Recognize and treat FORL in cats
FORL - These signs point to it
Cats are often real fighters. They often don't let on for a long time when something is wrong with them - unfortunately. Diseases such as FORL (feline odontoclastic-resorptive lesion) in particular are not accessible to laypeople to recognize at first glance what a long history of suffering means for the affected cats can. It is all the more important that you as a cat owner can recognize the hidden signs and interpret them correctly. You can recognize a cat with a toothache by changes in behavior:
- In particular, cold food is no longer accepted, and complete refusal of food is also possible.
- The cat's withdrawal and an increased need for rest
- When the cat bites dry food, it is frightened by its own sensations (pain).
- The affected cat often holds its head to the side.
- Chattering noises of the jaw
- The cat chews on one side, i.e. only with one half of the jaw.
- Increased salivation when eating
- Strong bad breath
Purring, the cat jumps onto the bed in the morning and struts unerringly towards the head of the...
If you notice one or more of these characteristics in your cat, you should have your cat examined by a doctor. These are the typical symptoms of FORL. Your veterinarian will then discuss the next steps with you. There is usually no way around the fact that the affected teeth have to be removed from the jaw.
Diagnosis and treatment for FORL
Since it is not always easy for veterinary professionals to see FORL teeth with the naked eye For a reliable diagnosis, imaging procedures, i.e. x-rays of the jaw, are required. necessary. Veterinarians can tell from the recordings whether they are dealing with FORL. From the outside, diseased teeth often look completely inconspicuous for a long time.
Once the diagnosis has been confirmed, the next step is to have the affected teeth extracted under general anesthesia to restore the cat's quality of life. Despite the after-effects of the operation, the affected cat looks like a new person afterward, and above all, she has Then she enjoys contacts more again and seeks to be close to you, although until recently she was rather withdrawn has.
This shows how painful the FORL disease must have been before.
After tooth removal - life goes on
Since FORL is not limited to one tooth, but affects many teeth, some are missing after dental surgery. There is no other way to relieve the cat's pain. The cat often has only a few or no teeth left afterwards. What at first glance appears to be bad news does not present itself as a problem in the cat's everyday life. Of course you have to adjust the feeding; You can then only offer dry food soaked. Or you can switch to wet food that doesn't need to be chewed.
Prognosis and life expectancy
Do not worry. After the operation, your cat will quickly find its way back to everyday life. Your cat will quickly learn to live without teeth. The life expectancy is constant because the cat is cared for as a pet and does not necessarily have to get its own food.
Your cat has gained more than it has lost from tooth removal - even if it did Although many of her teeth were removed, she has a pain-free life and a high quality of life recovered.
