{"id":1740,"date":"2021-08-04T11:56:34","date_gmt":"2021-08-04T11:56:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/institutoveterinariomediterraneo.com\/?p=1740"},"modified":"2025-06-06T12:32:23","modified_gmt":"2025-06-06T12:32:23","slug":"periodontitis-in-cats-symptoms-and-treatments","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/institutoveterinariomediterraneo.com\/en\/2021\/08\/04\/periodontitis-in-cats-symptoms-and-treatments\/","title":{"rendered":"Periodontitis in Cats: Symptoms and Treatments"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Periodontitis, or periodontal disease, is one of the most common conditions in the oral cavity of cats. It is estimated that nearly 80% of cats over the age of three are affected. Periodontitis in cats is the leading cause of tooth loss. However, it is not the only consequence of the disease.<\/p>\n<p>If not treated early, periodontitis can lead to local infections, affect structures near the mouth such as the nasal cavity and eyes, cause diseases in other organs such as the kidneys and heart, and even result in sepsis, which can be fatal due to the rapid spread of bacteria and inflammatory mediators through the animal's bloodstream.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What Is Periodontitis?<\/strong><br \/>\nPeriodontitis <strong>is an inflammatory disease in which bacteria play a fundamental role<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Bacteria naturally exist in the oral cavity and, under normal circumstances, should not pose a problem. However, the accumulation of bacteria over time\u2014together with food particles and saliva\u2014forms a film called dental plaque. This condition arises as a response of the individual\u2019s body to the presence of this plaque.<\/p>\n<p>Periodontitis begins when the bacteria in the mouth form plaque on the surface of the teeth. After a short time, minerals in the saliva bind to the plaque, forming dental calculus (tartar). Bacteria then advance beneath the gums, causing inflammation that, in its early stages, is known as gingivitis.<\/p>\n<p>Once under the gums, bacteria continue to affect the periodontium\u2014the tissue that supports the teeth\u2014leading to the loss of alveolar bone and periodontal ligament. This results in tooth mobility, tooth loss, or abscesses. In advanced stages, it can cause communications with the nasal cavity, eye conditions, or\u2014as previously mentioned\u2014affect other organs and systems.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Symptoms of Periodontitis in Cats<\/strong><br \/>\nPeriodontal disease is progressive and does not present clear clinical symptoms in its early stages. Therefore, diagnosis in felines requires a thorough veterinary examination under anesthesia.<\/p>\n<p>However, there are <strong>some signs that may alert us to feline periodontitis<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<p>\u00b7 Halitosis (bad breath)<br \/>\n\u00b7 Gum inflammation and\/or bleeding<br \/>\n\u00b7 Difficulty chewing<br \/>\n\u00b7 Loose teeth<br \/>\n\u00b7 Excessive drooling<br \/>\n\u00b7 Food refusal<\/p>\n<p><strong>Diagnosis of Periodontitis<\/strong><br \/>\nTo provide an accurate diagnosis, a complete oral examination under general anesthesia is necessary, along with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=sf1tpxiesPM\">intraoral X-rays<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Dental radiographs allow us to assess the condition of the root and the supporting structures of the tooth (bone and periodontal ligament), which are difficult to examine through visual inspection alone.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Treatment of Periodontitis<\/strong><br \/>\nTreatment should be prescribed by a veterinarian based on the severity of the disease. In mild cases, it can be managed with at-home dental hygiene.<\/p>\n<p>Moderate disease without periodontium damage may be treated with an intervention to reverse the damage. This treatment typically involves a dental cleaning under general anesthesia. The procedure includes ultrasonic scaling to remove tartar, followed by polishing to eliminate plaque and smooth the tooth surface.<\/p>\n<p>In advanced cases, however, it may be necessary to extract the affected teeth to prevent bacteria from spreading to other organs. There are also periodontal regeneration techniques that can help slow the progression of the disease.<\/p>\n<p><strong>How to Prevent Feline Periodontitis<\/strong><br \/>\nHome dental care and hygiene, <strong>combined with a balanced and controlled diet<\/strong>, is the most effective way to prevent periodontitis.<\/p>\n<p>Dental care should begin early, including daily brushing of your cat\u2019s teeth using specific toothbrushes and toothpaste. If your pet doesn\u2019t tolerate brushing, oral rinses\u2014mainly composed of chlorhexidine\u2014can be used as an alternative.<\/p>\n<p>There are also various commercial foods that help keep plaque and tartar away from your pet's teeth. However, as with human medicine, these products should never replace brushing.<\/p>\n<p>Another highly effective way to prevent this disease is through regular veterinary checkups for a thorough examination of your cat's mouth.<\/p>\n<p>As mentioned, <strong>periodontal disease does not show clear symptoms in its early stages<\/strong>. For this reason, maintaining good oral health and watching for any changes in your cat\u2019s behavior, along with regular veterinary checkups, is essential for early treatment.<\/p>\n<p>Oral cavity health is essential to maintaining an optimal state of health in our cats. At IVeM, we care about their well-being and specialize in oral health. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us <a href=\"https:\/\/institutoveterinariomediterraneo.com\/en\/contact-us\/\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Periodontitis, or periodontal disease, is one of the most common conditions in the oral cavity of cats. It is estimated that nearly 80% of cats over the age of three are affected. Periodontitis in cats is the leading cause of tooth loss. However, it is not the only consequence of the disease. If not treated [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1210,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[121],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1740","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-dentistry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Periodontitis in Cats: Symptoms and Treatments - IVeM Valencia<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/institutoveterinariomediterraneo.com\/en\/2021\/08\/04\/periodontitis-in-cats-symptoms-and-treatments\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Periodontitis in Cats: Symptoms and Treatments - IVeM Valencia\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Periodontitis, or periodontal disease, is one of the most common conditions in the oral cavity of cats. 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