06/05/2026
✨ Patient Spotlight ✨
Everyone meet Leah! She is a 5 year old long haired beauty. She came in to the clinic for an unrelated concern but upon physical examination we happened to notice she had a Feline Odontoclastic Restorative Lesion. She is a tough cookie so her owners were unaware she was dealing with this condition. Her owners immediately scheduled a dental so we could address the problem. During the dental we found an additional affected tooth. Both teeth were successfully removed and Leah should now be much more comfortable.
In feline tooth resorption, the enamel layer and then the dentin in a tooth erodes and eventually becomes irreparably destroyed. Tooth resorption is a common condition in cats where their body starts to break down and absorb the structures of a tooth. It affects 30-70% of all cats.
Once the sensitive dentin is exposed, tooth resorption is painful. Affected cats may show increased salivation, oral bleeding, or difficulty eating. They may hiss or cry if chewing hurts. Owners may notice that the cat’s appetite appears normal but they may tilt their head or try to chew on just one side of their mouth. If eating kibble, they may try to swallow without chewing. In many cases tooth resorption will go undetected and the cat will be in pain in silence.
That’s why it is so important to bring your pet in for its annual physical examination- we are often able to catch issues like these that owners may be unaware of. There are so many conditions that dogs and cats can have that are often found on routine physical examination. If caught early enough, many ailments can be treated and lead to a longer life and improved quality of life for the pet.
Leah is back home with her family and doing well! Leah has the best family and we can tell they love her very much ❤️