Case Highlights

 
Mr. Underfoot Goes to the Dentist!

 Mr. Underfoot is a very sweet 4 ½ year old domestic shorthaired cat that presented to our hospital for evaluation. He is a very active kitty that was eating and drinking well, but had been sneezing and wheezing for about one week. The owner suspected an upper respiratory infection but since he wasn’t improving she brought him in to see our doctors. On physical examination he did not have a fever but he sounded very congested in his upper airways and near his sinuses. While examining his mouth we found the source of Mr. Underfoot’s problem…severe dental disease. Cats and dogs are extremely stoic when it comes to mouth pain and the majority will continue to eat even when they have severe dental disease.

Nearly two-thirds of cats are prone to feline oral resorptive lesions (FORL’s), which allow the tooth to be absorbed from the outside in. This lesion is usually secondary to inflammation from dental tartar, but can occur without evidence of any inflammation. FORL’s begin as erosions on the surface of the tooth near the gum line and can be obscured by gum tissue and tartar.

Even though Mr. Underfoot is a very young cat, he had severe resorptive lesions, gingivitis, tartar and bad breath. The constant dental infection had caused abscesses, a secondary sinus infection and significant oral pain…yet Mr. Underfoot continued to eat well through it all.

Mr. Underfoot was started on antibiotics and pain medications, and was scheduled for a dental procedure. His teeth were ultrasonically scaled and probed for any lesions. Any teeth containing FORL’s were extracted since leaving them would be a constant source of pain. The remaining teeth were polished and sealed with Oravet, a product that helps keep tartar from accumulating.

Mr. Underfoot recovered quickly from his 14 extractions. His upper respiratory signs have completely resolved, he continues to eat well and he’s much happier with a clean mouth. Best of all, his mom is pleased that his breath smells so much better!