The state of a cat’s teeth is a vital indicator of its overall health. Healthy teeth are necessary for a cat to consume a balanced diet to sustain its body and brain. Therefore, a cat with dental issues will eat less, leading to gradual health deterioration. Dental disease is painful and progressive when left untreated. It can set in at any time, although it is likelier to do so after the first four years of a feline’s life. More than half of cats aged four and older have a form of dental disease.
As with most medical conditions, prevention remains better than cure. Therefore, cat owners should prioritize taking active steps to prevent the onset of dental disease. Here are some tips to help:
Professional intervention
If you leave it too late and your cat develops dental disease, only professional treatment from a veterinarian will stop its progression. A vet will put the cat under anesthesia and clean its teeth. Where a tooth is too far gone and cannot be saved, the vet will extract it. The cat tooth extraction recovery process does not take long as the wounds heal quickly. However, your kitty will need to get used to eating with one or two missing teeth. Cat owners should feed their felines soft food that does not require much chewing for the first few days after an extraction.
Some cats might also struggle with some anesthesia after-effects like excessive drowsiness and being wobbly on their feet. Ensure your kitty has somewhere safe and warm to sleep it off. The cat might be out of sorts for a day or two after the operation. However, once they feel relief from the pain a diseased tooth causes, they will be back to their normal selves.
Regular cleaning
During your annual visit to the vet for a checkup and vaccinations, ask them to check the cat’s teeth for any signs of decay or disease. Professional cleaning once a year halts the progression of any dental conditions that could lead to extractions if left unattended. Some groomers advertise anesthesia-free dental cleaning that costs less than a trip to the vet. However, the process can be painful and harmful to your feline’s health.
Professional tooth cleaning also involves anesthetizing your feline so the vet can access their teeth without any resistance. A vet assesses each tooth, records their findings, and notes any treatments used during the procedure. Each tooth is cleaned and polished. Even though a vet might not extract any teeth, your kitty’s mouth might be sensitive for a few days after treatment. Expect some anesthesia after-effects like those mentioned before.
Tooth brushing
Do not leave checking your cat’s teeth to the annual veterinary consultation. Inspect them at least once or twice a week. Regular brushing also prevents the onset and progression of dental disease. While most cats will put up a good fight to avoid having their teeth brushed, persistence pays off. If you have your feline from when they are a kitten, it is easy to train them to accept toothbrushing as part of their routine.
Use a small toothbrush for this job as a regular-sized one is unwieldy and could hurt your cat. A finger brush is also an effective tool to try. Do not use human toothpaste as it is harmful when swallowed, and you are unlikely to succeed in training your cat to spit it out. Instead, opt for toothpaste made specifically for pets, available at your local pet store or veterinarian’s practice.
A healthy diet
Veterinary-approved cat foods contain ingredients to keep your cat healthy from top to toe, including its teeth. Using the right cat food and treats can prevent a buildup of plaque on a feline’s teeth. Consult your vet about the best cat food choices for maintaining your kitty’s dental health. These products might cost a bit extra but will save you a lot of money spent on feline dental treatment.
Food endorsed by the Veterinary Oral Health Council was tested and proven to prevent plaque formation and ensure continued pet dental health. None of these foods can reverse any damage done by dental disease, although they will slow down its progression and prevent any new conditions from developing.
Dental chews and toys
The correct products are abrasive enough to remove a plaque buildup without damaging the cat’s tooth enamel. They also massage a feline’s gums, preventing the development of gum infection or diseases. Consult your vet about which products they recommend as being effective in protecting your cat’s dental health.
Chewing on bones also clears excess tartar and plaque on a cat’s teeth. However, it can lead to an upset stomach and other digestive issues. While it is fine for cats to chew an occasional bone, do not become dependent on this method as your sole feline dental health intervention. Avoid bones with sharp edges and splinters.
