Do you know what the No. 1 disease seen in general veterinary practice is? Do you know what the most underdiagnosed AND untreated disease in veterinary medicine is??? The answer is the same for both questions....periodontal disease!
This disease affects 85% of all cats older than 3, yet only about 1% receive proper dental care, according to the AAHA (American Animal Hospital Association) Compliance Study. And, unfortunately, the diagnosis and control of this disease is the ONE BIG THING that can make a difference in your cat's overall health and well-being.
A veterinarian should always do an assessment of your cat's mouth during his/her regular checkup. (Just imagine what your mouth might feel like if you hadn't brushed your teeth for up to a year.) The levels of dental disease are usually graded from 1 through 4, with 4 being the extreme, with a need for extractions.
You may not realize that periodontal disease plays such a huge part in your cat's overall health. It not only has a strong negative effect on a cat's ability to eat pain-free, but on his/her internal organs, such as the liver, kidneys and heart. Unchecked plaque (just as in your own mouth) can allow harmful bacteria to flourish and grow. This bacteria can then enter the bloodstream through lesions in your cat's gums, and it doesn't always take "advanced" disease for this to happen. Once in the bloodstream, the bacteria travel through the body and can have an extremely harmful impact on your cat's organs.
Sometimes one illustration is worth a thousand words, so I'll share a story from Dr. Schomacker. We know that cats are extremely stoic and do not usually show symptoms of pain, even if they feel really bad. This particular patient was new to our clinic and hadn't seen a veterinarian in some time. The owner apologized for his grumpy behavior, saying that he used to be great to work with, but his age had made him grumpy. Dr. Schomacker wasn't concerned, she's used to unhappy patients, however, a bit of anesthetic gas was necessary for her to thoroughly examine him. Dr. Schomacker found that he had severe periodontal disease and needed some extractions. The owner felt bad that she hadn't realized he needed anything, and promptly made the appointment for the dental on the next morning.
The procedure was done and the owner scheduled his follow-up exam. When the owner came in for the follow-up, Dr. Schomacker was prepared to have to anesthetize Mr. Grumpy again (although we hate doing this for follow-ups). Dr. Schomacker entered the exam room expecting the worst, and what did she find. Mr. Grumpy had turned into Mr. Sweetie. He was walking around the exam room, tail in the air, and immediately walked over to rub up against Dr. Schomacker's legs. The difference in attitude? He was no longer in, what must have been, terrible pain! She examined him with no problems at all.
This story speaks for itself. If your kitty hasn't had a thorough oral examination in the past year, do him/her a favor and make an appontment today. You will thank yourself, and most of all, your faithful companion will be grateful to you in the long run. This visit may just enable them to return to the playful kitten they used to be. Most important, your cat will be living a healthier, happier life.
Cheryl Waterman, CVPM
Hospital Administrator
This disease affects 85% of all cats older than 3, yet only about 1% receive proper dental care, according to the AAHA (American Animal Hospital Association) Compliance Study. And, unfortunately, the diagnosis and control of this disease is the ONE BIG THING that can make a difference in your cat's overall health and well-being.
A veterinarian should always do an assessment of your cat's mouth during his/her regular checkup. (Just imagine what your mouth might feel like if you hadn't brushed your teeth for up to a year.) The levels of dental disease are usually graded from 1 through 4, with 4 being the extreme, with a need for extractions.
You may not realize that periodontal disease plays such a huge part in your cat's overall health. It not only has a strong negative effect on a cat's ability to eat pain-free, but on his/her internal organs, such as the liver, kidneys and heart. Unchecked plaque (just as in your own mouth) can allow harmful bacteria to flourish and grow. This bacteria can then enter the bloodstream through lesions in your cat's gums, and it doesn't always take "advanced" disease for this to happen. Once in the bloodstream, the bacteria travel through the body and can have an extremely harmful impact on your cat's organs.
Sometimes one illustration is worth a thousand words, so I'll share a story from Dr. Schomacker. We know that cats are extremely stoic and do not usually show symptoms of pain, even if they feel really bad. This particular patient was new to our clinic and hadn't seen a veterinarian in some time. The owner apologized for his grumpy behavior, saying that he used to be great to work with, but his age had made him grumpy. Dr. Schomacker wasn't concerned, she's used to unhappy patients, however, a bit of anesthetic gas was necessary for her to thoroughly examine him. Dr. Schomacker found that he had severe periodontal disease and needed some extractions. The owner felt bad that she hadn't realized he needed anything, and promptly made the appointment for the dental on the next morning.
The procedure was done and the owner scheduled his follow-up exam. When the owner came in for the follow-up, Dr. Schomacker was prepared to have to anesthetize Mr. Grumpy again (although we hate doing this for follow-ups). Dr. Schomacker entered the exam room expecting the worst, and what did she find. Mr. Grumpy had turned into Mr. Sweetie. He was walking around the exam room, tail in the air, and immediately walked over to rub up against Dr. Schomacker's legs. The difference in attitude? He was no longer in, what must have been, terrible pain! She examined him with no problems at all.
This story speaks for itself. If your kitty hasn't had a thorough oral examination in the past year, do him/her a favor and make an appontment today. You will thank yourself, and most of all, your faithful companion will be grateful to you in the long run. This visit may just enable them to return to the playful kitten they used to be. Most important, your cat will be living a healthier, happier life.
Cheryl Waterman, CVPM
Hospital Administrator
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