Study Finds Oral Disease in Cats Suggests a More Serious Problem; Dental Health Is a Critical Part of Cat Wellness.

WESTBROOK, Maine -- Most people are not particularly eager to schedule their next dental appointment, however, regular checkups just became much more important - for your cat. A recent study found that cats with common forms of dental disease have a higher rate of testing positive for more serious diseases.

Initial findings in a study of 1,167 cats, conducted by veterinary clinics and underwritten by IDEXX Laboratories, indicated that 13.4% of cats (one in every eight cats) that had some type of oral disease, also tested positive for feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), feline leukemia virus (FeLV), or both diseases. The numbers in this study show that cats with oral diseases are four times more likely to have FIV and FeLV.

Feline immunodeficiency virus and feline leukemia virus are two serious diseases that affect millions of cats. Early detection of these infections is important, because with proper veterinary care cats with FIV or FeLV can live long and healthy lives.

"This study encourages testing cats that present with gingivitis, stomatitis and other oral diseases for FIV and FeLV infection," stated Dr. Jan Bellows, a diplomate of the American Veterinary Dental College and the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners. "FIV- and FeLV-infected cats often present very vague, subtle signs of illness, but once a cat has been identified with one of these diseases, the veterinarian and the pet owner can work together to ensure proper care for the cat. The potential correlation in cats between oral disease and immune systems that are suppressed by FIV or FeLV gives veterinarians valuable new information in their efforts to fight these contagious viruses."

February is National Pet Dental Health Month(a) and a good time for cat owners to think about taking important steps to ensure their pets live longer, healthier lives. As a first step, every cat owner should work with their veterinarian to establish a regular schedule of comprehensive wellness exams, including dental screenings and FIV/FeLV testing.

The American Veterinary Medical Association recommends that cat owners visit their veterinarians twice a year. "So next time you're scheduling that six-month dental check-up for yourself, be sure to make an appointment for your cat as well," added Dr. Bellows.

For more information on dental health, visit www.petdental.com. For more information on FIV and FeLV, visit www.fivtest.com.

(a) Sponsored by the American Veterinary Medical Association