Kitten To Cat

Dental Health of Your Cat

Dental disease is one of the more common problems we see. Cats, unlike dogs, don’t pant thus owners rarely get a good look in their mouths and problems can go undetected for months or years.

Much of the dental work we perform is preventable if caught early.

What should I look out for?

Temporary teeth in young animals sometimes fail to fall out at 6-7 months of age, resulting in misalignment of the permanent teeth. They can also create pockets in which food accumulates, leading to gum infection. Temporary teeth should be removed if they cause a problem.

Plaque is made up of bacteria and food debris and builds up over time, calculus is more likely to occur in cats fed on soft diets. Calculus tends to accumulate between the gum and the tooth, providing a good environment for bacteria leading to the gum becoming inflamed (gingivitis). As the gum recedes from the tooth this leads to periodontitis. This process often leads to infection of the surrounding gum and bone causing pain. Eventually the teeth may fall out.

Dental disease is a launch pad for infection which travels via the blood to other parts of the body, including the heart and kidneys.

We recommend:

Specially formulated prescription dental diets from Hills and Royal Canin. These are dry, complete balanced diets that utilise special technology to clean the teeth while eating and can contain a plaque reducing agent.

Dental treats (for cats) are good for a healthy mouth.

Dental hygiene pastes and even regular daily tooth brushing can be achieved in more amenable cats.

Our healthcare nurses would be happy to advise you on our routine dental hygiene plans.

Key points for your cat's dental hygiene:

• Monitor young cat for abnormal tooth development
• Get your cat used to having its mouth opened and examined on a regular basis and his/her teeth brushed from a young age