Effect of tooth extraction on stomatitis in cats: 95 cases (2000-2013).

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate long-term response of cats with stomatitis to tooth extraction. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. ANIMALS: 95 cats with stomatitis. PROCEDURES: Medical records of cats with stomatitis that was treated with tooth extraction during a 14-year period were reviewed. Demographic information and diagnostic results were recorded as well as surgical procedure, including full-mouth extraction (FME) versus partial-mouth extraction (PME), and specifics of medical management. Patients were categorized according to response to treatment. RESULTS: Median postoperative follow-up time was 231 days (range, 33 to 2,655 days). Of 95 cats, 6 (6.3%) had no improvement and 25 (26.3%) had little improvement in stomatitis following tooth extraction and extended medical management (EMM). Following tooth extraction, 37 (39.0%) cats had substantial clinical improvement and 27 (28.4%) cats had complete resolution of stomatitis; of these 64 cats, 44 (68.8%) required EMM for a finite period to achieve positive outcomes. Extent of tooth extraction (PME vs FME) was not associated with overall response to treatment. At initial recheck examination, a better long-term response to tooth extraction was observed in patients with resolution of abnormal behavior (OR, 7.2), decrease in oral inflammation (OR, 3.5), and lack of need for follow-up medical management with antimicrobials (OR, 3.7). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Extraction of teeth in areas of oral inflammation provided substantial improvement or complete resolution of stomatitis in more than two-thirds of affected cats. Full-mouth extraction did not appear to provide additional benefit over PME. Most cats with stomatitis may require EMM to achieve substantial clinical improvement or complete resolution.

Polyamine inhibitors for treatment of feline oral squamous cell carcinoma: a proof-of-concept study.

This study assessed proof-of-concept for use of polyamine inhibitor 2-diluoromethylornithine (DFMO) as a treatment for oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in client-owned cats. Polyamine levels in tumor tissue and normal oral mucosa were quantified before and after treatment. DFMO was administered orally to 14 client-owned cats with histologically confirmed oral SCC. Patients were monitored for gastrointestinal, dermatologic, auditory, hematological, and biochemical abnormalities. Total polyamine levels in tumor tissue decreased after treatment, as did the specific polyamine putrescine in both tumor tissue and normal mucosa. Ototoxicity was observed in 5 of 6 cats receiving pre- and post-treatment brainstem auditory evoked potential tests. Subclinical thrombocytopenia was observed in 6 of 14 cats. One cat showed mild post-anesthetic tremors that resolved without treatment. Oral administration of DFMO at doses used in this study resulted in significantly decreased tumor polyamine levels without life-threatening clinical or hematological toxicities. Further studies are warranted to explore pathophysiology of polyamine biochemistry and use of polyamine inhibitors in treatment of cats with oral SCC.