@Dr. Jeff
My gray cat Sterling had an almost perfectly healthy first five years with me. Now we have the biggest tangle. He has one high swelling or mass, with two smaller ones, that are apparently from the floor of his mouth. He does not seem to have pain, but he has a great amount of discomfort eating, especially in the mornings. He has refused all medications and TCM herbs no matter how I have tried. The only supports he has been accepting are homeopathics in water or in “tuna water.” Today while drinking his tuna water, his homeopathic pellets got stuck on the side of his mouth where he can not sweep his tongue (between the swelling and the teeth) and made him very uncomfortable (he abandons his plate/bowl when this happens) and I am trying to find other ways to give him homeopathics - maybe a water treated with pellets in a cup, and then poured into his bowl without the pellets?
Sterling is athletic, bright, soft, and strong! On the whole his BEAM is great and has not wavered. He is as curious and nice as always right now, but is sleeping a lot more, taking in less/different food because of the functional disturbance, and can’t enjoy playing with his mice or any other mouth toys. He thoroughly enjoys watching birds, chipmunks, and wafting smells from creatures in the distance. He is fully indoors but we moved to an apartment near a woods and creek. He was a city cat before his adoption and I also lived in the city his first two years with me. Even though we moved this way in 2022 it still seems like a new experience to him every day. He can intensely watch for hours with 1000% focus.
My mom had a critical illness in August 2024 and December 2024 and it was a big change for Sterling to share time with my mom. Also we switched apartments (same community but bigger space and different view) in January 2025 in part to be able to have my mom visit more often.
He had several closely timed events this Spring which I’ll explain below. It seems to be a real thicket of interrelated events from the end of March to now. There was always some self-healing which seemed to put him back on track without meds/interventions, and mixed signals, so he did not get his vet visit until June 6th, when a mouth swelling/mass was found.
(1) Bad batch of kibble that was very hard and potentially caused unseen abrasions around March 28th. I examined his mouth right afterward. Photo of his mouth on this afternoon shows very healthy looking gums and teeth, can’t see under tongue but it the tongue looks normally positioned and everything looks good. We found out weeks afterward on Reddit that other pet owners learned there was an unannounced formula change to this brand.
(2) He had possible mouth contact with ants in our kitchen around April 28th, and muzzle/mouth/gum swelling starts and waxes and wanes for days ahead. I accidentally touched these ants while trying to collect them up, and got a burning sting on my hand.
(3) Gum swelling with small pinpoint “cold sores.”
(4) Seasonal allergies with swelling of sinuses (typical this time of year for both me and Sterling.) He took Zyrtec daily from 2023-2025 especially to manage skin itch from seasonal allergies, but I stopped giving it during this illness. Skin itch has not returned since stopping the Zyrtec.
(5) Upper respiratory infection around May 15th that lasted for three days with lethargy, sickly odor from mucus/drool. There were enough signs of self-healing that I waited an extra day before scheduling a vet, and in that day Sterling appeared to be quickly moving back toward health. Symptoms except gum swelling resolved by May 20th.
(6) Noticed he was not closing his mouth fully, and an increase in muzzle/mouth swelling, around June 1st, and a new round of sickly odor from mucus and drool coming from mouth. Thick mucus collects in his mouth overnight and makes his morning eating very uncomfortable. Took the first available appointment with our family vet. I switched him from 50% dry/50% wet food to entirely wet food, mainly pate.
(7) On June 6th the veterinarian found a lump rising from the floor of his mouth that reduced his ability to eat normally. After only a brief visual exam, she provided a “worst case scenario” diagnosis and really gave no guidance or differentials. She gave Convenia in case the odor was a secondary infection. We left the office shocked and heartbroken. She scheduled him for a biopsy in her office but provided no information about what that even means.
(8) I noticed the pate had a tacky texture that was easily getting stuck in the gap between the swelling and the teeth, where he can not sweep it with his tongue, and making his breath worse. I started about a weeklong transition away from pate and toward whole foods (cooked chicken cut into the size of chunks that are easiest for him, and canned tuna.)
(9) On June 13th we found a local vet with a reputation for thorough clinical exams and oncology experience, and got a second opinion. She concurred with the first vet but wanted us to get a consult and CT scan at an oral surgeon before any decisions about biopsy or next steps. Unfortunately she did not seem to see any link between the string of events and this swelling/lump. To my surprise she did not volunteer any information about differential diagnoses. In the week preceding I researched everything I could about squamous cell carcinomas and other disorders of the mouth, and I asked about multiple medications and about differentials. She had reservations about every treatment and about every differential. She prescribed Prednisolone and GABA. Sterling showed me he has no intention of taking Prednisolone. We had GABA once before for his nail trims and I would not want to give him that ever again and especially since BEAM is good and pain is not evident (or if pain is present under my radar, it must be very transient). She gave a second Convenia because she thought mouth odor was starting to return. She gave rabies vax (his previous 1 year was 6.10.2024) which would be needed in order to see the oral surgeon. FVRCP was a 3-year given 6.10.2024, and FLP was discontinued after one dose in 2020.
