Monday, October 25, 2010

Dental Care For Cats

Most pet owners will spot their pet's health problems right away. One health downside that will not be so straightforward to search out is dental disease. Cats, simply like humans, will have problems with their teeth. As cats age, most do have some kind of periodontal disease. Only a vet can tell for bound, but there are things that you'll rummage around for when you think dental issues with your cat.

Prevention
Most vets would agree that dental problems can stem from different sorts of health problems and should not be ignored. Proper health check ups with the veterinarian and spot dental problems before they get out of hand, In addition, there are many steps you'll be able to take as a pet owner to assist your cat have healthy teeth and gums.

To help your cat's teeth stay in prime shape, there are several things you can do. 1st, build certain your cat sees the vet, sick or not, yearly for a health exam. The veterinarian can be ready to identify dental problems throughout annual exams. Your vet can look for dangerous breath, tooth decay, and missing teeth. All of these can purpose to additional serious issues.

Another manner to help your kitty have healthy teeth is to brush your cat's teeth. Yes, there are special toothbrushes and paste that will facilitate your kitty keep his or her teeth healthy. Daily brushing is recommended, but for many cats, twice every week will suffice. Most pet stores carry cat toothbrushes and soft rubber brushes that match on your finger. If your cat is reluctant, strive to do only a small portion of the mouth at first and then add additional every day. If you have a kitten, start brushing his or her teeth very early to urge used to the routine. There are specially created toothpastes that are available. Most cats enjoy the style and will think of brushing as a treat.

One product that is accessible to help keep kitty's mouth healthy is specially made rinses. These are good for older cats and cats that have already got dental issues. These special rinses come in antiseptic gels, rinses and flavored sprays. It is not recommended to use these instead of brushing, but the rinse will help with tooth decay.

Just as dogs can profit from chewing so can cats. There are many merchandise accessible for cats to chew to assist their teeth and gums. Some are flavored with fish or poultry, which appeals to most cats. The abrasive texture of those dental chews helps remove food, debris and plaque which will build up on your cat's teeth. Extreme caution should be used when giving your cat a bone to chew for this purpose. Poultry bones are extraordinarily sharp and brittle. Tiny pieces of bone will become lodged in your cat's throat or digestive tract causing serious trouble. Most vets suggest that chicken and turkey bones never be given to cats.

Major Problems
Correct dental care in your cat is terribly important. Issues with the teeth can be caused by or will cause different health problems together with periodontal disease, feline stomatitis, Feline Odontoclastic Oral Resorption Lesions (FORL) and malocclusion. Most of these dental issues are treatable with proper medical care.
Periodontal disease is caused by build of plaque and tartar. When tartar and plaque forms on the teeth is forces bacteria and food debris underneath the gum line and around the jawbone. This can cause inflamed gums and swelling and bleeding gums. Unhealthy breath is another common sign of periodontal disease. This can be the foremost common type of dental disease in cats and will be treated with a cleaning together with the use of antibiotics. Typically, extraction of some teeth is required for extreme cases.

FORL is another form of dental disease usually found in cats. This could be compared to a cavity in an exceedingly human. Lesions on the teeth begin to create within the enamel of a tooth. When the plaque accumulates, the tissue round the affected tooth becomes inflamed. Sometimes the irritation can extend into the pulp cavity and will kill the tooth. If your cat has FORL, the vet can usually recommend extracting the affected tooth.

Feline Stomatitis could be a terribly serious form of dental disease in cats. This is usually seen as an autoimmune disease and is most typically found in cats that already suffer from more serious health issues. Stomatitis is caused when the body becomes allergic to the plaque on the teeth. Typically it can spread into the throat inflicting painful red lesions. When a cat has stomatitis, it will become terribly uncomfortable and might stop eating. You must seek the recommendation of your veterinarian right away.

Another dental downside is malocclusion -- when the teeth are not aligned properly. With a person's, braces are in order. With cats, severe forms will cause eating issues and result in severe weight loss.

Along With the many alternative advances in technology, you'll be able to now find specialized vets that handle orthodontics. Thus perhaps your tiger can sometime be carrying braces while the opposite cats laugh behind his back.