A male domestic shorthair cat's mouth is depicted above, before (left) and after treatment.  

Between three and five percent of cats show signs of feline chronic gingivo-stomatitis (FCGS), according to Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. A recent study suggests relief.

Researchers at the University of California, Davis (UC Davis) School of Veterinary Medicine recently completed a clinical trial that used a novel stem cell therapy treatment to counteract FCGS.

The results were published in the journal Stem Cells Translational Medicine on Nov. 18.

The patent-pending technique involves taking a cat’s own fat-derived stem cells, processing and characterizing them, and then giving them back intravenously to reduce inflammation and promote tissue regeneration. The study also identified a potentially useful biomarker that could determine if cats will respond to stem cell treatment.

“This is the first study to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of using this type of stem cell therapy for a naturally occurring, chronic inflammatory disease in cats,” said the study’s lead author, Boaz Arzi, DVM, DAVDC, DEVDC, and Assistant Professor at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine.

Photo credit: University of California, Davis