Dentistry
Dental disease is a common finding during your kitty’s wellness exam. Symptoms associated with dental disease are easily missed in cats since they hide their pain so well. The diagnosis is made when your veterinarian examines your cat’s mouth during a wellness exam.
Left untreated, this inflammation (also known as periodontal disease) leads to:
- Decreased quality of life
- Decreased appetite and weight loss
- Tooth loss due to loss of supporting tissues around teeth
- Distant organ (e.g., liver, kidneys, heart valves) damage from bacterial infection
- Adverse behaviors caused by pain
What is periodontal disease? Periodontal disease (POD) is a progressive and irreversible loss of the support structures surrounding the teeth. POD is the most common cause of inflammation in pets’ mouths and affects at least 75% of pets over 2 years of age. Early treatment is best to prevent pain, tooth loss and expensive treatmen