Werwin15, Flickr
The key to healthy feline teeth is regular at home and professional cleaning but many well-meaning pet owners don't know how important this is. And it's not completely their fault. "Most veterinarians don't address dental health in cats," says Dr. Michel Selmer, veterinarian at Advanced Animal Care Center in Huntington Station, N.Y. A vocal advocate for the importance of dental health in pets, Selmer devotes 20 percent of his practice to oral issues.
In honor of Pet Dental Health Month -- and for the sake of 70 percent of American kitties -- Paw Nation asked Selmer for tips on how to keep your cat's mouth in good shape.
The process starts when they're kittens, with pet owners using a finger cot or gauze and toothpaste made specifically for them. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) recommends dipping your finger in tuna water before rubbing it on your kitty's gums to make the experience more pleasant. If you're uncomfortable, or you have just adopted an older cat who won't stomach your finger in his mouth, a once-yearly cleaning at the vet's office is recommended by the AVMA, beginning after a cat turns two.
Steer clear of the hard treats advertised to clean cats' teeth, Selmer advises. Although chewing on them can help break tartar from the teeth, the chunks that break off can represent a choking hazard.
Just like human babies, cats will lose their first set of teeth, a process that usually begins around 3 months. "Usually you won't even notice they're losing them," Selmer tells Paw Nation. Whether the teeth are swallowed or fall out on the floor, it's a normal occurrence -- and choking is not a concern.
What isn't normal, he says, is an adult cat losing a tooth. "After their baby teeth are gone, there is no reason an adult cat should lose a tooth," he explains. "But cats get periodontal disease, which leads to inflammation and infection of the gum, and that can lead to the tooth rotting and falling out." The tooth itself is a concern, but Selmer says owners should be most worried because periodontal disease in cats can affect the heart, liver and kidneys, much as it does in humans.
"If a tooth falls out, the first thing you should worry about is why," Selmer says. "It is an indication that something is abnormal here." It's up to your veterinarian to determine whether the tooth fell out because of disease or was broken and knocked out via trauma (such as a fight).
Some signs that periodontal disease is the cause include yellow and brown tartar buildup along the gum line, red inflamed gums, and persistent bad breath. Cats are also prone to resorptive lesions, a progressive and painful disease that will slowly break down the tooth structure.
Your vet can determine whether your cat needs oral surgery (if there are tooth fragments left behind) or a course of antibiotics. If disease is the cause of a missing tooth, Selmer says you need to talk to your vet about how to get your cat's health back to normal. That includes instituting a dental regimen at home and with your vet.
Related Videos
More Cute Stuff
- Lion Love (Daily Squee)
- This Cat Means Business (I Can Has Cheezburger)
- Zebra Tan! (I Has a Hotdog)
- Cat Guys or Dog Guys? (Petside)
- Reducing your Carbon Paw-Print (Discovery)
Sponsored Links
Advertisement
Time-Lapse Tortoise Noms Salad
WHY CAN'T I E-MAIL THIS ARTICLE ? KEEPS SAYING I HAVE NOT PUT IN A VALID ADDRESS....SHICH I HAVE ! VERY ANNOYING.
The only thing the veterinarians aren't saying is how many of these poor kittie's jaws have been broken when doing a teeth cleaning. This is still a fairly new practice (for cats). Proper diet & dental treats do the trick for my furry friends.
Dental cleaning for cats as well as dogs is very expensive. I have had a cat for the past 50 years and have never had there teeth cleaned. Also dental cleaning in felines requires anesthesia which has its risks. My vet got very snippy with me when I voiced my above opinions. How many people have between $300-500 to have there pets cleaned in this economy?
This is truer than many might think. I recently had my 15 yr.old cat in for a dental which is done every year. Apparently during the procedure they believed a canine tooth needed to be removed and in attempting to do so they fractured her jaw. She is now recovering with a wire keeping the lower jaw in place and fortunately is eating well and exhibiting all of her old behaviors.
I question the need for the tooth extraction given her age - and, by the way, the tooth was NOT extracted, but left in its' place after the fracture occured. Now the vet is telling me I don't need to take her to a specialist after the wire is removed! I will take her to a specialist to examine the offending tooth because I need to know the whole story.
My cat Chloe (who turns 16 March 24) has her own secret for sharp, clean teeth which she gives permission to share with other cats out there. She chews cardboard. There is not much made of cardboard in this house that doesn't have tooth marks! She has never had a professional cleaning---and I am not putting fingers in that little mouth--she bites, but her teeth are in great condition. At her last vet check-up I said aren't her teeth great for almost 16 and our vet said her teeth are great for any age! She's an Iams girl but I think good genetics as much or more than good nutrition.
My old vet tried several times to convince me of this "necessary" procedure. Cats don't need teeth cleaning. Neither do dogs, rodents, reptiles, or any other pet you choose to have. It's not natural. It's quite expensive. Finally, there is always the risk your beloved kitty wouldn't wake up. Not worth it to me.
