February is Dental Month!

Call to Make your Appointment! 

During the month of February you will receive a 10% discount on the dental portion of your visit. 

Then Importance of Feline oral Health

In a recent health status survey of more than 31,000 dogs and 15,000 cats examined at the US veterinary clinics, the most commonly reported disorder were dental calculus and gingivitis.  Yet according to the 2003 AAHA compliance study The Path of High-Quality Care, only 35% of dogs and cats with Grade 2 or highter periodontal disease is often preventable, veterinarians have an excellent opportunity to educate cleints. and improve wellness care for cats by developing an oral healthcare program.

Many common oral diseases, such as feline odontacalstic resorptive lesions (FORLs), are painful and impair quality of life.  Since periodontal disease develops gradually, the cat adapts to the pain and the owner may misinterpret changes as simply "old age. "  Often the impact of dental disease is not evident until the owner notices dramactic improvement after treatment.

Human dentistry is increasingly recognizing the potential systemic risks assoiated with periodontal disease such as cardiovascular disease and bacterial pneumonia.  People with diabetes mellitus are 15 times more likely to have tooth loss than those without diabetes.  The increased risk appears to be due to several factors, including and impaired host defense against bacterial infection.  Cats with diabetes mellitus often have periodontal disease; the management plan for a ca with poor glycemic control must include managing periodontal disease.

The majority of periodontal pathogen are gram-negative bacteria.  In addition to local inflammatory response causing periodontitis, systemic bacteremia or endotoxemia with elaboration of imflammatory mediators may occur.  Target organs that may sutain damage include the liver, kidneys and lungs.  While little research has been conducted in the cat, evidence from other species, particulary humans and dogs, would appear to vaidate concerns.

Oral disease may also be a marker for more serious systemic disease in cats.  In a 2006 nationwide study conducted by IDEXX Laboratories of 8,982 cats with oral diease, 14.2% were retrovirus positive, much higher than the general population rate of abouth 3%.  Knowing the cat's retrovirus status is essential for optimal assessment, wellness management ant treatment.

Susan Little, DVM, DABVP (Feline)  Winn Feline Foundation