Caring for your cat's teeth: Recognizing signs of dental issues
Veterinarian names signs of cats' dental problems (photo: Freepik)
Many cats encounter oral health issues at least once in their lives. Simple signs can indicate health problems in cats, according to the PetMD website.
Why cats have dental problems
Dental problems in cats are widespread and can have serious consequences. Dental infections are one of the main reasons for annual veterinary visits for cats.
Fortunately, proper dental care and monitoring can prevent or treat the most common forms of these diseases.
Gingivitis, periodontal disease, and tooth resorption are common dental problems in cats. Therefore, your cat needs to undergo annual medical examinations with a veterinarian.
List of symptoms
Veterinarian Barry Morrison identified symptoms of dental problems in cats:
- Excessive drooling
- Saliva tinged with blood
- Bad breath
- Dental tartar on teeth
- Jaw or tooth-grinding
- Food falling out of the mouth
- Difficulty swallowing
- Decreased or loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Loose or missing teeth
Treatment
If dental tartar has already formed, it cannot be removed by manual cleaning.
You need to see a specialist with professional dental equipment: an ultrasonic device and an anesthetic.
Specially formulated diets can help prevent and combat dental plaque and tartar. Food designed with a special shape, density, and texture helps remove dental plaque during chewing.
Why cats lose teeth
If cats lose teeth, you should follow these tips:
- Examine the oral cavity to detect inflammation, caries
- Change the diet by choosing products from another manufacturer. Also, do not constantly give only dry food.
- Take it to the veterinarian
If the problem arose when the kitten was about 4 months old, there is no need to worry as kittens of this age are changing teeth.
Sometimes a cat loses teeth due to trauma. In this case, it is necessary to disinfect the gums and wait for the wound to heal.
Earlier, we reported on the most expensive pets.
We also wrote about how a cat predicts the weather.
This material is for informational purposes only and should not be used for medical diagnosis or self-treatment. Our goal is to provide readers with accurate information about symptoms, causes, and methods of detecting diseases. RBС-Ukraine is not responsible for any diagnoses that readers may make based on materials from the resource. We do not recommend self-treatment and advise consulting a doctor in case of any health concerns.
