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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

Girl kittens mouth is a mess...

36 replies

girliefriend · 17/02/2015 16:38

The vet isn't sure of what the cause is but the back of my girl kittens mouth is a mess, ulcerated and infected. Anyone have any experience of this?

Am so worried, she is only 9 months Sad

Vet gave her a long acting antibiotic and anti inflammatory today, we have some meds to give her for a week and then back to the vets. The vet said she may need a biopsy and am freaking out that it might be something nasty Sad

OP posts:
cozietoesie · 17/02/2015 17:25

Poor lass. Could she have been eating something rough? When did you first identify the problem?

thecatneuterer · 17/02/2015 17:28

Oh dear. Poor girl. No I've never come across this in a very young cat. I hope they can get to the bottom of it.

cozietoesie · 17/02/2015 17:37

Here's some guidance. (I'm wondering whether she could have acute stomatis - go down the page a bit - although I've never had a cat in as bad a situation as your girl seems to be.) Has she had all her shots and been tested by the vet?

RubbishMantra · 17/02/2015 17:58

I too thought it could be stomatis or mucocele.

Poor little love.

Original poster
girliefriend · 17/02/2015 20:23

Hi thanks for replies and the link, non of the diseases listed seem to fit exactly Confused I am wondering if a foreign body may have become lodged in the back of the mouth or otherwise maybe a rodent ulcer...

She has had all her injections and is other wise in perfect health, I wasn't overly concerned until I saw the vets face as she seems o.kay in herself, eating, drinking, grooming etc. I first noticed a slight swelling in one corner of her mouth the end of last week but over the wend it seemed to go and I had thought I would be wasting the vets time today but obv thought it should be checked.

Really hoping its not cancer Sad

OP posts:
RubbishMantra · 17/02/2015 21:57

MCat had a rodent ulcer on his lip, which cleared up of it's own accord.

((Hugs)) to you, and good, healing thoughts to your girl.

Original poster
girliefriend · 26/02/2015 20:53

So girl kitten went for biopsy today, not looking great vet says whatever it is extends all round her mouth top and bottom Sad

Gutted, didn't expect this at 9-10months old Sad Sad

Have a week long wait now for biopsy results, she is only allowed to eat mush now and trying to keep her food and boy cats food separate is proving umm interesting..... Hmm

OP posts:
cozietoesie · 26/02/2015 21:30

Oh Dear.

Let us know how things look when the biopsy results come back?

Original poster
girliefriend · 26/02/2015 21:51

yeah will do, have you ever heard of cancer in a cat this young? Just can't get my head round it plus she looks so well in herself. Even the vet commented that she was obviously eating well!! Have been blending up chicken for her tonight - only the best for girliecat Wink

OP posts:
CunningCat · 26/02/2015 22:04

Flowers for you and kitty.

Original poster
girliefriend · 04/03/2015 20:16

Hello for anyone who is still following we have a diagnosis!

She has something called eosinophilic granuloma complex Confused think it is quite rare esp in such a young cat Sad still it could have been worse. From what I understand it is an auto immune type condition that is triggered by an allergen however there is no way of knowing what the allergen is.

The treatment is steroids, poss long term. Have started giving them to her tonight and then back to vet in two weeks to review.

Thankyou for all your replies Smile

OP posts:
cozietoesie · 04/03/2015 20:40

Never come across that one before. What's the prognosis? Will the steroids keep it at bay?

cozietoesie · 04/03/2015 20:43

Ah - ICC have some background. (Although it hurt my brain to read it.)

DiaryOfAWimpyMum · 04/03/2015 20:46

Glad you have a diagnosis and can now work on the problem. Hope she gets better soon. Smile

Original poster
girliefriend · 04/03/2015 20:57

Hi thanks for that cozie it makes my brain hurt a bit as well Grin not sure re prognosis, will discuss that with the vet when we go back. I know long term steroids isn't good for them so I guess a lot of it will depend on how well she responds to the steroids and how long she needs to be on them for.

That link suggested it is worth trying to work out what they maybe allergic to but the vet I spoke to said the tests are often inconclusive plus if its something like dust or pollen would be almost impossible to eliminate.

If she responds well it maybe something that we can just keep as eye on and may need treatment from time to time...

I've had a bit if a google and it does seem to be a rare condition esp in cats under 2yo. I am now wondering if this is linked to why she had such an extreme reaction to her vaccinations (was very poorly) and also when she was stung by a bee (this kitten has no luck) her whole leg swelled up.

Its all come as a bit of a shock as our other older cat has never had anything wrong with him!!

OP posts:
RubbishMantra · 05/03/2015 11:50

Oh poor GirlieKitten!

I'm glad it's not as bad as you feared though.

I hope she responds well to the treatment.

Original poster
girliefriend · 05/03/2015 17:15

Thanks all Smile

OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 05/03/2015 19:43

She has you as an owner & that's lucky.

Original poster
girliefriend · 05/03/2015 19:54

Aww Fluffy thanks Smile

The steroids don't appear to have made her starving hungry yet so thats good, just have to wait and see now.

My lovely girl Smile

Girl kittens mouth is a mess...
OP posts:
cozietoesie · 05/03/2015 21:40

Oh she's just gorgeous - wonderful eyes.

NurseySA · 05/03/2015 21:55

One of my cats has been diagnosed with this at a young age, he presented with ulcers around his mouth, axilla and front legs. After lots of steroid and antibiotic courses he is now really well controlled on Atopica, the cat form of Cyclosporin. It's given at a low dose to dampen down his immune response, now his skin is good I only has to give it 3 times a week, and it has fewer long term side effects than the steroids. He is otherwise a really fit and happy young cat. Hope it all works out for you

Original poster
girliefriend · 06/03/2015 14:55

Thats interesting Nursey you are the first person (other than the vet Wink) who has heard of it!!

I am a bit concerned about the use of long term steroids so may mention atopica to the vet - thank you! She seems totally fine at the moment, not unduly hungry either which I was a bit worried about and it is not proving too difficult to get her to take the pills!!

OP posts:
Lonecatwithkitten · 06/03/2015 17:05

Girlie I think very few owners have heard of eosinophilic granuloma complex as us naughty vets call them rodent ulcers. I have had a lot of success with identifying allergens and then using immunotherapy in cats, but it can take 9 to 12 months for the immunotherapy to work. Allergies to house dust mites it helps a lot. If you get a positive to storage mites there are lots of things you can do in how you buy and store food.
Just this year allergy screening has got a lot cheaper.

Original poster
girliefriend · 06/03/2015 18:31

My vet quoted me £250 to do the bloods for allergy testing Shock and he wasn't convinced it would show up anything much anyway. Do you mean how I store the cats food?

OP posts:
Lonecatwithkitten · 06/03/2015 23:01

If a cat is allergic to storage mites the important thing is to buy not more than 30 days of dry food at any one time, the food should be in an air tight seal pack, boxed dry food is not sealed. Then once open the food should be kept in an air tight box, ideally a click lock box.
The new screen is much cheaper and will tell the group of allergens the cat/dog is allergic to, you can then open up that panel and look in more detail. If you only have to check one panel ( usual environmental in cats) it would be under £100.

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