Objective
To improve the well-being of cats suffering from chronic feline gingivostomatitis by determining the effectiveness of acupuncture in improving their quality of life (particularly in terms of pain levels, inflammation, appetite, grooming habits, and weight).

Background
Chronic feline gingivostomatitis is an inflammatory disease of the oral mucosa, affecting up to 26% of domestic cats. The complete etiology is not yet fully understood, although it is known to be a multifactorial disease, often associated with feline calicivirus. and multi-cat environments. Therapy is based on surgical extractions (total or subtotal/canine and incisor sparing, depending on the extent of rostral mucosal inflammation and other patient and client factors). Previous studies indicate that 60 to 80% of cats show significant improvement or resolution of clinical signs after dental extractions, within weeks to a few months post-surgery. The degree of improvement can range from complete remission to a substantial reduction in symptoms. Throughout the postoperative period, pain management is a crucial aspect of patient well-being, as this disease is associated with very high levels of pain, and the treatment itself involves acute (surgical) pain on top of the pre-existing chronic pain. In our clinical experience in dentistry and chronic pain management, we have encountered patients who, despite appropriate surgical treatment and seemingly adequate pharmacological pain management, did not eat sufficiently, resisted handling, and showed signs of ongoing pain. In these cases, a few acupuncture sessions proved effective in addressing these issues (normalisation of behaviour and physical condition, weight gain, acceptance of oral examination). In human medicine, acupuncture is used as part of treatments for chronic pain, mental health/well-being, and various disorders affecting the neurological, digestive, and immune systems. In veterinary medicine and specifically for the treatment of feline chronic gingivostomatitis, there is only anecdotal evidence and limited empirical data. The use of acupuncture may be of particular interest as an adjunct or alternative to administration of multiple medications over prolonged periods, which may prove difficult in cats. To extend a general recommendation to integrate acupuncture into the standard protocol for managing feline chronic gingivostomatitis, we need rigorous and systematic studies to demonstrate a direct link between acupuncture and improvements in chronic pain, quality of life, appetite, etc. in these patients.

Methods
26 cats were randomly assigned to a standard treatment group (total extractions and post operative pain management) and an acupuncture group (receiving total extractions, post operative pain management and 4 weekly acupuncture sessions). The cats were followed for a period of 8 weeks, with weekly examinations in the first 4 weeks. Clients submitted a client specific outcome measures questionnaire to assess quality of life prior to treatment and at the end of the study. Acute pain was assessed at each recheck exam using the Feline Grimace Scale.

Results
This trial is still ongoing at the time of the abstract submission

Conclusion
This trial is still ongoing at the time of the abstract submission