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Case Reports
. 2024 Sep 12;14(18):2656.
doi: 10.3390/ani14182656.

The Impact of a Hypoallergenic Diet on the Control of Oral Lesions in Cats: A Case Report

Luiza da Silva  1 , Taís Martins  1 , Mariana Yukari Hayasaki Porsani  2 , Fabio Alves Teixeira  2   3   4
Affiliations
Case Reports

The Impact of a Hypoallergenic Diet on the Control of Oral Lesions in Cats: A Case Report

Luiza da Silva et al. Animals (Basel). .

Abstract

Feline stomatitis or gingivostomatitis is a chronic inflammatory condition affecting approximately 0.7% of patients. The cause is multifactorial, involving infectious agents, genetic factors, and environmental influences. Therapeutic strategies include pharmacological and surgical interventions to controlling inflammation and enhancing patient quality of life. There are discussions in the literature regarding the potential involvement of adverse food reactions as a contributing factor to oral cavity lesions, without clear evidence. This case report describes the control of gingivostomatitis with a hypoallergenic diet in a cat that had oral lesions and who was refractory to conventional treatment with prednisolone and cyclosporine, even after periodontal treatment and partial tooth extraction. After 30 days of dietary change, there was complete remission of the lesions. The animal was then re-exposed to the previous food, with new lesions appearing after 7 days. Upon returning to the hypoallergenic food, there was new remission of the lesions. This report suggests that food sensitivity may play a role in the control of feline gingivostomatitis, as periods of hypoallergenic diet coincided with the remission of the condition, even without changes in medication. It reinforces the importance of investigating adverse food reactions as clinical signs in the oral cavity of cats.

Keywords: food reaction; gingivitis; hypoallergenic diet; oral health; stomatitis.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The funder had no role in the interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to publish the case.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Lesions in the oral mucosa at the first appointment (arrows).
Figure 2
Figure 2
(A) Radiograph of the right mandible and (B) left mandible with bone loss in the region of the distal root of the first molar (arrows). Images (C) and (D) show exodontia. Arrows indicate the exodontia.
Figure 3
Figure 3
(A) Remission after 30 days with the use of the hypoallergenic diet. (B) Reappearance of lesions approximately 7 days after food re-exposure. Arrows indicate the location of the lesions.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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