My cat has severe bleeding gums, anemia, and high BUN. What's wrong?

Unfortunately gengivostomatitis (gums inflammation) can be a very frustrating disease. It is a very good news that Symba is FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus) negative but inflammation might be also secondary to infection as feline herpesvirus or feline calicivirus (an oral swap could be done and viruses can be isolated in laboratories). If neither herpes or calicivirus are involved, it is very likely that the inflammatory disease is due to an abnormal response of the oral immuno-system. In the future the disease might remain stable and no other treatment are necessary but if the symptoms get worse might be necessary to start: antiinflammarory drugs, drugs to suppress the immune system and control the proliferation of bacteria within the mouth. In severe cases surgical management (removal of all of a cat’s teeth) might be the only solution.

Elevated BUN (uraemia) in itself is associated with nausea and vomiting and the underlying cause should be investigated. Dehydration as a result of vomiting, intestinal bleeding, obstructive bladder stones, fever, diabetes and kidney disease can all contribute - a thorough urine analysis would be recommended. Fluid therapy would be advised as soon as a urine sample has been obtained in order to try and reduce levels but urine production must be monitored closely to prevent overhydration if kidneys are not able to function well

I am sorry to hear that Sweety has a painful mouth. Unfortunately, gingivitis/stomatitis in cats can be very severe and quite debilitating. It can be made even worse in cats that have other immune issues, such as allergies or FeLV/FIV infections. Antibiotics and immune-suppressive medications can be used in mild cases. Thorough dental cleaning will help many of these cases more than just medical treatment. However, many cats will need all or most of their teeth pulled to ease the pain. The pain and inflammation is caused by an immune reaction to the tartar. Since we can't completely prevent tartar build up on the teeth, often removing the teeth is our only option. Obviously this is quite a bit more expensive than a simple teeth cleaning. I recommend discussing your options with the veterinarian that has treated Sweety as far as medications or financing for the dental cleaning. Here is some more information that you may find helpful: https://www.petcoach.co/article/7-smart-solutions-for-pet-care-financing/ http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=170

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This looks like it is due to the tooth causing pressure on the gum causing this ulcer/lesion. I would agree with your veterinarian in that they probably need to sedate or put under anesthesia to be able to better evaluate this region. Then they can treat it accordingly. If it is found to be dental disease, they can correct it then. Best of luck!

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It sounds like Nero has severe gingivitis. This condition can be caused by a condition that causes the tooth roots to be resorbed by the body, or a build up of bacteria and tartar around the gum line. This results in chronic infections an inflammation, which can be very painful and even result in Nero not wanting to eat. I recommend having Nero looked at by a vet as soon as possible to determine the cause of this condition and begin the appropriate treatment. He may need to have some of the teeth removed under general anesthesia. I hope this helps and that Nero gets better soon!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! At this point this would warrant reevaluation. This could be something else such as a mass which is why it has not resolved or perhaps an abscess that is not sensitive to the antibiotics that were used. Your veterinarian can reevaluate this and treat according to that. Good luck and have a great day!

This is a severe gum infection and may be due to infected teeth also. Kuchi needs to be anesthetized and have a dental cleaning done. I expect he will need several teeth extracted and additional antibiotics. Some cats with stomatitis respond to steroid injections with the antibiotics but often almost all of the teeth need to be removed due to the pain and infection. If it has not been done I recommend a feline leukemia and FIV test also as this problem is more common in infected cats. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Kuchi.