Many cats suffer
holes in the teeth where the teeth meet the gums. These
neck lesions, or
FORLS, are intensely
painful.
Cats with bad mouths show
less interest in food. Some approach the food bowl eagerly but then pain overcomes hunger and they leave most of the food. They chew cautiously, drop food from the mouth, or swallow with difficulty. Dribbling, blood-tinged saliva, and bad breath are common.
Reluctance to eat leads to
weight loss.
Tartar builds on the holes and rubs the inside of the cheek causing further pain. Severely affected cats paw their mouths or shake their heads.
The only effective treatment is
extraction of the affected teeth under general anaesthesia.
Most people comment that their cat is much
happier and more relaxed afterward. The short-lived pain of extraction is much less severe than the chronic and intense pain of the tooth neck lesions. We can prevent the pain of extraction but not the pain of neck lesions.
The cause of neck lesions is unknown. However,
good dental health and a
healthy diet help preserve teeth as long as possible.
Regular veterinary checks reveal and treat neck lesions early.
Chunks of
meat and small bones such as gravy beef, rabbit or chicken carcasses, kangaroo, chop bones or chicken thighs encourage chewing and prevent the build-up of plaque and tartar.
Greenies are a palatable treat that clean the teeth as well. A bowlful of
special dental foods such as
Royal Canin dental or
Hills t/d several times a week prevent dental disease.
Chewing meat and dental biscuits stimulates the
production of saliva, which contains natural antibacterial substances, and scrapes plaque and tartar from the teeth.
Calicivirus vaccination helps prevent gingivitis.
