“There’s not much being written these days regarding Stomatitis,” my vet explained to me on Thursday in his treatment room over Bentley’s pain-filled meows.

“I like to attend as many meetings as I can during the year,” Dr. Steve said.”But when the topic is Stomatitis the room is packed. It’s standing room only. The frustrating aspect of these meetings is we leave  with  no more knowledge than we had before.”

At this juncture, Bentley’s cries have settled. He has been given a pain shot, a covinia shot, and a steriod shot. I asked my vet if he learned anything after the lectures, when he mingled with other veterinarians who were as frustrated as he was?

“Not really, There may be some new medication on the horizon or a mixture of two drugs that hold the disease at bay, but it’s all a Hail Mary and this point.”

I am very well acquainted with stomatitis. Bentley (my one survivor of distemper over 11 years ago) had a whopping case of calicivirus when he was a kitten. The one belief about stomatitis is that it is tied to this virus somehow.

Bentley’s mouth cycles in and out of stomatitis. I can look for major flare-ups in the summer during hot weather, and at the end of December. His last steriod shot was late December last year.

He drools, refuses to eat, drops weight at an abnormal rate of speed. If the discharge is heavy, he can lose his meow after he sounds hoarse for a few days. Although I always spot him drinking out of the water bowl, he will dehydrate quickly and need fluids several times a day. He shakes his head violently, as if he has bad earmites (he does not) He will paw at his face and get  what I call “dead eyed’ when you look at him. You know he is dealing with extreme pain. He also will not let me anywhere near his face to do a mouth check.

Years ago, I stumbled upon an article dealing with Slippery Elm Bark and Powdered Deer antler velvet. The article claimed that Slippery Elm is quite helpful when dealing with stomatitis. I decided to try it. 1/4 tsp sprinkled over wet food 3 times a day did the trick and in a few days, his stomatitis was reduced to two spots of red on the back of his throat. (One spot on either side). He would still have his major flare-ups but I could tell the pain was much less.

Then Covid hit and ordering became difficult. Supplies were limited, it was first come, first served, then the item went on back-order. I have been out of it now for several months. I just got some yesterday in fact. His pain this time was substantial. How he was acting so off and so odd, left me with concerns of either kidney disease (which stomatitis can be a symptom of) or cancer. Dr. Steve doesn’t think that either of these are in play right now. He said he would reverse his decision if in a week, Bentley is still dropping weight and not doing well. Then we will go to x-rays and bloodwork.

I had ordered extra slippery elm this last time, to hold us in case we run into problems getting it. I hope in a few days, Bentley is as right as rain, even in this extreme heat.