Steps to Provide Proper Dental Care for Your Cat
February 7, 2022 7:05 pmRoutine dental maintenance is just as important for pets as it is for humans. From an early age, cat dental care is vital for preventing diseases like gingivitis and conditions like plaque buildup. Without taking the right steps, your cat could end up with infections and tooth loss.
Here’s what you should be doing in terms of cat oral care.
The importance of dental care for cats
Left in the wild, cats clean their teeth by chewing on grass or bones, but domestic cats don’t have a suitable replacement. Because your cat can’t tell you exactly when their teeth are in pain, it’s important to establish a preventative maintenance routine.
How to check your cat’s mouth
One of the simple cat dental care steps you should take is to regularly inspect your feline’s teeth and gums. These issues typically occur in most cats over the age of three. That’s because cats will accumulate debris and plaque in their teeth. This coating hardens and becomes tartar, which irritates the gums and leads to gingivitis or even tooth loss in severe cases. Pain and inflammation in the mouth will make it difficult for the cat to eat or drink.
Your cat won’t enjoy you checking their mouth, but it is for the good of their health in the long run. If your pet is very distressed by the experience, you can bring them to a veterinarian to be checked. Here’s what you should be looking for when checking the cat’s mouth:
- The cat’s teeth should be clean, white and free of chipping.
- The cat’s gums shouldn’t have any sores or lesions. They should be pink and healthy without redness, swelling or bleeding.
- Check the back of your feline’s mouth for swelling, ulcers, lesions or bumps. Anything abnormal should be checked out by a veterinarian.
- Your cat’s breath shouldn’t have a foul If it does, it could be a sign of an infection either in the mouth or elsewhere in the body. Over time, bad breath could even indicate the presence of periodontal diseases.
How to brush your cat’s teeth
Brushing your cat’s teeth at least twice a week will help maintain their oral health. Here’s how it’s done:
- Get your cat accustomed to the idea of having their teeth brushed. Start with short sessions in which you massage their gums using a finger or cotton swab.
- Then pick up a toothbrush that’s designed for cats. This is a smaller toothbrush with softer bristles.
- Use toothpaste that’s designed for cats as well. Using human toothpaste can be bad for the cat’s stomach.
- If you notice the cat has inflamed gums, brushing their teeth too hard could be painful. You may want to visit the veterinarian before beginning a toothbrushing routine.
At Kingstowne Cat Clinic, we take cat dental care seriously. Our business is solely focused on the health and wellness of our feline patients. We do everything from wellness exams to surgery, dental care and more. Give us a call today and set up your first appointment.
Categorised in: dental
This post was written by Writer