March 1, 2008 "Ask Seth"

Dear Seth,

For the past 2 years in a row, my Veterinarian has recommended that
my cat Sylvester gets dentistry. He said in the oral exam that Sylvester has periodontal disease and asked if "Sly" has had some food preference. I have noticed that he has not been eating as much hard food and wanting more soft food. Is dentistry needed? Does he need full anesthesia for this procedure? Why can't I just brush the teeth myself?

Joy from Utah

Joy,

Sylvester probably has been choosing the softer food because of the periodontal disease. The disease can cause pain and discomfort in the mouth including the teeth, gums, tongue and even signal some behavioral changes. The dentistry will remove all the plaque and tarter that is on the teeth. These are bacteria that cause the irritation in the mouth. This procedure requires anesthesia so the dentistry can be preformed properly. After this is done then you can add at home dental care that will include brushing the teeth daily and dental treats that will assist in keeping the teeth free of plaque build up.

Seth Mayersohn, CVT