Taking Care of Your Cat's Teeth

Taking Care of Your Cat's Teeth By John Erwin There are far more problems with the teeth of pet cats than most cat owners know about. Close to 50% of cats over the age of 5 years have significant dental problems. Unfortunately, there are not very many useful and clear sources of information about this threat to the health of your cat. But, ignorance of these problems can be a real danger to your cat. The purpose of this article is to alert you to the main problems your cat might encounter, and to give you some practical information on what you can do to keep your cat's teeth healthy. There are four main types of dental problems in cats. 1) Periodontal Disease, 2) Feline Odontoclastic Resorptive Lesions, 3) Fractured Teeth, and 4) Feline Gingivitis. The bad news is that these are very complicated topics that require substantial training in veterinary medicine to fully diagnose and treat. But, the good news is that you - your cat's best friend - have the power to prevent one of these problems: Periodontal Disease. Periodontal Disease is an ongoing process, and it is easy for a veterinarian to diagnose the early stages of this problem by just looking in the mouth of your cat . The disease begins with the accumulation of mild plaque on your cat's teeth and also with very minor inflammation, or swelling, of the gums. Almost 85% of cats over the age of six years have developed at least early stage Periodontal Disease. However, some pure-breed cats can develop this problem as young as the age of 6 months. By brushing your cat's teeth at least once a week, you can prevent or delay the development of Periodontal Disease. Of course, it is best to start this routine while your cat is still a kitten - for two reasons: 1) Your cat will get used to the process of having her teeth brushed while she is still young, playful and ready to learn, and 2) You will get a head start on heading off the development of a potentially serious threat to your cat's health and happiness. Regular examination of your cat's teeth by a veterinarian (at least once per year) is also very important. If Periodontal Disease formation has begun, it is usually not too late for the veterinarian to stop it in its tracks even after it has developed too far to be treated at home. But, do not procrastinate and let the problem become an advanced disease. This is very important, because IF YOU LEAVE THE PROBLEM UNTREATED, THEN THE ONLY TREATMENT WILL EVENTUALLY BE THE REMOVAL OF ONE OR MORE OF YOUR CAT'S TEETH. So, be a good friend to your cat and take care of his teeth before it is too late. You will be rewarded with many years of affection and happiness. But, you might ask. . . Exactly how do you go about brushing a cat's teeth? First, start by choosing a time that you and your cat are both very relaxed. You want to be in a patient mood, and you want your cat to be calm and peaceful. Second, gradually introduce your cat to the process. Hold her like you do when you want to gently pet her. Make sure she is relaxed. Gently stroke the outside of her cheeks. The first few times, do only this. A few days later, introduce her to the taste of the toothpaste you will be using by putting a small amount on your finger. You can even find chicken flavored toothpaste made just for cats! Third, introduce your cat to the toothbrush. Put a small amount of the toothpaste she has become comfortable with on the brush and gently touch two or three teeth and maybe the edge of her gum with the brush. Your goal at this point is not to actually brush her teeth, but just to let her get used to the feel of the brush. Finally, begin to brush more and more teeth each time. Once you get to the point that you are able to brush her back teeth, make sure you don't stop at the first sign that she is tired of the process. She needs to learn that you will stop brushing her teeth when you want to stop, not when she is ready to do something else. Keep your sessions short at first, but make sure she learns that you determine how long you will brush. If you let her control this process, you will gradually lose the opportunity to brush her teeth in a relaxed manner. Be very gentle and try to make the sessions fun. It is not necessary to brush for more than about thirty seconds, if you do it at least once a week. This way your cat will enjoy getting her teeth brushed, and she will stay healthy for many more years.