Cat Dental Care

Dental disease is a reality for most cats. By 3-4 years of age, many cats have significant gingivitis, and many have periodontal disease. It is a slow process, but if it were to become severely infected, it’s very painful and can affect the overall health and well-being of your feline friend.

What is involved in a dental cleaning procedure?

Your cat should have a wellness exam at least once a year at which time their teeth will also be checked. It is significantly easier to address and resolve dental issues that are detected early. A dental cleaning is performed while your cat is under general anesthetic; the veterinarian may also do bloodwork before any anesthesia is given. The teeth will be closely evaluated, and x-rays may be taken. The teeth will then be scaled and polished.

What are the signs of dental problems in cats?

The importance of regular checkups is to catch any issues that your cat may have with their teeth before it becomes an issue. Signs to watch for that may indicate a problem may be drooling, bad breath, redness of gums, or having trouble eating.

Are some feline breeds more susceptible than others?

There are breeds of cats that may be more prone to dental problems such as the Siamese and Persian breeds. Genetics is also a factor that can contribute to dental problems. With the help of your veterinarian and regular checkups, monitoring the health of your cat’s teeth, no matter what breed of cat you own whether it is purebred or mixed, your veterinary team will be prepared to take care of any issues that arise.

What is feline tooth resorption?

Tooth resorption is a problem that will affect many cats over the course of their life. As a tooth starts to break down becoming “holey” in a sense, the tooth begins to dissolve away being reabsorbed. It generally, but not always, affects multiple teeth at a time. Unfortunately, the best course of action is to extract the affected teeth. Like most dental issues, tooth resorption can be quite painful and uncomfortable for your cat.