.: Have you Checked your Cats Teeth Recently?
Category:Home / Pets and Animals
Cats cannot brush their own teeth. This may seem like stating the obvious, but there are a huge number of cats out there with severe dental disease that desperately need treatment. Most owners are unaware of their cats teeth problem until either a vet checks the cats mouth, or the mouth becomes so sore and breath so foul that the owners attention is drawn to it.
Cats can suffer from a number of different dental problems, but one of the most common is what is known as a FORL lesion (feline odontoclastic resorptive lesion). These are essentially cavities like humans can suffer from, though they are formed slightly differently and can occur in any tooth. The most commonly affected teeth are the lower premolars.
Another very common presentation is the presence of gingivitis, simply meaning inflammation of the gums where the gums meet the teeth. Gingivitis can be a reaction to bacterial infection, or as a result of a viral infection such as feline calicivirus.
Are some cats more likely to get dental disease than others?
Yes. Brachycephalic (short nosed) breeds such as Persians often suffer from dental disease, though any cat can do. Older cats tend to have more teeth problems than younger cats because tartar builds up with time. Outdoor cats that hunt tend to have good teeth because crunching through the bones of mice and other prey helps clean their teeth. Any good vet will check a cats teeth thoroughly as part of a routine annual vaccination check up to advise whether any dental treatment is necessary.
Clearly diet plays a major role in the development of dental disease. Cats that eat a dry biscuit based or complete diet are less likely to get dental disease compared with cats on wet tinned food merely due to the crunchy hard food helping to stop tartar attaching to the teeth. However diet alone is not enough for some cats and brushing may be necessary if you are to avoid the prospect of dental scaling and polishing under general anesthetic further down the line.
How do I know if my cat has dental disease?
The common signs to look out for are:
1. Discoloration of the teeth, with yellow/brown tartar (known as calculus) adhering to the teeth, mainly on the cheek side.
2. Reddening of the gums (known as gingivitis).
3. Recession on the gum to expose some of the tooth root.
4. Presence of cavities (FORL lesions).
5. Bad breath (halitosis).
6. Dribbling more than is usual.
7. Difficulty eating dry biscuit type foods.
How do I go about brushing my cats teeth?
Firstly, buy a suitable toothbrush. Human toothbrushes are usually too hard for cats, though can be used if they have soft bristles. Ideally you want a toothbrush with a long handle and an angled head to better fit the mouth, and extra soft bristles. An alternative is using a finger brush, which fits over the tip of your finger.
Next, find a suitable toothpaste. Cats do not really like the mint taste of human toothpastes, so the whole operation will run more smoothly if you use a toothpaste designed for pets. Some pet toothpastes come in meaty flavors so that your pet enjoys the experience. These pet toothpastes usually contain enzymes that help control plaque. Fluoride may be incorporated to help control bacteria. Tip: try placing the toothpaste between the bristles if you can rather than on the top of them, as this will achieve better cleaning.
Now you have the equipment, try brushing the teeth. Most pets will accept this if you are gentle. It is much easier if you start when they are kittens so that they are accustomed to the procedure, but even older cats can grow to accept it. The outside of the teeth (the cheek side) is the most important to clean, as the cats tongue helps clean the inside of the teeth to an extent.
The toothbrush bristles should be placed where the teeth and gums meet at a 45 degree angle. The movement should be in an oval pattern. Try to gently force the bristle ends into the area around the base of the tooth as well as into the gap between the teeth. Aim for ten short back-and-forth motions, covering several teeth at a time, then move the brush to a new location.
When starting for the first time, do it twice daily without toothpaste for 1-2 weeks. This way your cat will become familiar with the feel of the brush quickly, and you can then start doing it with toothpaste. In the long term, once weekly brushing is usually adequate.
My cat already has a rotten mouth, need I be worried about getting his/her teeth done at the vets?
As long as your cat does not have a pre-existing heart or respiratory problem, you need not be worried. Even if they do, chances are your cat will be fine. Dental scaling and polishing is done on a daily basis at many veterinary clinics, and does not have any risks in itself beyond the anesthetic risk that exists with every general anesthetic. Many clinics will do pre-anesthetic blood tests for geriatric patients as a matter of protocol, to check on their liver and kidney function. If your cat has severe dental disease or FORL cavities, he/she may require teeth to be extracted. This is not something you should worry about in itself, as it is much better for your cat to have no tooth than a painful tooth. Many cats can eat dry food comfortably without any teeth at all as they tend to swallow biscuits whole rather than chew them anyway.
