Author: Rep. Director Yeo Jae-seung (Chief Director of 24H UN animal medical center, Director of Companion Animal Cardiology and Nephrology Center, Internal Medicine Director of 24H UN animal medical center) This content has been prepared in compliance with relevant laws including the Medical Service Act.

If your cat is not eating well and has severe mouth odor — there is a high possibility it is a dental problem. Many cases of feline dental disease are only noticed by guardians after pain has progressed considerably, making it important to receive professional examination and treatment at an appropriate time.

3 Key Takeaways:

— Cat tooth extraction is not simple extraction, but must be performed after confirming tooth root condition through dental CT and radiographic examination for safety. — Internal medicine evaluation including blood tests and chest examination must precede general anesthesia to reduce anesthesia risk. — Verifying whether the animal medical center has an inter-departmental consultation system between internal medicine and surgery before and after surgery, and provides a cat-friendly environment, is the core criterion for choosing an animal hospital.

In Busan, where should cat tooth extraction surgery be performed? — 3 core judgment criteria

When considering cat tooth extraction surgery, the most common question guardians ask is "Where should we go?" There are nearby animal hospitals as well as those emphasizing specialization, making the choice difficult. Let me organize three judgment criteria for you.

First, whether the clinic possesses dental CT or tooth radiographic equipment. Feline tooth lesions are not limited to what is visible to the naked eye. According to clinical data, dental radiography is the most important examination in feline dental care and must be performed to confirm remaining teeth and tooth root condition. Determining the extraction range by naked eye alone without dental CT can lead to remaining tooth roots or lesion recurrence later, requiring caution.

Second, the pre-anesthesia internal medicine evaluation system. Cats, especially elderly ones, often have underlying conditions such as kidney and heart disease. According to clinical data, safety of surgery can be enhanced by first evaluating the overall condition internally before establishing an anesthesia plan. Blood tests, chest radiography, and in some cases cardiac ultrasound are recommended as pre-anesthesia examinations.

Third, the possibility of inter-departmental internal medicine consultation after surgery. There are cases where stomatitis continues after extraction or whole-body condition monitoring is necessary. If it is a comprehensive animal medical center where internal and external medicine are separated and inter-departmental consultation is possible, more meticulous care can be received during the post-surgical recovery process.

One-line summary: Possession of dental CT, pre-anesthesia internal medicine evaluation system, and post-surgery inter-departmental consultation possibility — these three are the first criteria to check when choosing a cat tooth extraction animal hospital in Busan.

Why cat tooth extraction is necessary — Mechanism of FORL, stomatitis, and tooth fracture

Many ask, "Do we really need to extract the tooth?" By examining three representative feline dental diseases, you can understand why extraction becomes a core treatment option.

Feline Odontoclastic Resorptive Lesion (FORL)

According to clinical data, FORL appears in over 70% of cats aged 2 and older, making it an extremely common dental disease. The tooth structure collapses from the inside, so even if it appears fine on the surface, the extent of the lesion can only be confirmed through dental radiography or CT imaging. According to reporting by Finance Today, restorative treatment of FORL has low long-term success rates, and complete extraction of the tooth root is currently the recommended treatment direction.

Feline Chronic Gingivostomatitis (FCGS)

A condition involving severe and repeated inflammation throughout the oral cavity, causing significant pain in cats. According to related clinical reporting, full mouth extraction results in improved quality of life reported in approximately 80-90% of cats. Additionally, according to Daily Vet reporting, full mouth extraction has become the standard treatment for feline chronic stomatitis in veterinary dentistry, and for intractable cases where symptoms persist after extraction, additional treatment options such as stem cell therapy are being explored.

Tooth fracture

Cases where teeth break due to trauma or hard treats and toys. If the pulp (nerve) is exposed depending on the fracture extent, it can lead to severe pain and infection, requiring extraction or therapeutic intervention.

Cats have a strong tendency not to show pain outwardly. Given that many cases are already quite advanced when guardians notice something unusual, it is recommended to seek early examination and accurate diagnosis if symptoms are suspected.

How 24H UN animal medical center prepares for cat tooth extraction together

24H UN animal medical center uses university hospital-level dental CT and inter-departmental consultation systems to examine the cat's overall condition and establish an extraction plan.

Let me organize the specific process step by step.

