Companion Animals

Companion Cat Senior Dental Welfare

Dental care for senior cats and welfare implications of dental disease in elderly animals.

Key Facts

Dental disease causes chronic oral pain in the majority of senior cats
Senior cats often continue eating despite significant dental pain, masking the problem
Anaesthetic dental procedures carry higher risk in elderly cats but are often necessary
Tooth resorption causes significant pain and affects over 50% of cats over 5 years
Pre-operative assessment reduces anaesthetic risk in senior cat dental procedures

Welfare Considerations

Dental disease causes significant chronic suffering in senior cats that is frequently overlooked, and dental assessment and treatment under appropriate anaesthesia is a welfare priority.

What You Can Do

Request dental assessment at every veterinary visit for cats over 7 years
Do not avoid dental treatment out of anaesthetic fear without specialist assessment
Provide dental diets and water additives as preventive support for senior cats