Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Update on the etiology of tooth resorption in domestic cats.
- Journal:
- The Veterinary clinics of North America. Small animal practice
- Year:
- 2005
- Authors:
- Reiter, Alexander M et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Clinical Studies · United States
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
Recent research suggests that high levels of vitamin D might be linked to a dental problem in cats called feline odontoclastic resorptive lesions (FORL), which causes their teeth to break down. When laboratory animals were given too much vitamin D, their teeth showed changes similar to those seen in cats with FORL. This finding raises the possibility that too much vitamin D in a cat's diet could be a major cause of tooth resorption. Understanding this connection may also help in studying other health issues in cats, like high calcium levels and kidney disease. Overall, the evidence points to excess vitamin D as a likely cause of this dental issue in domestic cats.
Abstract
Based on recent findings of increased vitamin D activity in cats with feline odontoclastic resorptive lesions (FORL), the present article provides further clues on the possible etiology of FORL. Microscopic features of FORL and other peculiarities of feline permanent teeth are compared with pathologic findings obtained from experimental studies in other species. Administration of excess vitamin D or vitamin D metabolites in laboratory animals caused changes to dental and periodontal tissues that resemble histopathologic features of teeth from cats with FORL. Chronic excess dietary vitamin D may be the long-sought cause of multiple tooth resorption in domestic cats. It may also provide a basis for future research on idiopathic hypercalcemia and renal disease in the same species.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15979519/