Oral examination in the cat: a systematic approach.

PRACTICAL RELEVANCE: Oral examination in the cat is a process of observing both normal and abnormal, and should be an integral part of any wellness examination as well as a response to any specific complaint(s). The basis for an accurate diagnosis is meticulous attention to detail. It is essential that the clinician performs a whole body examination prior to examining the head and neck region.

STAGES OF EXAMINATION: A thorough oral examination involves four stages. The first stage is to review the current oral problem(s) by asking questions and listening carefully to the owner's responses; gaining a thorough medical/dental history may shed more light on the current problem(s). The second stage is an extraoral physical examination to visualise and palpate the head and neck regions in the awake patient. In the third stage the clinician performs an intraoral examination in the awake patient, before proceeding to the final stage, which is an extraoral and intraoral examination under general anaesthesia.

AIM: This article describes a systematic approach to the oral examination, based on these four stages. The aim of this process is not only to facilitate the making and recording of observations, but also to help avoid missing important clues that may aid in reaching a diagnosis. Common tooth pathologies in the feline patient are also briefly reviewed, paving the way for accompanying articles in this two-part Special Issue, which will provide further insight into these pathologies and discuss management approaches.