Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook.pdf - Mr. Walnuts

STOMATITIS (SORE MOUTH)
Stomatitis is inflammation of the mouth, gums, and tongue. It is usually
caused by periodontal disease or foreign bodies caught between the teeth or
embedded in the tongue. Occasionally, it follows mouth lacerations and burns
of the mucous membranes.
Stomatitis is an extremely painful condition accompanied by drooling, bad
breath, refusal to eat, difficulty chewing, and reluctance to permit an examination
of the mouth. The inside of the mouth is red, inflamed, and sometimes
ulcerated. The gums often bleed when rubbed.
Stomatitis can be a local manifestation of a systemic disease. It is seen in
dogs with kidney failure and uremia, diabetes mellitus, hypoparathyroidism,
leptospirosis, distemper, and autoimmune skin diseases.
Trench mouth (St. Vincent’s stomatitis; necrotizing ulcerative stomatitis)
is an exceptionally painful stomatitis caused by a variety of bacteria. There is
a characteristic serious mouth odor, accompanied by brown, purulent, slimy
saliva that stains the front of the legs. The gums are beefy red and bleed easily.
Ulcerations occur in the mucous membranes. Some cases are initiated by periodontal
disease.
Thrush (yeast stomatitis) is an uncommon stomatitis seen chiefly in dogs
who are receiving broad-spectrum antibiotics that destroy normal bacterial
flora and allow the growth of yeast. Thrush also occurs in dogs with compromised
immunity associated with chronic illness. The mucous lining of the
gums and tongue are covered with soft white patches that coalesce to produce
an adherent white membrane. Painful
ulcers appear as the disease progresses.
Recurrent stomatitis occurs where
jagged, broken, or diseased teeth make
repeated contact with the mucous lining
of the lips, cheeks, or gums, causing
traumatic ulcers of the mouth. A
bacteria and a fungus are quite commonly
cultured from these ulcers.
Treatment: In most cases periodontal
disease is present as a cause or
a contributing factor. Your veterinarian
may recommend a thorough
cleaning of the dog’s mouth under
anesthesia. This affords the opportu-
nity to treat dental calculus, decayed
roots, and broken teeth—treatments
that are all essential to cure the problem.
The dog is then placed on an
appropriate antibiotic.
THE MOUTH AND THROAT • 235
This dog’s tongue is covered by the soft
white patches that are characteristic of
thrush.