Black Gums in Cats

There are many reasons why a cat's gums may turn black, some of which are caused by diseases that require treatment, and some are normal phenomena directly related to diet. It may be related to gum bleeding, trauma, food being too hard, inflammation, coagulation abnormalities, or melanoma, which protrudes from the gum surface, mostly benign, and can be surgically removed.

Causes of Black Gums

There are several reasons for black stuff on a cat's gums. The food cats eat can be black, sticking to their gums, so there will be black stuff on the cat's gums. The food cats usually eat contains more melanin, and when cats absorb these melanins, they will cause pigment deposition, leading to black stuff on the cat's gums.

Symptoms of Gingivitis

Cats get gingivitis due to the proliferation of oral bacteria, mainly manifesting as pain while chewing food, redness and swelling around the gums. Severe cases can affect a cat's eating. It is recommended to take oral antibiotics, and also use an antiseptic oral spray on the affected area at scheduled times. Generally, after about a week of treatment, the condition will improve. After the gingivitis has fully recovered, regular oral examinations should be paid attention to.

Treatment of Gingivitis

When treating cat gingivitis, consider the following situations: infectious diseases such as feline calicivirus, feline immunodeficiency disease, and feline AIDS that can cause gingivitis; primary gingivitis; treatment can include antibacterial and anti-inflammatory agents, analgesics, reducing gum damage, antiviral agents, and in severe cases, nasogastric tubes or complete tooth extraction may be necessary.