A cat with bad breath that stopped eating dry food

Veterinarian · Who you talk to: The owner

The owner notices bad breath and that the cat now only eats soft food. Dental disease ranked fourth for cats.

What this case adds

Examine the mouth as part of the full exam and handle the cat safely.
Plan treatment, follow-up and home prevention.

Critical fails

Jeopardizing the health and well-being of the animal through action or inaction: fatal flaw, zero for the station.
Handling the animal in an unsafe or inhumane way: penalties up to dismissal from the station.
Recording a finding that is not actually present: points are lost.
A correct treatment plan for a differential list that misses the right diagnosis: points are deducted.

The full checklist of this mold, step by step with its official sources: Consult: the owner's story, physical exam and diagnosis.

Sources

AVMA ECFVG, Manual of Administration for the Clinical Proficiency Examination, 2025 edition, Small Animal Medicine (SAM01) https://ebusiness.avma.org/Files/Downloads/ecfvg/Candidate_Moa.pdf
Nationwide, Most common conditions that prompt veterinary visits (data from more than 1.1 million insured pets) https://news.nationwide.com/032822-most-common-conditions-that-prompt-veterinary-visits/

Making Synapses is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by the AVMA, the ECFVG or Nationwide. ECFVG is a trademark of its owner and is named only to describe what this mold practices; always follow your veterinarian's guidance for your own pet.

Consult: the owner's story, physical exam and diagnosis