If you think your cat might require professional dental treatment, you should book an appointment with your vet ASAP. Many cats develop a new lease of life when their mouth suddenly becomes pain free, it may be the greatest gift you could ever give your pet.
Article keywords: pet, pets, cat, cats, feline, tooth, teeth, dental, tartar, forl, calculus, mouth, oral, dentistry
Article Source: http://www.articles32.com
Dr Matthew Homfray is one of the veterinary pet experts at www.WhyDoesMyPet.com. Our dedicated community of caring pet experts are waiting to offer you advice, second opinions and support.
.: New Pets and Animals Articles
1). A First Aid Kit For Your Dog
In a time when "always be prepared" is a mantra repeated by everyone, pet owners would do well to take up that mantra as well.
2). Choosing an Obedience Training Class for Your Puppy or Dog
If you have decided to enroll your four-legged friend in an obedience training class, there are a few tips to keep in mind to make sure that your choice is the right one. Choosing a dog trainer requires much more than simply selecting a name at random from the phone book and, when it comes to your pet, nothing but the best will do.
3). The Truth Behind Creepy Guinea Pigs
Guinea pigs are one of the cutest animals on the face of the earth, they are plump little fur-balls that love to play and squeak. However some people say that they have creepy guinea pigs!
4). Tips and Tricks Caring for Adult Size Ferrets
Through the lifecycle of ferrets, they are born quite small, and grow quite quickly until they are fully grown adult size ferrets. When they are at this size they are almost the length of two male hands, and they are quite long and slender with short limbs, which makes them quite humorous to look at.
5). Learn Everything There Is To Know About Parrots Sounds
Nowadays parrots have become very desired and popular pets for bird-fanciers. Of course, one the reasons is the bright colors of the birds plumage. But another and the most important motive is parrots ability to reproduce human speech.
6). Some Reasons To Get Yourself A Pug Mix Breed
Pug mix is a cross between a Pug and another breed. Nowadays a term designer dog is wildly used to name hybrid dogs that have been selectively bred.
7). Dog Beds - Are They Fun Or Functional?
Is a dog bed really necessary or just another toy? Find out the answer and how to select the right dog bed for your dog in this article
.: Top Pets and Animals Articles
1). Winter Dog Agility Training
Yes, its cold outside, but don't stop your dog's agility training. Depending on where you live, there might be snow on the ground from November through March, but thats no reason to give up your agility training. Bring your training indoors, right at your own home.
Get creative with your training locations. Do you have a hallway, basement, or garage? Then you have a place to train! Before it snows and your equipment is frozen to the ground, store some in your garage, shed, basement, or put a tarp over it.
2). Stop Dogs Eating Dog Poop (Coprophagia)
Dogs eating poop is a disgusting and nonsensical habit from our human point of view. Find out why your dog does it, and how to put a stop to it.
3). Dogs That Refuse to Eat - What Causes This and How Can it Be Resolved?
When a pet dog refuses to eat, the problem is either physical or psychological. When a pet dog refuses to eat, his owner pleads with him and tries to tempt him with food fed by hand. If the dog is sufficiently neglected and bored he may try this to get attention. An intelligent owner will counter this common canine play by giving his dog companionship by playing with him and taking him for a daily walk.
4). The Mixed Breeds – More than Mutts
Many of the world’s best pets, most loved companions and smartest dogs are mixed breeds, or "Muts". But think about it, all of today’s most popular breeds were at one time unrecognized. Today’s mixed breeds may very well appear in tomorrow’s dog shows.
5). Stages of Whelphing a Litter of Puppies
Your dog being pregnant can be a nerve racking time for owners who have not had the experience before. Just like with human babies the first is the most challenging and if you intend on doing this often – don't worry it gets easier with practice.
Follow some of these tips for making the birthing process as easy as you can for your dog.
Labor
Generally dogs give birth after about 63 days of pregnancy.
6). The Oranda Goldfish
Learn about this beautiful gold fish that has been fancied for centuries.
7). How To Stop A Dog From Chewing
Most normal dogs will bite and chew. While you cannot completely erase this behavior, you can regulate it and influence the dog’s behavior.