Faucitis

From Felipedia

Faucitis in a 12-year-old DSH that presented with inappetance, tenderness of the mouth, and inability to groom itself. Gingivitis, erosive lingual ulcers and faucitis were evident clinically

Faucitis in a cat due to lymphocytic-plasmacytic stomatitis and gingivitis

Chronic faucitis in a herpes virus-infected cat

Faucitis is defined as inflammation of the fauces, that part of the mouth that leads into the pharynx. It includes the caudal aspect of the tongue, the retromandibular saces and tonsillar crypts.

Often faucitis is seen clinically as a secondary disease to gingivitis, but can be a primary disease^[1].

Faucitis is usually caused by bacterial and viral infections although food allergies need to be excluded in any diagnosis.

Treatment is symptomatic and includes broad-spectrum antibiotics and in severe cases where cats are inappetant, corticosteroids (often given as depot forms, e.g. depomedrol 20mg SQ stat) or chemotherapy (e.g. Chlorambucil 2mg q 3days).

References

1. ↑ Blood, Dc & Studdert, VP (1999) Saunders comprehensive veterinary dictionary. 2nd Edn. WB Saunders Co, USA