Chronic stomatitis - has anyone had their cat's teeth removed?

[Izlet]

And if so, did it solve or significantly improve the problem? I read that it solved 60% of cases and the rest had varying degrees of improvement. Only 7% of cats showed no improvement whatsoever. Seeing as it's a big and costly operation I wondered if anyone had undergone it and could give me some feedback? Or if any vets could advise? My vet thinks it's a good idea and has one FIV+ patient who has undergone it with positive results but I've heard a couple of other opinions that it is too drastic.

The alternative would be cycles of antibiotics and feline interferon for life, and the latter also has its own hefty price tag. Not to mention the devastating effects of the antibiotics long term and the fact that over time he would build up resistance. The cat is otherwise in relatively good health so no underlying issues.

I have referred several patients for this surgery and I have found the cats fall into two categories.
First group it totally resolves there stomatitis.
Group two get about two months relief and then are back on the cycles of antibiotics etc.
From the population of cats I have referred it is about 50% in each group.

Those are fair odds. Are there any known factors that you're aware of that could influence the category a cat falls into?

I've had much better luck with cases- Id say it solved the vast majority, and vastly improved the rest, not had any that it hasn't improved at all.
It's not easy straightforward dentistry though, I refer mine to the main hospital and it's time consuming, post op X-rays etc required to ensure all remnants gone so yes, very expensive.
I wouldn't hesitate. In fact might have to go for it with my own cat, although she's only mildly affected at the moment

Well if I was the OP, I suspect that a combination of her own reading and three separate vet opinions would influence me towards removal. Cats seem to do well without teeth and the procedure would, I think, give a fair chance of success. (And the alternative isn't a certain fix either.)

Thanks all. Lonecat, with those whose stomatitis returned, was it at the same level as prior to the op or at a much less serious level? The dentist who would be carrying out the op has proposed a specially formulated gel to keep flare ups to a minimum should the op prove not to have been resolutive.

To add extra background this is a rescue cat who had been quite severely neglected in the past (lived in a cage, fed the bare minimum, covered in parasites etc.) but he has since been nursed back to good health and the only outstanding condition left is the stomatitis. I'm not sure if and how this would influence the cure rate.

I'm leaning towards the removal option and am encouraged by the replies. 50% seems a bit low to put him through the trauma, but if the remaining 50% only had mild flare ups afterwards it could be more manageable. Or maybe not.

How old is he? I'm thinking that it may not be quite so traumatic as all that with quite a few older cats having dental problems and many of those having to have pretty exhaustive dental treatment, even to the point of complete clearance of teeth.

They seem to do well after extractions - even exhaustive ones. (Cats may well be masters at covering up discomfort but some of them seem to hardly notice that they've had major dental surgery.)

All the ones where stomatitis has returned have gone on to need repeat courses of antibiotics and ultimately only steroids gave them a reasonable quality of life.

All the ones where stomatitis has returned have gone on to need repeat courses of antibiotics and ultimately only steroids gave them a reasonable quality of life.

We got our rescue cat when he was 13. We knew he had very bad teeth but not that he had calcivirus and stomatitis. When we took him to the vet for a check up, she told us he had this condition and that he must be in great pain. Apparently, it's an allergic reaction to the plaque produced. She said he would need most of his teeth removed. We went ahead even though it seemed drastic and we worried about GA and an older cat. We needn't have worried, he's a different cat, has a great appetite even biscuits. He's 15 now and seems very healthy and talkative.

One of mine had it and I was advised to have all his teeth out, he was about 18 months old (rescue baby). I'd had him a month poor little thing. He recovered and was eating solids within 12 hours (he stole his sisters food).

So I did as advised and he is now 16, healthy all be a little smelly!!
The one thing that he doesn't do is groom himself, he leaves that to his sister... think this is because he must have been in so much pain he didn't groom and now is just lazy!

All this sounds very encouraging and I'm definitely leaning more towards the expensive dentistry.

Cat is probably around 8 years old, although he could be younger as he bears the scars of his neglect.

Funnily enough he doesn't wash himself either and he licks everything far too delicately to have any effect, probably due to the pain he was in. I have to give him rub downs with diluted cider vinegar (as advised by the vet) or super delicate shampoo, otherwise he stinks. No chance of female cat cleaning him, she has decided she hates him and keeps well away!

Our rescue boy took ages to trust us and now he's a loving, relaxed cat. Getting his teeth done was the best thing and our vet gave excellent advice. All the very best for your boy.