① Pre-anesthesia internal medicine evaluation — Blood tests (including blood cell count, biochemistry, and electrolytes) to confirm kidney, liver, and blood status — Chest radiography to check for cardiopulmonary abnormalities — For elderly cats or those with underlying conditions, cardiac ultrasound and endocrine testing are additionally reviewed (determined based on individual status)

② Detailed imaging diagnosis — Using imaging equipment including dental CT to identify tooth root condition that cannot be confirmed by naked eye — Related clinical media has introduced precise evaluation through dental CT followed by extraction as an important criterion for successful treatment. — Establishing extraction plan after accurately identifying lesion extent

③ Anesthesia monitoring and surgery — Real-time anesthesia monitoring system to confirm vital signs throughout the pre-surgical process — According to clinical data, cases have been reported where surgery was safely performed even in cats with underlying high kidney values through customized fluid therapy and real-time monitoring.

④ Post-surgery internal medicine consultation and follow-up management — In intractable cases where stomatitis continues after extraction, additional treatment options such as stem cell therapy can be reviewed through internal medicine consultation (individual variation exists) — Management of recovery process in cat-friendly dedicated consultation space and hospitalization rooms — Post-discharge follow-up confirmation and post-operative consultation

Before cat tooth extraction surgery, check for these signals

Before determining whether extraction is necessary, first check for the following signals. According to clinical data, because cats do not openly show pain, many cases are already quite advanced when guardians notice symptoms.

Main signals guardians can observe:

— Noticeably worse breath odor than usual — Cat drops food while eating or tries to chew only on one side — Cat more reluctant to dry food than wet food — Excessive drooling or frequent wetness around the mouth — Cat avoids or is uncomfortable when face or jaw area is touched — Repeated behavior of approaching the food bowl but turning away without eating — Reduction in grooming

If 2 or more of the above signals apply, it is recommended to prioritize dental examination.

Additional matters good to check before visiting:

— Age: Elderly cats (7 years and older) have higher possibility of underlying systemic conditions, which may change the scope of pre-anesthesia testing. — History of underlying conditions: If there are previous diagnoses of abnormal kidney values, heart murmurs, diabetes, etc., please inform us in advance. — According to related clinical data, it is recommended to first understand overall systemic status including kidney and liver through pre-anesthesia blood tests, and ultrasound and endocrine testing may be additionally necessary depending on age and presence of underlying conditions.

Guardians from various areas of Busan including Nam-gu, Suyeong-gu, Haeundae-gu, Yeonje-gu, Busanjin-gu, etc. can visit. Whether you come from an animal hospital in Nam-gu, Suyeong-gu, Haeundae, Yeonje-gu, or Busanjin-gu, same-day examination and consultation linkage will be provided.

In Busan, where should you start cat tooth extraction consultation?

24H UN animal medical center prepares for cat tooth extraction from consultation through pre-anesthesia testing, surgery, and post-surgery management through inter-departmental consultation.

Before deciding on extraction, it is important to first receive comprehensive evaluation of both oral and systemic status. In a comprehensive animal medical center where dental radiography, blood tests, and internal medicine consultation take place in one location, you can make more accurate judgments about whether extraction is necessary, and when and how to appropriately perform it.

The safety of extraction surgery begins with pre-anesthesia evaluation and understanding of underlying conditions rather than the surgery itself. A cat-friendly consultation environment and 365-day 24-hour year-round operation system help alleviate guardians' anxiety before and after surgery. If worrying symptoms develop in the evening or on weekends, please contact us anytime and we will provide guidance suited to the situation.

If you are concerned about your cat's oral condition, start by checking the current status. We will examine test results and treatment direction together, consult sufficiently with guardians, and prepare step by step.

Frequently asked questions before cat tooth extraction surgery

Q1. Is general anesthesia absolutely necessary for cat tooth extraction surgery?

Yes, cat tooth extraction must be performed under general anesthesia. Precise treatment within the oral cavity is impossible with cats in a conscious state, and the risk from pain and stress is high. By pre-evaluating overall systemic status through blood tests and chest radiography before anesthesia, anesthesia risk can be reduced, making pre-operative testing essential.

Q2. If my cat has FORL (feline odontoclastic resorptive lesion), must it be extracted, or can it be managed only with medication?

FORL is difficult to stop with medication, and restorative treatment is known to have low long-term success rates, so extraction is often recommended. However, the treatment direction may vary depending on the lesion type and progression stage, so it is important to confirm the exact condition through dental radiography or CT examination and decide together with your veterinarian.

Q3. After extraction, won't my cat have difficulty eating? How should I feed it?

Immediately after extraction, a diet mainly of wet food is recommended until the oral wound heals. According to Pharm News reporting, adapting to wet food 2-3 weeks before the scheduled extraction is helpful. After recovery, most cats resume normal eating, but since recovery speed varies by individual, it is important to follow your attending veterinarian's dietary guidance at discharge.

⚠️ This content complies with Article 32 of the Veterinary Medicine Act, and results may vary depending on circumstances.