Baby Benji has had slightly reddened gums for a while, but the vet said that was mainly down to him teething (he was even chewing on the cord for his stethoscope ) and just said to keep an eye on it.

Last week the gums around one of the teeth was looking particularly bad with a brownish colour around the top of the tooth so we shipped him straight in to the vets. He has given him 10 days on metacam with an extra check-up yesterday just to make sure it was working (which it is), and he discussed a different type of treatment going forward just to manage this while his baby teeth are falling out and until his adult teeth come through.

I can't remember the exact name of the treatment, but he did mention that it is commonly used to treat other things like viral infection so would manage it until his adult teeth come through. I'm going to give him a call later and ask what the name of it was, but I'm wondering if anybody else has had similar experiences in relation to periodontal disease and gingivitis?

__________________
Mummy to;

Sooty 9.6.1996 - 28.04.2011 Rest in peace my love!
Storm (Sueragdandy Phantom) 28.02.2010
Benji (Kassaro Benjamin Franklyn) 08.03.2011

My two have uclerative gingivitus and Dougal22 kitty has had teeth troubles too. Mine had to have extractions done and Maudey lost 16 and Monty 13 and they were just under 2 years old, I have to brush their teeth (which doesn't go down well here) and have been using Plaque off in their food and a water additive to keep plaque down too, I believ my two have this because the had Flu when young and this seems to be common with cats that have had the calci virus, but I think/believe that they will have to have more removed in the future, but they manage very well with the teeth they have left.

This is the toothpaste

The water additive

Plaque Off

Hopefully Benji's won't be so bad or that you can nip it in the bud before it gets to bad.

Missye - Sorry to hear about Benji. Does the vet actually suspect gingivitis then? Obviously I'm hoping this isn't the case and it's only a teething problem. I think this might also explain his earlier eating problems. I wonder if he's on Antirobe?

Hoping this is a one-off episode and he's much better soon.

The treatment he recommended is interferon. Its not used very often (if I have understood it correctly its a immune system stimulant/antiviral used successfully in fiv cats) which he said he may speak to some colleagues about as its an unusual situation and if need be he might like to try it in very small doses rather than yank most of his teeth out. He said if he really does consider it though we will go through all the details and it would be controlled as it does have very uncommon but serious side effects. No guarantees that he wants to use it yet but he said it may be something to consider. What do you think Ianthi?

__________________
Mummy to;

Sooty 9.6.1996 - 28.04.2011 Rest in peace my love!
Storm (Sueragdandy Phantom) 28.02.2010
Benji (Kassaro Benjamin Franklyn) 08.03.2011

Dianne Addie has some info on interferon use here although some of it is out of date like applaws food being complete but she is one of the best and most knowledgeable Vets when it comes to Stomatitis etc

So it does sound as if he has gingivitis.

Yes Ems your observations are correct-it's a human drug used in treatment of AIDS and for HiV in cats. I've heard of it being prescribed for leukemia as well. Not heard of it being used for dental problems except where the cat already had the aforementioned conditions.

You could always try it-after all it's only small doses and if side-effects develop then discontinue it though hopefully it may not have to come to that. Worth a shot before considering extractions. After all he's still a very young cat!

I do hope he's better soon!

He did point out that he has never used it before for dental problems, but he did say it may be a thought. Considering it would stimulate the immune system to manage the inflammation better, he thought it may be a way of just managing this for a few months until his adult teeth come through. He did also point out the cost of having a dental op considering these are only his baby teeth anyway!

Thanks for the link GH, I'll pass that on to my vet! I'm sure he will be interested in reading about it like I was.

Well he is acting fine, he is eating lots of wet food accompanied with a bit of dry in the evenings as a treat which he happily crunches on. He is putting on weight and growing, and being a little ratbag in general by completely demolishing the flat in his mad dashes around the house

__________________
Mummy to;

Sooty 9.6.1996 - 28.04.2011 Rest in peace my love!
Storm (Sueragdandy Phantom) 28.02.2010
Benji (Kassaro Benjamin Franklyn) 08.03.2011

Ems- Something just occurred to me here. Before any treatments are instigated has the vet carried out a biopsy of the affected area to distinguish between the lymphocytic plasmacytic ( where immune system is implicated hence Interferon use ) and the other type eosinophilic granuloma one which has a different treatment protocol and prognosis? This is considered the less serious of the two.

I wouldn't proceed with this unless this has been done.

It seems MCs often get gum and tooth diseases. Is this common in the breed? Is this a genetic "fault"? Are there tests that breeders can do prior to breeding?

Ianthi, I'll find out! I hope it's nothing serious I'd be devastated to have another very sick kitty after Sooty

Koekemakranka, it is very common yes Maine Coons don't have as much genetic diversity as moggy's and its proven difficult to rid the breed from it genetically.

__________________
Mummy to;

Sooty 9.6.1996 - 28.04.2011 Rest in peace my love!
Storm (Sueragdandy Phantom) 28.02.2010
Benji (Kassaro Benjamin Franklyn) 08.03.2011