You are sadly mistaken. Dental care in animals is vitally important, bacteria between the teeth goes into the bloodstream and then continues to cause problems for major organs. Keep thinking your cats don't need teeth cleaning, and while you're at it, go a good 3-5 yrs without brushing your teeth...then see if they need to be cleaned. Ignorant people shouldnt own animals. You should at least be as smart as your cat. Teeth cleaning is vitally important to animals.
Madyson, dear heart, I imagine you are one of the nuts who believes anything she hears and caves to every fad. Animals don't need dental care. It's just another way for vets to get money. I had two cats live until 16 and 17 years old, a good life for any animal, and neither ever had dental work. I believe animals in the wild also don't have this precious dental care you are raving about. Take a closer look at your own intelligence before you insult someone else's. Besides, if you actually read these posts, you are in the minority sweetheart.
Well sad to say in this economy alot of people can't afford to have their own dental care done, let alone their pets. My brother's beagle had a dental cleaning about 5 years ago and it cost over $300 then. I am sure it varies widely depending where you live. We can go really crazy with what we do for our pets or we can be neglectful or aim for middle ground. When I adopt a new pet they get an exam, their vaccinations, and spay/neuter...from there it is on an as needed basis. When you put out a lot of money but you go home with your pet you don't mind so much as when you are out the money and the pet. I look at what the age, what the problem is, if the odds of a good outcome are in our favor or not. I decided that with all the healthy young animals waiting for homes being euthanized as much as I love an older pet, how can I justify spending 1000's of dollars to try to keep them alive. I have had some really positive vet experiences and some really bad ones. I try to recognize they are human and fallible. I do think the desire for $$$ sways some in the wrong direction. Probably one experience that makes me angriest/saddest is one cat who died alone in vet hospital some time during the night. I given false hope for recovery that time. Another one of my cats I took in with a lump in her nipple which the vet told me was an umblical hefrnia that she had since birth but I never noticed. I am a woman and an RN--I know what lumps in breasts mean. . Had to take her back 3 times before the vet (and she was a woman too) did a needle biopsy. I think she was too embarrassed to face me with the results. I had to run her down for days and actually it was one of the other vets in practice who finally called and confirmed my diagnosis. In all honesty I give my pets get better medical care than myself, but I am drawing the line on $300 dental cleanings.
my 22 year old cat, Summer, has been to the Vet to get her shots and to get fixed... that's it. she never had a need otherwise.
the whole dental care deal seems to be a money maker. after 22 years--and still counting---my Summer has been able to take care of all of her "medical/dental" needs naturally.
Why not just pull all the cats teeth and put denture implants?
Pulling all of the teeth from the canines back is one of the treatments for severe stomatitis. They don't put in dentures. Some cats are able to eat dry food while others then require a wet food diet.
WOW A FIFTY YEAR OLD CAT? LOL. I HAVE TWO CATS AND I BELIEVE THEY CLEAN THEIR OWN TEETH.AFTER ALL THEY SURVIVED LONG BEFORE THIS,THESE VETS ARE GETTING OUT OF HAND WITH THEIR PRICES
getting your animals teeth professionally clean is just another thing for them to make money....My oldest cat was 20 years old when she died....I never cleaned her teeth and her teeth were good....Let them chew on hard kibble throughout the day and give them toys they can sink their teeth in like mice filled wth catnip...my cats get canned food ,too.....I also bought little kids toothbrushes in (soft )and use them once in awhile on my other cats.....My dog chews on rolled hide and it cleans the tartar off her teeth......now...if your animal has really bad gums with infection then you need a vet....
Kat....50...I think you are stretching this a little.....lol
I don't think she means the same cat for 50 years, just that she has had cats for 50 years. C'mon & think, will ya?
I agree with you except after I saw sanjay gupta on CNN say a bag of fluids cost over 200 dollars for humans and I know for a fact that is a big rip-off the hospital is charging............I just use common sense with all my animals ,...I am not going to take my old animal to get its teeth cleaned because i don't trust the anesthesia.......also,your vet can write perscriptions for some meds that are allot cheaper at a pharmacy then from the vet office............
Kat,find another vet.I've had my share of paying for cat teeth cleaning.Where I live,its not too $$.Where my younger daughter lives,its very $$ and which I paid of rmost of the bill too.
I have 5 cats. My oldest cat has had no dental problems, he is 19 years old. My 10 year old cat has had all her teeth removed because of gum disease, My 9 and 8 year old cats have each had one tooth removed. My 4 year old has had no problems. I feed only science diet {hard]. So i don't know what the answer is. Why do some cats have dental problems
I volunteer at a shelter and have seen many cased of dogs and cats with rotten teeth. It's very painful for them, and many are skinny because they cannot eat properly. It's just like humans, if you take care of them, you're fine. I'm not sure a regular vet cleaning is needed, tho, for a cat, just a rubbing with gauze as often as your cat puts up with it, but keep an eye on them for bad breath or inflamed gums.