis (inflammation of the mouth and gums). This type of periodontal disease is often associated with autoimmune and dental diseases. Canker sores are seen as specific, often inflamed lesions in the mouth.

What Are the Symptoms of Mouth Ulcers in Cats?

Canker sores are painful, which explains many of the clinical symptoms in cats with canker sores.

• Making sounds when opening mouth (eg, meowing, roaring)
• Refusing to eat despite walking towards the food bowl as if hungry
• loss of appetite
• Eating from one side of the mouth, or food falling out while eating
• lose weight
• pick in mouth
• halitosis (bad breath)
• Drooling (excessive salivation, technically called “salivation”)
• Poor coat condition (cat stops self-grooming due to mouth pain)
• red and/or swollen gums
• Sometimes sneezing, if the condition is related to a viral infection

What Causes Mouth Ulcers in Cats?

Mouth sores can be caused by a variety of things, including viral infections, bacterial infections, and diabetes.

Mouth sores can be caused by anything that inflames the lining of the mouth. Common causes include:

• Viral infections, such as feline calicivirus and to a lesser extent feline herpesvirus (both of which are feline influenza viruses), as well as feline immunodeficiency virus and feline leukemia virus
• Bacterial infections
• Physical irritants, such as hairballs or foreign objects
• Other diseases (tumours, such as squamous cell carcinoma)
• Allergic reactions to foods and other substances that lead to oral immune system disorders such as eosinophilic granuloma
• Systemic disease (eg, renal failure, diabetes)

How common are mouth sores?

Mouth sores are common in cats of all ages.

Diagnosis of Mouth Ulcers

If you suspect that your cat may have mouth sores, you should take them to the veterinarian, who will attempt to determine the underlying cause of the mouth sores so that appropriate treatment can be given.

Detailed medical history

Your veterinarian will discuss all aspects of your cat’s condition and your pet’s general health, looking for clues as to the cause of the ulcer, especially any factors that may have directly contributed to the ulcer.

This will include asking about your pet’s vaccination status, dietary history (including any supplements given), parasite control (for example, checking for fleas as a routine part of health checks), and contact with other cats.

Body checkup

Your veterinarian will examine your cat carefully, looking for mouth sores and any possible causes for their development. This will include a careful examination of the mouth, including the gums, tongue and all of your cat’s teeth, including premolars and molars, as well as a full general examination.

Routine blood tests and urinalysis

Your veterinarian will most likely perform blood work, including the usual diagnostic tests such as hematology (complete blood count and evaluation of blood cells) and biochemical analysis. With mouth sores, usually there may not be much abnormality, but it is still important to check.

Systemic diseases that can cause mouth sores will be ruled out (eg, liver disease, kidney disease, diabetes, etc.), as blood parameters reflecting these areas of the body are usually normal, indicating that your cat is generally in good health.

As with many other sick cats, a urinalysis will be performed, as part of a general investigation, as a routine part of a good veterinarian.

specialized blood tests

Your veterinarian may recommend specific blood tests for certain viral infections, such as feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), as these may be related to the underlying cause of mouth sores, and if your cat tests positive , it is significant for any of them.

other tests

• Radiography (X-rays) may be taken of the skull to check for deeper aspects of dental disease.
• In complicated or long-standing cases, a biopsy of the ulcerated area may be taken. This is the only sure way to confirm the diagnosis of some specific causes of mouth sores such as tumors.

Your veterinarian can advise you on what detailed investigations are needed.

How do you treat mouth sores in cats?

To prevent mouth inflammation, your veterinarian may recommend that you start a home dental care routine.

Generally, the aim is to identify and treat the underlying cause.

• Pain medication may be given to reduce discomfort.
• Soft foods may be recommended to reduce pain while eating.
• Antimicrobial therapy may be prescribed if a bacterial infection is the cause of the problem.
• Corticosteroids may be given to reduce oral inflammation.
• Teeth cleaning will be discussed. Calculus buildup is often associated with oral inflammation, and good dental care at home, including brushing, is an important part of oral hygiene.
• Affected cats often require ongoing treatment for months or years.
• Specific treatment for the underlying cause is also possible, if it can be identified.
• Some causes may have been ruled out and the patient just needs to be stabilized (eg, ingestion of a stimulant).
• Other diseases such as tumors may require surgery.

Surveillance and Prognosis

Your veterinarian will advise you on what follow-up care is needed, but in general, monitoring your pet is the primary way to confirm that it is making a full recovery.

The prognosis for most cases of mouth ulcers is reasonable.

in conclusion

Mouth sores are a common and painful condition in cats, but effective treatment is usually available once the cause of the problem has been identified.