Cats can be less tolerant of having their teeth brushed which can pose a challenge to preventative care. Cats are prone to dental disease like dogs; however, they also have a few species-specific problems.
Cats can get periodontal disease. This is where plaque will build- up and over time, will form a hard coating on teeth called calculus. Plaque and calculus contain bacteria, which leads to inflammation of the gums called gingivitis. Gingivitis is painful and gums may bleed easily. Gingivitis can lead to gum recession and pockets can form exposing the roots and causing the tooth to become mobile. Exposed roots will also be painful and can become infected.
Cats are good at hiding dental pain and we often hear “my cat can’t be in pain as they are still eating” however, a cat will rarely stop eating due to oral pain.Signs of dental conditions and pain in cats include pawing at their mouth, drooling, dropping food when eating, teeth grinding, smelly breath, reduced grooming, hiding or weight loss. However, some cats may continue as normal and show none of these.
A fairly common debilitating condition that cats can get is feline chronic gingivostomatitis (FCGS). It is not 100% certain what causes this, but it is thought to be an inappropriate inflammatory response to plaque in the mouth. Viral disease is also thought to play a role. Cats can present with severe periodontal disease, gingivitis and stomatitis (inflammation of the whole of the inside of the mouth and often back of the throat).
To treat FCGS, cats will usually need either full or partial dental extractions (all teeth except canines and incisors) We appreciate this sounds scary and extreme, but it is the one thing we can do to make them more comfortable and improve their quality of life. Many patients have had positive outcomes with this treatment with owners being surprised at how playful and bright their cat has become once we take away the source of their pain! Cats can still eat well after the extractions and usually more comfortably than with a painful mouth.
Meet Vos!
Vos had partial dental extractions in August 2024, she has her lower canines and incisors remaining. Here is what her lovely owner had to say of her experience:
“After rescuing our two year old cat it became clear fairly quickly that she had some dental issues; as she was scooping her food and not chewing it, and her breath was always terrible…which was ever obvious as she’s really affectionate and loves to stand on your shoulders and lick your cheek! We came in to Hollybank to see what we could do and discovered she had gingivitis. After trying some gum gel it became clear that this was not working and she was uncomfortable all the time so it was best to remove her teeth. I felt slightly apprehensive at her losing most of her teeth so young; but it was absolutely the best decision for her, especially as once able to better look at her teeth under anaesthetia it was discovered she had a further condition called FORL. We brought her home the same day a bit confused from the anaesthetic, but a day or so was all it took for her to bounce back and she’s so much happier now. No longer in pain, no longer smelly, and does everything she always did-including still eating dry food without issue. She also seems to have less stomach issues. It’s quite a relief to know our hilarious little house mate is living pain free and can be her best self.”
Another dental condition we will often see in cats are feline odontoclastic resorptive lesions (FORLS).
These are seen on the crown of the tooth, which will usually look like a pink fleshy lesion on the tooth, however, a lot of the disease is happening under the gums at the roots. The roots are often eroding away and we will see this on an x-ray. If the resorption is advanced then the crown of the tooth may be affected and teeth can be broken, or roots completely missing. Sometimes if a FORL has gone unnoticed and the crown of the tooth has broken off, it may just look like the cat is missing a tooth as the gum may have grown back over any root left behind. Teeth that show these lesions will need to be extracted as they are painful, and signs of pain may be the same as described in the previous paragraph.
Although we do not fully understand what causes these conditions in cats, it is thought that plaque buildup and inflammation in the mouth can contribute, so dental hygiene at home can help to prevent these issues alongside regular dental checks with our vets and nurses.
Please do not hesitate to contact us to book an oral care clinic or vet appointment on 01606880890 or 01606 717969
