Types of Severe Periodontal Diseases in Cats

Periodontal bacteria can enter the bloodstream and damage the cat's kidneys. cat image by Dwight Davis from Fotolia.com

"Disease processes occur in the mouth more than anywhere else in a cat's body," says Dr. Arnold Plotnick of Manhattan Cat Specialists. Periodontal disease is caused by an overgrowth of plaque on the cat's teeth that mineralizes into tartar, called calculus. As the feline's body fights the plaque's bacterial toxins, its gums swell and recede, resulting in bone infection and loss. There is only one type of periodontal disease, and it progresses through four separate grades of severity.

Grade 1

The lowest level of feline periodontal disease severity is Grade 1, which is reversible if treated properly. Symptoms of Grade 1 include mild amounts of plaque on the feline's teeth and mild redness of its gums. Cats suffering from Grade 1 do not have any teeth or bone loss. Treatment for Grade 1 includes a professional dental cleaning by a veterinarian and daily tooth brushing at home.

Grade 2

Grade 2 is the next phase of periodontal disease. It consists of the same plaque and redness affecting the cat's teeth and gums as in Grade 1, but with Grade 2, plaque forms below the gum line and the gums begin to swell. Grade 2 requires the same professional teeth cleaning, known as prophylaxis, used for Grade 1. The vet will anesthetize the feline and flush the cat's mouth with an antibacterial solution. The vet also removes the plaque and resulting calculus with an ultrasonic scaler.

Grade 3

Grade 3 periodontal disease is the first phase of irreversible periodontal disease. Cats with this suffer from subgingival calculus (plaque underneath the gum line), receding gum lines, swelling and bleeding gums and 10 to 30 percent bone loss in the mouth. To treat Grade 3, your cat's vet will clean the teeth and determine a more extreme course of action depending on the progression of the disease. Invasive treatments for Grade 3 include "root planing and subgingival curettage, periodontal debridement, gingivectomy, periodontal surgery, special therapeutics and tooth extraction," according to PetEducation.com.

Grade 4

The most severe phase of periodontal disease in cats is Grade 4. In addition to the exacerbated symptoms of the other three grades, Grade 4 causes tooth loss and over 30 percent bone loss. Treatment for Grade 4 is the same as that for Grade 3, with at-home care being critical to prevent progression of the disease further. At-home care might include anti-inflammatory and antibiotic medications and daily tooth brushing. The cat may also need a daily topical fluoride or plaque preventative.

References

• Manhattan Cat Specialists: The Importance of Feline Dental Care
• Doctors Foster and Smith Pet Education: Periodontal Disease in Cats
• Doctors Foster and Smith Pet Education: A Comprehensive Dental Care Program for Your Cat