Vetdle Archive Case #125: Feline Tooth Resorption

Clinical Clues

An older cat is presented for changes in eating behavior and oral discomfort.
The cat approaches food but drops kibble and pulls away from the bowl.
Jaw chattering occurs during meals.
Oral examination reveals a focal painful lesion at the neck of a premolar.
Inflamed gingiva partially covers a defect in the tooth structure.
Feline tooth resorption is a common painful cause of oral discomfort in cats.

Diagnosis

Feline Tooth Resorption

This case is most consistent with Feline Tooth Resorption because the cat has classic oral pain with a characteristic lesion at the tooth neck. The most important clues are the painful response during eating and the focal dental defect, which make simple gingivitis alone less likely.

Learning review

Review the case evidence

Use the paired clues to explain how the evidence in this cat case supports the provided diagnosis, Feline Tooth Resorption, then compare your reasoning with the case explanation.

Evidence checkpoints

Clues 1-2

Clue 1: An older cat is presented for changes in eating behavior and oral discomfort.
Clue 2: The cat approaches food but drops kibble and pulls away from the bowl.

Clues 3-4

Clue 3: Jaw chattering occurs during meals.
Clue 4: Oral examination reveals a focal painful lesion at the neck of a premolar.

Clues 5-6

Clue 5: Inflamed gingiva partially covers a defect in the tooth structure.
Clue 6: Feline tooth resorption is a common painful cause of oral discomfort in cats.

Self-review prompts

After clues 1-2, what evidence from this cat case shaped your initial interpretation?
When you compare clues 3-4 with clues 1-2, what changed in your reasoning about Feline Tooth Resorption?
How do clues 5-6 align with the case explanation for Feline Tooth Resorption?

Educational Use

Vetdle archive cases are educational veterinary games for diagnostic reasoning practice. They do not provide veterinary advice, diagnosis, treatment, or professional medical guidance.