Feline stomatitis is severe mouth inflammation - full mouth tooth extraction costs $1,500-$3,000 and cures 60-80% of cats. An immune overreaction to plaque bacteria causes inflammation of gums, cheeks, and throat. Cats stop eating from constant pain. Medical management alone usually fails.
An immune overreaction to dental plaque bacteria causes inflammation beyond typical gingivitis. The immune system treats normal oral bacteria as a threat. Feline calicivirus may play a role. It's immune-mediated, not caused by poor dental hygiene alone. An immune overreaction to oral bacteria
Severe pain while eating - dropping food, crying when chewing. Thick, blood-tinged drooling. Appetite and weight loss. Bad breath. Pawing at mouth. Unkempt coat. Bright red, swollen gums extending to the back of the throat. Some cats become reclusive from pain. Severe oral pain is the hallmark
Oral exam under sedation ($100-$200). Full mouth X-rays ($200-$300). Biopsy ($100-$200) rules out cancer. Blood work ($100-$200) checks for FIV and FeLV. Diagnosis is usually evident from the distinctive bright red proliferative inflammation. Average $200-$500
Full mouth tooth extraction is most effective - 60-80% of cats improve dramatically or are cured ($1,500-$3,000). Extracts all premolars and molars, sometimes all teeth. Steroids ($20-$50/month), antibiotics, and pain meds usually provide temporary relief only. Full mouth extraction $1,500-$3,000
Diagnosis + extraction + recovery care. Cats that don't respond to extraction need ongoing medications at $50-$200/month.
Siamese and Abyssinian cats appear predisposed. Persians and Himalayans also at higher risk. Can affect any breed.
Mouth healing takes 2-4 weeks after extraction. Most cats eat better within days - even without teeth. Quality of life improves dramatically.
No proven prevention since it's immune-mediated. Regular dental care may help. Keep FIV/FeLV testing current. Early intervention improves outcomes.
02/04
Diagnosis + extraction + recovery care.
Some policies cover stomatitis as an illness (immune-mediated), others exclude it under dental exclusions. Full mouth extraction is medically necessary, not elective. Check your policy's dental and illness coverage.
Any documented dental issues, gingivitis, or oral inflammation before enrollment may deny stomatitis claims as pre-existing. Even a routine dental cleaning note mentioning redness can be problematic.
Full mouth extraction costs $1,500-$3,000. Some policies require it to be classified as medically necessary, not cosmetic. Get pre-authorization before proceeding to confirm coverage.
Many policies exclude dental procedures by default. Stomatitis is an immune disease treated with dental surgery - some cover it, others deny it. Read the dental exclusion carefully and ask about stomatitis coverage before enrolling.
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