Dental month is a memory, but dental issues still affect cat health. Heidi B. Lobprise, DVM, DAVDC, with Main Street Veterinary Hospital and Dental Clinic, writes about dealing with stomatitis in cats.
Source: Clinician’s Brief, January 2018. (Link)
Stomatitis can refer to any inflammation in the oral cavity, but, clinically, it typically refers to the exaggerated immune response of some cats to minimal accumulations of plaque and calculus. In contrast, when such irritants accumulate on the teeth of relatively normal cats, periodontal disease with loss of tissue (eg, gingiva, bone) may occur.
INSIGHTS: Consider using this article in a veterinary team meeting to help associates and nurses better understand diagnostic and treatment requirements for cats. ALSO, consider making return calls to any pet owner who cancelled a dental appointment during dental month as well as those who received dental services during dental month. Reaching out confirms interest in owners and their pets.
Reaffirm the importance of home dental care. Consider home dental care products from AHD Sponsors Addison Biological Laboratory and Ceva Animal Health.