Dental Disease, Feline - contd.

ClinicalSigns
Typically, the clinical signs of dental disease include ptyalism, dysphagia, halitosis, pawing at the mouth, and oral lesions.  There can be less specific clinical signs of dental disease such as anorexia, inappetence, fever, dehydration, vomiting, and lethargy.  Cats with dental disease also may stop grooming and develop an unkempt hair coat.  Because chewing can be painful, animals may begin to prefer soft cat food to harder varieties.

Symptoms
Foul breath, drooling or salivating more than normal, difficulty eating, pawing at the face, and sores in the mouth are common symptoms of dental disease.  Some cats may have less specific clinical symptoms such as loss of appetite or decreased appetite, vomiting, laying around more than usual, and less interest in grooming resulting in unkempt fur.  Because chewing can be quite painful, cats with dental disease may begin to prefer soft cat foot to harder varieties.