18/03/2026
A 5-year-old female neutered domestic shorthair cat had a 2-year history of chronic small-bowel diarrhea, for which multiple diagnostic investigations, dietary trials, and medical treatments had been performed without sustained clinical improvement. Despite ongoing gastrointestinal signs, no definitive underlying cause had been identified.
During a subsequent evaluation, attention was directed toward the oral cavity. Comprehensive dental examination, including radiography, revealed severe periodontal disease, characterized by stage 4 periodontal involvement, tooth resorption, missing teeth, and retained root fragments.
Following full dental treatment, including multiple extractions, a marked clinical improvement was observed. Within one month, the diarrhoea had completely resolved, with no concurrent changes in diet, environment, or medical therapy. Clinical remission was sustained, with no recurrence reported over a 7-month follow-up period, alongside improvements in appetite, activity, body condition, and coat quality.
This report represents a single case and does not establish causality; however, it highlights a potential association between chronic oral inflammatory disease and gastrointestinal dysfunction, warranting further investigation into possible systemic and microbiome-mediated interactions.
Case report cited in comments.
