How Do I Know if My Cat Needs Dental Surgery?

February 16th, 2022

With February being “Pet Dental Health Month,” there’s no better time to contact your trusted team at All About Cats Veterinary Hospital to schedule your feline friend’s dental visit. Keeping up with routine dental care will prevent a host of oral health problems down the road.

Does Your Cat Require Dental Surgery?

There are many reasons why your furry companion might require dental surgery, the most common of which is tooth extraction. Signs your pet’s dental health is not where it needs to be include stinky breath, red gums, and yellow teeth. Left untreated, dental problems can progress, with devastating effects on your cat’s well-being and overall quality of life.

If you notice any of the above symptoms or see that your cat’s in pain, contact our office for a dental exam. If our team uncovers any dental health concerns, we’ll discuss your cat’s best treatment options.

What Are Some Conditions Requiring Cat Tooth Extraction?

Here are the most common reasons your cat may require tooth extraction:

Periodontal (Gum) Disease: Approximately 70 percent of cats suffer from gum disease by age 3. Without regular dental cleanings, plaque can build up, leading to irritated gums, bleeding, and swelling. If not treated, periodontal disease can lead to bad breath, pus in the gums, deterioration of the jaw bone, and tooth loss. The infection can also enter the bloodstream, affecting major organs. As the condition advances, extraction may be our only option to safeguard your cat’s oral and overall health.

Tooth Resorption: This painful condition typically results from biological processes that gradually destroy the tooth structure. The lesions sometimes resemble cavities, which aren’t very common in felines. The affected teeth will likely need extraction down the road.

Tooth Fractures: As our feline friends age, their teeth become weak and may fracture. Cat teeth with fractures reaching the dentin or pulp tissue are very painful and at risk of becoming infected or developing abscesses. Extracting a fractured tooth will provide the needed relief and prevent serious complications.

Stomatitis: This painful and debilitating condition develops due to a feline’s immune system reacting to periodontal disease-causing bacteria. The typical symptoms are ulceration or inflammation of the soft tissues in your cat’s mouth. Some cats respond to treatment and oral hygiene care. However, the most effective way to treat stomatitis is to remove all the teeth.

What Are Other Common Cat Dental Surgeries?

Aside from dental extractions, we may recommend dental surgery to repair oral defects or jaw fractures. We may also recommend cat dental surgery to remove oral tumors, which, if malignant, have a great chance of positive outcomes when treatment is started early on.

Cat Dental Care You Can Trust in Kirkland, WA

We encourage you to keep up with your cat’s routine dental care to allow your trusted veterinarians at All About Cats Veterinary Hospital to identify dental problems in their earliest stages when easiest to treat. If, however, your feline friend requires dental surgery, you can always count on our team for purr-fectly compassionate care!