Feline Dental Care: The Importance of Your Cat's Oral Heath

Proper dental care is an important factor in your cat's overall well-being, although it's often overlooked. Poor dental health has been linked to weight loss, kidney problems, and heart disease. If you are a cat owner, it's important to familiarize yourself with some common conditions that can occur if your pet's oral hygiene is neglected.

1) Periodontal disease - Caused by build-up of plaque and tarter, periodontal disease is the most common dental problem in cats. Left untreated, periodontal disease can lead to other, more serious, dental conditions.

2) Feline Odontoclastic Resorptive Lesions (FORL) - This condition is comparable to a cavity, and occurs when lesions form in the enamel of a tooth. FORL can cause severe pain and tooth loss.

3) Feline stomatitis - This autoimmune disease occurs when the body rejects and becomes allergic to the plaque that is present on the teeth. It usually occurs in cats that have underlying health problems. Left untreated, feline stomatitis can spread to the throat and cause painful lesions.Risk factors for feline dental diseases include insufficient dental care, poor overall health, or genetic disposition. Some common signs and symptoms to look out for are bleeding or inflamed gums, bad breath. tarter build-up on teeth, excessive drooling, mouth pain or discomfort, and changes in eating habits. If you suspect that your cat has a dental disease, the vet will likely perform a physical examination and blood tests to determine the cause of the symptoms. Depending on the diagnosis, the vet may extract loose or damaged teeth, perform dental hygiene procedures such as cleaning and polishing, or prescribe antibiotics.

It is important to give your cat proper preventative care, including regular check-ups for your cat so the condition of his teeth can be monitored. Your veterinarian may suggest a specially formulated prescription diet to improve your cat's oral health. Toothbrushes and toothpastes designed specifically for cats are available at many pet stores, and are a handy way to keep your pet's teeth healthy. You can also provide you cat with dental treats that have an abrasive texture designed to loosen tarter, or even dental rinses that come in a squirt bottle and aid in cleaning your cat's teeth.Taking the time and effort to care for your cat's teeth is part of being a responsible pet owner. Although it may require some patience at first, implementing an oral health regimen in one of the best things you can do for your cat.