Cat with stomatitis

I have a pure bred Maine Coon cat 2 yrs. who came to us at 4 mos. with stomatitis. She has had every treatment except teeth pulling. She is on cyclosporin now, 25 mg/every other day. She just had her second professional teeth cleaning and they removed three teeth, one large bottom molar and the very back two teeth on top. They also lasered off excess gum (gum hyperplasia) caused by the cyclosporin (her dose has been decreased), but she seems to still have trouble eating (it was done last Tuesday). She gets some food in, so she is not starving, but she is totally off her dry food and I wanted to know if this seems normal to still have trouble. I guess the big hole in the bottom is feeling wierd to her. Otherwise, she seems happy, playing, purring, regular stuff, just the eating seems difficult. The vet didn't seem that concerned. Is it just a healing thing do you think? I may end up having to have her teeth extracted, but I was trying my hardest to avoid that although according to all the vet dentists it is no big thing. My vet is a regular vet, but with 25 yrs. experience. He says the cyclosporin is keeping her gums under control because when we brought her in they were lumpy, almost purple and she was drooling and a mess and she became relatively normal except for the persistent very red gums and her x rays say her bone is deteriorating and eventually she will lose her teeth anyway, but I have had a lifetime of cats and none have ever had anything like this. Thanks for any info on stomatitis cats and the problem above.
Nancy

Sorry to hear about your cat. Maine Coons seem to be genetically predisposed to this disease.

Glad to hear you have stopped all kibble, it is really garbage food anyways.

I know that somepeople have a real success on a raw diet with bone as the chewing on the bone helps keep their teeth clean. Not sure if you cat has enough back teeth to breakdown the bone. They normally will use their back molars to do so. If not, I would still recommend a ground raw diet with no veggies, just meat/offal/bone. It would eliminate any carbs that sit on the teeth rotting them away.

You may also want to try some probiotics to get some good bacteria to help fight the ones that are attacking her gums.

Stomatitis is a horrible condition to deal with, I'm sorry you're going through this. Has your cat ever been tested for Calicivirus, FIV or FeLV? These may have a link to Stomatitis in some cats.

What foods do you feed? While changing diet will not likely cure this condition, a species appropriate diet can help to improve the cat's immune system. I would start by ditching all dry food and feeding either a quality canned food (no grains, minimal carbohydrates), or possibly even a balanced raw diet.

A supplement worth considering is Transfer Factor (derived from colostrum). Because Stomatitis is thought to be largely an immune system issue, Transfer Factor can help re-balance one that is outta whack.

Here are some links that might shed some light:
http://veterinarynews.dvm360.com/dvm/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=162427&pageID=1&sk=&date=
http://veterinarynews.dvm360.com/dvm/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=514808
http://veterinarycalendar.dvm360.com/avhc/Feline+Center/Is-iBartonellai-a-player-in-feline-stomatitis-Proc/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/600785