(10) My acupuncturist friend in Chicago talked with me by phone and suggested Silicea 30C. We started this 6/11. I can not say for sure if it is the reason, but his jaw swelling, muzzle swelling, and overall presentation, are all much improved by 6/18. She also suggested TCM herbs which I obtained but Sterling will not consume.
(11) Currently he must keep his mouth ajar some due to the lump, but I even think this has improved to an extent. His tongue sometimes must sit an angle due to the lump to one side, but during less bothersome times his tongue sits flat - I can't help but think the lump shifts in position and waxes and wanes in size? The lump is still giving him lots of eating discomfort but he does not seem to be in pain. The lump is more bothersome from wake-up (9am) through mid-afternoon. It is not completely unproblematic but he seems to eat much more easily from 5pm through bedtime (2am). Mild diluted bleeding (a few small spots) visible on his plate on the first meal of the day but not after that.
(12) I researched and found Apis 30C and began that yesterday 6/18 in place of Silicea.
(13) We are scheduled to see the oral surgeon for a consult next week. I am prepared to move forward with a CT, Biopsy, and any dental causes like an abscess. I would consider her thoughts on other conservative surgical options - best case scenario, is this a salivary mucocele that can be drained? We also have a consult at the state university veterinary center scheduled in July, where, if it does happen to be SCC, I hope they will be more willing to discuss modern meds (Torigen, Piroxicam, Palladia). An even better scenario is if homeopathy, TCM herbs, Reiki, acupuncture, can all help to reduce this lump and support the self-healing process. He gets lots of Reiki and lots of love every day.
I wrote out answers to the other questions, but I thought this was already a lot of sharing and might cover most of it. Let me know if you’d like more, and I’ll send it along. I also have photos I can send including a June 6th view of the lump.
I am so confused about whether to continue down the traditional medicine track (although CT, biopsy, and dental do seem to be rational choices) or to seek out a much more holistic approach, but I am not sure where to turn. Our family vet (the first appointment) states she is a holistic vet and has had a positive reputation for decades in the community for that work, but she offered no real support when we saw her (and I am under-stating that!) I think I agree with the Convenia injections after taking time to learn more about it (and especially since Sterling resists pills) and I think it did help, but I also felt concerned that neither vet presented options or asked me to opt in for the Convenia - they just gave it (good outcome but not a good process.)
Thanks so much for your thoughts! All your guidance is welcome. I am grateful to have found you!
My gray cat Sterling had an almost perfectly healthy first five years with me. Now we have the biggest tangle. He has one high swelling or mass, with two smaller ones, that are apparently from the floor of his mouth. He does not seem to have pain, but he has a great amount of discomfort eating, especially in the mornings. He has refused all medications and TCM herbs no matter how I have tried. The only supports he has been accepting are homeopathics in water or in “tuna water.” Today while drinking his tuna water, his homeopathic pellets got stuck on the side of his mouth where he can not sweep his tongue (between the swelling and the teeth) and made him very uncomfortable (he abandons his plate/bowl when this happens) and I am trying to find other ways to give him homeopathics - maybe a water treated with pellets in a cup, and then poured into his bowl without the pellets?
Sterling is athletic, bright, soft, and strong! On the whole his BEAM is great and has not wavered. He is as curious and nice as always right now, but is sleeping a lot more, taking in less/different food because of the functional disturbance, and can’t enjoy playing with his mice or any other mouth toys. He thoroughly enjoys watching birds, chipmunks, and wafting smells from creatures in the distance. He is fully indoors but we moved to an apartment near a woods and creek. He was a city cat before his adoption and I also lived in the city his first two years with me. Even though we moved this way in 2022 it still seems like a new experience to him every day. He can intensely watch for hours with 1000% focus.
My mom had a critical illness in August 2024 and December 2024 and it was a big change for Sterling to share time with my mom. Also we switched apartments (same community but bigger space and different view) in January 2025 in part to be able to have my mom visit more often.
He had several closely timed events this Spring which I’ll explain below. It seems to be a real thicket of interrelated events from the end of March to now. There was always some self-healing which seemed to put him back on track without meds/interventions, and mixed signals, so he did not get his vet visit until June 6th, when a mouth swelling/mass was found.
(1) Bad batch of kibble that was very hard and potentially caused unseen abrasions around March 28th. I examined his mouth right afterward. Photo of his mouth on this afternoon shows very healthy looking gums and teeth, can’t see under tongue but it the tongue looks normally positioned and everything looks good. We found out weeks afterward on Reddit that other pet owners learned there was an unannounced formula change to this brand.
(2) He had possible mouth contact with ants in our kitchen around April 28th, and muzzle/mouth/gum swelling starts and waxes and wanes for days ahead. I accidentally touched these ants while trying to collect them up, and got a burning sting on my hand.
(3) Gum swelling with small pinpoint “cold sores.”
