Pain of stomatitis is worse than its smell

Q: My cavalier's breath was really bad, even though he had his teeth cleaned just five months ago. The veterinarian says he has stomatitis. What can you tell me about it?

A: Ouch! Stomatitis is a really painful inflammation that affects the mouth, gums and tongue. We see it more often in cats, but it can affect dogs, too. Cavaliers and Maltese seem to be especially susceptible.

Causes include periodontal disease or foreign bodies lodged in the mouth. It can also be related to a systemic disease such as kidney failure or diabetes mellitus.

Trench mouth, also known as St. Vincent's stomatitis, is caused by bacteria. Broken or diseased teeth that frequently come in contact with mucous lining the lips, cheeks or gums can cause stomatitis as well.

Signs of stomatitis include drooling, serious bad breath (the kind that stinks up the whole house), and trouble chewing or flat-out refusal to eat. Some dogs have sores in the mouth.

Your veterinarian may recommend professional cleaning under anesthesia, removal of any teeth causing problems, a course of antibiotics, a mouth rinse to reduce plaque and daily brushing to keep plaque at bay.

He or she may also prescribe medication to relieve pain during recovery.

If your dog has a systemic disease causing the problem, treatment may help prevent recurrence.