Q: Penny, my middle-aged indoor cat, chews her dental treats only on the left side of her mouth. Is this normal? A: I confess that I’ve never observed my cats or dogs closely enough to know whether they chew on one or both sides of the mouth. Nor have I heard this topic discussed at veterinary conferences. So, I consulted two renowned veterinary dentists. Both said that no research has been published on whether pets without oral pain chew on only one side of the mouth, so neither veterinary dentist could answer your question. It’s certainly possible Penny is chewing on her left because she has pain on the right side of her mouth, perhaps from tooth resorption, a fractured tooth, or a tooth root abscess. To find out, I recommend you make an appointment for dental radiographs, sometimes called X-rays. Since they will require anesthesia, your veterinarian can clean …