(4) Seasonal allergies with swelling of sinuses (typical this time of year for both me and Sterling.) He took Zyrtec daily from 2023-2025 especially to manage skin itch from seasonal allergies, but I stopped giving it during this illness. Skin itch has not returned since stopping the Zyrtec.
(5) Upper respiratory infection around May 15th that lasted for three days with lethargy, sickly odor from mucus/drool. There were enough signs of self-healing that I waited an extra day before scheduling a vet, and in that day Sterling appeared to be quickly moving back toward health. Symptoms except gum swelling resolved by May 20th.
(6) Noticed he was not closing his mouth fully, and an increase in muzzle/mouth swelling, around June 1st, and a new round of sickly odor from mucus and drool coming from mouth. Thick mucus collects in his mouth overnight and makes his morning eating very uncomfortable. Took the first available appointment with our family vet. I switched him from 50% dry/50% wet food to entirely wet food, mainly pate.
(7) On June 6th the veterinarian found a lump rising from the floor of his mouth that reduced his ability to eat normally. After only a brief visual exam, she provided a “worst case scenario” diagnosis and really gave no guidance or differentials. She gave Convenia in case the odor was a secondary infection. We left the office shocked and heartbroken. She scheduled him for a biopsy in her office but provided no information about what that even means.
(8) I noticed the pate had a tacky texture that was easily getting stuck in the gap between the swelling and the teeth, where he can not sweep it with his tongue, and making his breath worse. I started about a weeklong transition away from pate and toward whole foods (cooked chicken cut into the size of chunks that are easiest for him, and canned tuna.)
(9) On June 13th we found a local vet with a reputation for thorough clinical exams and oncology experience, and got a second opinion. She concurred with the first vet but wanted us to get a consult and CT scan at an oral surgeon before any decisions about biopsy or next steps. Unfortunately she did not seem to see any link between the string of events and this swelling/lump. To my surprise she did not volunteer any information about differential diagnoses. In the week preceding I researched everything I could about squamous cell carcinomas and other disorders of the mouth, and I asked about multiple medications and about differentials. She had reservations about every treatment and about every differential. She prescribed Prednisolone and GABA. Sterling showed me he has no intention of taking Prednisolone. We had GABA once before for his nail trims and I would not want to give him that ever again and especially since BEAM is good and pain is not evident (or if pain is present under my radar, it must be very transient). She gave a second Convenia because she thought mouth odor was starting to return. She gave rabies vax (his previous 1 year was 6.10.2024) which would be needed in order to see the oral surgeon. FVRCP was a 3-year given 6.10.2024, and FLP was discontinued after one dose in 2020.
(10) My acupuncturist friend in Chicago talked with me by phone and suggested Silicea 30C. We started this 6/11. I can not say for sure if it is the reason, but his jaw swelling, muzzle swelling, and overall presentation, are all much improved by 6/18. She also suggested TCM herbs which I obtained but Sterling will not consume.
(11) Currently he must keep his mouth ajar some due to the lump, but I even think this has improved to an extent. His tongue sometimes must sit an angle due to the lump to one side, but during less bothersome times his tongue sits flat - I can't help but think the lump shifts in position and waxes and wanes in size? The lump is still giving him lots of eating discomfort but he does not seem to be in pain. The lump is more bothersome from wake-up (9am) through mid-afternoon. It is not completely unproblematic but he seems to eat much more easily from 5pm through bedtime (2am). Mild diluted bleeding (a few small spots) visible on his plate on the first meal of the day but not after that.
(12) I researched and found Apis 30C and began that yesterday 6/18 in place of Silicea.
(13) We are scheduled to see the oral surgeon for a consult next week. I am prepared to move forward with a CT, Biopsy, and any dental causes like an abscess. I would consider her thoughts on other conservative surgical options - best case scenario, is this a salivary mucocele that can be drained? We also have a consult at the state university veterinary center scheduled in July, where, if it does happen to be SCC, I hope they will be more willing to discuss modern meds (Torigen, Piroxicam, Palladia). An even better scenario is if homeopathy, TCM herbs, Reiki, acupuncture, can all help to reduce this lump and support the self-healing process. He gets lots of Reiki and lots of love every day.
I wrote out answers to the other questions, but I thought this was already a lot of sharing and might cover most of it. Let me know if you’d like more, and I’ll send it along. I also have photos I can send including a June 6th view of the lump.
I am so confused about whether to continue down the traditional medicine track (although CT, biopsy, and dental do seem to be rational choices) or to seek out a much more holistic approach, but I am not sure where to turn. Our family vet (the first appointment) states she is a holistic vet and has had a positive reputation for decades in the community for that work, but she offered no real support when we saw her (and I am under-stating that!) I think I agree with the Convenia injections after taking time to learn more about it (and especially since Sterling resists pills) and I think it did help, but I also felt concerned that neither vet presented options or asked me to opt in for the Convenia - they just gave it (good outcome but not a good process.)
Thanks so much for your thoughts! All your guidance is welcome. I am grateful to have found you!
