Cat and Periodontal Disease
Answered by: Kerry Hackett
Question from: Melissa Camus
Posted on: February 16, 2006

My older male cat, Lucky is 14 years old and weighs approximately 16 lbs. He went to the vet last week and found his gums are infected may need his canine teeth out. What herbal or homeopathic remedy can I give to my cat to combat the infection is his gums? His vet says if I can get the infection in his gums under control, he may not need his teeth out. Do you have any advice?

The first thing would be to support his immune system by feeding your cat a good, homemade diet. Please see Richard Pitcairn’s "Natural Health for Dogs and Cats", Juliette de Bairacli Levy’s "Cats Naturally" and Ian Billinghurst’s "The Barf Diet" for ideas and recipes. Second would be to give your cat a glycerite tincture of Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea or E. angustifolia), Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) and Astragulus (Astragulus membranaceous) in equal parts; 15 drops twice a day in his food. If your cat will allow you to to get close to his mouth you could also make up a tincture of Echinacea, Goldenseal and Myrrh (Commifora molmol) in equal parts and paint his gums twice a day. I warn you though, this is a very bitter tasting mixture and not all cats will be compliant. In addition, you could give him crushed vitamin C, 250 mg (calcium or sodium ascorbate) in his food to help reduce inflammation.

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