Adopting a cat entails taking responsibility for it, which means that we as its caretakers have to do everything possible so that it can lead a long and happy life; that is to say, in addition to giving him water and food, we must worry about his health, such as oral health.
And it is that, with the passing of the years the appearance of dental diseases in cats are very frequent, especially if we have not been brushing them. Therefore, we are going to see which are the main ones so that we can identify them.
Table of Contents
Main dental diseases of cats
Feline chronic stomatitis or gingivostomatitis
It is a periodontal disease that causes inflammation of the oral cavity. The exact causes are not yet known, but it is believed that they could be related to viral-type infections such as feline calicivirus (FCV) or feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV).
The symptoms are halitosis (bad smell), problems chewing well, refusing to eat and, as a consequence, weight loss. Giving him soft food (cans) and a good follow-up by the veterinarian will be vital for the cat.
Gingivitis
It is a disease produced by gum inflammation. It is caused by improper nutrition, infections, roots that have remained inside the gum, tartar, metabolism disorders, among others.
If the cat suffers from it, it will have bleeding and pain in the gums, and may even end up losing a tooth. If left untreated, gingivitis can lead to bacterial myocarditis (infection of the heart muscle tissue) or a general infection.
Dental resorption
It is a disease that consists of appearance of inflammation of the tissues adjacent to the tooth, which is weakening you more and more until a time comes when it breaks. The root dies, leading to serious disorders.
The most common symptoms are: constant drooling, not wanting to eat even though you are hungry and listless.
Tartar
The saliva of cats contains mineral salts, which over time accumulate in dental plaque thus producing tartar. In this way, the gums and the tissues that join them with the tooth socket become inflamed.
How to help them?
If we suspect that our furry has some dental or oral disease we have to take him to the vet as soon as possible to examine him and make a diagnosis. In this way, you will be able to put the most appropriate treatment for your case, which will be very helpful so that you can have a good quality of life.
But in addition, at home it will also be necessary to do the following:
- Brush your teeth daily with a cat-specific brush and toothpaste.
- Give him a quality diet, that is to say, without cereals. If he does not want to eat, we should give him soft food, from cans, which has more smell and flavor and is better to chew.
- Love him a lot. An animal that feels very loved will have more reason to move on.
We hope it has been useful to you. 🙂