The FelineVMA is recommending that feline dental care be a team-based, whole-practice approach involving veterinarians, credentialed veterinary technicians, veterinary technician specialists in dentistry, and client-service personnel. The recently released 2025 FelineVMA Feline Oral Health and Dental Care Guidelines provide an evidence-based review of feline oral care, dentistry and dental surgery.
The guidelines also address topics impacting access to care, including empowering caregivers as active participants in their cat’s dental health care and presenting a spectrum of care option to clients that align with their goals and expectations while prioritizing the cat’s quality of life.
“These guidelines reinforce that oral health is central to feline health and well-being,” said Dr. Kelly St. Denis, who co-chaired the guidelines task force. “By aligning veterinary teams and educating caregivers, we can ensure that more cats receive the dental care they need and deserve.”
The guidelines review common feline dental diseases, including their pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment. The diseases covered include:
- Periodontal disease, including tables outlining periodontal disease indices and staging
- Early-onset gingivitis
- Chronic osteitis/alveolitis
- Developmental abnormalities, including a table on classifying malocclusions
- Feline chronic gingivostomatitis
- Tooth resorption, including tables on classifying tooth resorption and treating refractory cases
- Oral and dental trauma, including a table outlining types of trauma and recommended treatment
- Oral masses and growth, including a table outlining types of oral masses in cats
- Miscellaneous conditions
The guidelines also provide practical recommendations regarding many aspects of feline dental care, including:
- Patient assessment, evaluation and documentation: The preanesthetic assessment should include a thorough patient medical history, a nonanesthetized examination, relevant preanesthetic screening tests and assignment of an American Society of Anesthesiologists risk status. Under anesthesia, full-mouth oral radiographs and a more thorough oral exam must be conducted with all findings documented.
- Anesthesia and analgesia: The task force recommends using preanesthetic sedation and pain medication, followed by induction and intubation. Intravenous catheterization and fluid support are critical, as are local and regional blocks. The guidelines oppose anesthesia-free dental procedures.
- Oral and dental surgical care under anesthesia: The guidelines recommend that anesthetized oral exams should begin at 2 years of age for most cats. The task force recommends regularly monitoring body temperature, providing active warming and corneal lubrication, and avoiding spring-loaded mouth gags.
- Analgesia indications: The task force asserts that analgesia is indicated after all surgical procedures. Multimodal analgesia for three to seven days is sufficient for most procedures and cats, with continued monitoring of pain with a validated pain-scoring system such as the Feline Grimace Scale.
Download the complete guidelines at bit.ly/4pucbEX.