A period of malnourishment during your cat's life may also contribute to poor dental health even if your cat is now living the life of a well-fed Riley. Whatever the reasons for poor dental health, we all know that when we have a toothache or an infection we feel just terrible. Unfortunately, cats rarely show obvious symptoms of poor dental health until it is very advanced. This is why we at The Cat Doctor believe it is so important for your cat to have a thorough annual physical examination, including a dental assesment, each year. Symptoms of dental problems vary from cat to cat.
Bad breath is often a sign of unhealthy teeth and gums.
If your cat is having problems, he may paw at his mouth. He may not to eat with his normal gusto, or in severe cases, he may refuse to eat at all. However, most frequently symptoms of problems go without any notice. As a consequence, your cat can be in substantial pain without your knowledge. We often have owners report to us that, although they noticed nothing out of the ordinary prior to a dental procedure, they observe a positive change in their pet's behavior afterwards as the cat has been relieved of discomfort.