For most cat owners, the cats' happiness and health are a top priority. People spend millions of dollars every year on food, toys, treats, even clothes for their pets. Money is spent on training, grooming and medical care, but, unfortunately, many pet owners and especially cat owners do not know the importance of having healthy teeth.
Because of this unintentional oversight, over 80% of pets have dental issues after the age of three. These issues include tartar build up, broken teeth, gum diseases and bad breath. All of these problems will eventually lead to teeth falling out, the inability to eat and, therefore, a very unhappy and unhealthy cat.
Dental issues can and will lead to symptoms that go beyond the mouth. Dental disease affects the kidneys and the heart, as well as the intestinal tract and even the joints can be affected. The reason for this is because the buildup of bacteria in the mouth can cause infections to grown in the other areas of the body. These are side effects that can be prevented with regular preventative dental care.
So, how do you prevent dental problems for your cat? There are products on the market today that address this very issue, everything from specially formulated foods to toys, even kitty toothbrushes and toothpaste. These items are the best defense that you and your cat have against dental disease and everything that accompanies it.
Now that you have gone to the pet store and purchased all of the necessary items to keep your cats teeth healthy, where do you start? As any cat lover will tell you, a cat does not take kindly to being forced to do something that they do not like. Therefore, you must find a way that is acceptable to both you and the cat. This means starting slow and offering lots of loving and even treats. While this may sound counter productive, offering a cat treats after a teeth brushing session will give the cat the idea that there is a reward when they are done.
Obviously, brushing your cat’s teeth on a regular basis is easier if you start the routine with a kitten. But, that doesn’t mean that an older cat can’t be introduced to good dental habits. With a cat, the actual act of brushing the teeth isn’t as important as it may seem, rubbing the teeth is actually the preferred method among veterinarians. This rubbing action is effortlessly accomplished either by wrapping your finger with gauze and rubbing it on the teeth or simply by letting the cat chew on the kitty toothbrush. This will knock off most of the plaque and tarter before it can cause problems.
After a while your cat should be willing to accept teeth brushing. Here is the way you can go about it. Hold the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle and apply it to the area where your cat's teeth and gums meet. Rotate the brush in small circles, overlapping several teeth. Finish with vertical strokes to pull plaque from between the teeth. Repeat until all the teeth on your feline's cheek side are clean. The inside teeth will be more difficult, as your pet may resist opening its mouth, but eventually you may be able to brush the inside and outside surfaces of all the teeth. For effective cleaning, brush your pet's teeth a couple of times a week.
If, after time, your pet does not accept home brushing or if you already see ugly brown tartar stains on its teeth or there is evidence of bleeding gums, it's time to turn to your veterinarian for help. They will give your pet general anesthesia and then clean its teeth above and below the gum line to remove plaque and tartar. After your cat's teeth are cleaned, they will be polished to remove microscopic plaque and to make the teeth smooth to discourage plaque from clinging.
No doubt, dental care is as important to your pet and his well being as it is to you. Your kitty needs to be cared for so provide it with regular tooth care and cleaning. With a little time and effort on your part, your cat’s teeth will last a lifetime.
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