Introduction
Cats have 30 permanent teeth, and at some point one of these teeth may become fractured during the cat’s life. A fractured tooth can be extremely painful, but unfortunately our feline friends cannot tell us when they are in pain. However, the symptoms that a cat with a painful fractured tooth displays may help to let you know that something is definitely wrong with your cat. If you notice any of these symptoms in your cat, schedule an appointment with a veterinarian as soon as possible.
A fractured tooth in cats most commonly occurs in one of the long canine teeth, but other teeth in the mouth can fracture too. Due to the fact that a cat’s mouth is so small, it is hard to visually see anything wrong with the teeth themselves. However, you will notice more apparent symptoms.
Symptoms of a Fractured Tooth
One of the first signs of a fractured tooth in cats is repeated sneezing. The cat may also paw at its face or rub its face on walls or furniture. If the broken tooth becomes infected, the area under the eye may become swollen. The mouth and jaw can become swollen as well. In severe cases, the cat may be unable to eat or try to eat but the food keeps dropping out of the mouth. If the fractured tooth is not treated than the cat will begin losing weight.
Interestingly enough, cats with a fractured tooth may begin to have accidents outside of the litter box. It is not known why this symptom occurs, but many veterinarians believe it could be a behavioral change brought about by severe pain or infection that has spread throughout the body. This is why it is so important for cats to have their teeth examined if they begin to have accidents outside of the litter box.