New guidelines for feline oral health and dental care are released

Guidelines for the helping veterinary teams deliver a high standard of care for feline oral and dental care has been release by the Feline Veterinary Medical Association (FelineVMA). The 2025 FelineVMA Feline Oral Health and Dental Care Guidelines are a comprehensive, resource that has been published in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery.¹

“Oral and dental diseases are among the most common health problems in cats, yet they’re often unrecognized,” Heidi Lobprise, DVM, DAVDC, guidelines task force co-chair, said in a news release.¹ “These guidelines equip veterinary professionals with practical, evidence-based recommendations to diagnose and manage these diseases early, improving quality of life for feline patients.”

A task force of board-certified veterinary specialists and a veterinary technician specialist in dentistry wrote the guidelines. Supported of an educational grant from Dechra, the guidelines contain the latest knowledge and expert consensus on feline oral health, according to FelineVMA. Figures and tables are included.^1,2

“These experts have compiled evidence-guided recommendations for optimal oral health and dental care, including therapeutic interventions, in general feline practice. The focus is on the most commonly encountered oral and dental diseases in cats,” the authors of the guidelines wrote.²

Feline oral and dental diseases addressed in the guidelines include periodontal disease, early-onset gingivitis, chronic osteitis/alveolitis, developmental abnormalities, chronic gingivostomatitis, tooth resorption, masses and growths and miscellaneous conditions. Oral and dental trauma is also covered in the guidelines.²

A section on anesthesia and analgesia provides guidance for pain management during surgery as well as preoperative and postoperative care. Considerations for administering anesthesia and analgesia as well as oral and dental surgical care are also addressed.²

“Because feline patients with oral and dental diseases, as well as those convalescing from surgery, generally experience pain, multimodal perioperative analgesia and anesthesia are standard features of oral and dental care,” the authors wrote in the guidelines.²

Notably, the guidelines cover spectrum of care in dental health and aim to empower every member of the veterinary team to participate in patient care. This includes various facets of dental care, from client communication to postoperative support.^1,2

The guidelines also highlight continuum of care principles, recognizing that individualized dental care decisions depend on patient needs, caregiver goals, and available resources, according to FelineVMA. Caregivers are encouraged to play an active role in preventive oral health and home dental care.¹

Other key contents of the guidelines are as follows^1,2:

• Patient assessment, evaluation, and documentation
• Typical workflow and staging of procedures
• Considerations in relation to tooth extraction
• Nutritional support
• Use of systemic antibiotics
• Supplemental resources such as videos, client materials, and a scoring chart

“These guidelines reinforce that oral health is central to feline health and wellbeing,” Kelly St. Denis, MSc, DVM, DABVP (Feline), guidelines task force co-chair, said in the release.¹ “By aligning veterinary teams and educating caregivers, we can ensure that more cats receive the dental care they need and deserve.”

References

1. New 2025 FelineVMA guidelines set the standard for oral health and dental care. News release. FelineVMA. December 4, 2025. Accessed December 8, 2025. https://catvets.com/news/oral-health-dental-care-guidelines/
2. Lobprise H, St Denis K, Anderson JG, Hoyer N, Fiani N, Yaroslav J. 2025 FelineVMA feline oral health and dental care guidelines. J Feline Med Surg. 2025;27(11).