Teeth are an essential part of all animals, including ourselves, that need to chop food. When we do not take good care of them, problems appear: the pain we feel prevents us from eating as we would like, and could even take away the desire to feed ourselves.
To avoid this, it is very important to carry out correct oral hygiene… both we and our furry friends. So let's see why cat cavities appear and what we can do to solve the problem.
Why do they appear?
Cavities appear when eating a diet rich in sugar, so it is not a very common problem in cats. However, if you usually give your furry treats or other sweet food, you expose them to suffer from this problem at some point in their lives.
In severe cases, it would end up being a disease known as feline odontoclastic reabsorptive lesion (or false cavities), characterized by destruction of the hard tissues of the teeth by the odontoclasts (cells). Unless treated, it will also spread to the cervical area of the tooth, and finally to the crown and root.
The symptoms are:
- Pain
- Anorexia
- Thinning
- Lethargy
- Mouth bleeding
- Bad breath
- Excessive salivation
- Swollen gums
- Loss of teeth
- Yellowing teeth
- Swallowing problems
What are the causes?
The causes of false cavities consist of:
- Viral diseases such as leukemia, feline immunodeficiency, calicivirus, and herpesvirus
- Oral fractures
- Acid hairball regurgitation
- Diet low in calcium or with excess vitamin D
How is it treated?
If we suspect that our cats have this disease, we must take them to the vet. Once there, An x-ray will be done and the affected teeth will be removed.
Then at home we will have to give them a soft diet (wet food) to make it easier for them to chew, and clean their teeth daily with a brush and a specific toothpaste for them.
Has it been useful to you?