1
I've been feeding my 11-year-old cat a special lamb and rice cat food which seems to have helped his itchy yeast infection-prone ears. Now, however, I'd like to feed him a dental diet food for his bad breath. How long does he need to be on the lamb and rice diet before I can safely switch, or does he need to be fed that forever?
2
I wanted to know what products are good to help keep my cat's teeth healthy.
3
My 7-month-old male kitten has severe halitosis. Other than that he seems very happy and healthy. He constantly plays and has no trouble eating dry food. The gums around his canine teeth do seem to be a bit reddish, though. What should I do? Thanks!
4
My cat has a recurring mouth infection. She has been getting steroid shots, which aren't lasting, or good for her. My veterinarian suggesting putting her to sleep. Any ideas?
5
Is it normal for my almost 5-month-old kitten to have incisors growing in behind the ones already existing? Do the old ones eventually fall out? My kitten currently has 4 incisors on the bottom and 4 on the top.
6
I think my 3 1/2 yr. old female and 5 year old male cats may need a professional teeth cleaning. Their teeth are on the yellow side (I noticed some plaque build-up) and gums are pinkish-red. However, I am wary of the anesthesia that professional teeth cleaning requires. I know there are always risks with anesthesia--not to mention that the ordeal would be quite traumatic on my cats! Do you think this is necessary for their health? Are there other options that do not require anesthesia? Thanks for your opinion!
7
My cat is 7 years and is losing his teeth. What can I do?
8
My cat has a front broken tooth (one of the long ones). She has an absess and it must be pulled. I need to know that this will not be painful for her afterwards.
9
We found our cat as a stray about four years ago. As such, we don't know her exact age, although we didn't think she was that old when we found her. Recently, she started getting alot of mats in her fur, and it seems she won't clean herself properly. She also has her tongue sticking out through her teeth almost all the time- something we didn't ever see her do before. Is this age-related, or perhaps stress, as she is a mostly indoor cat who lives with two of her own male offspring? What could we possibly do- or is there nothing to be concerned about?
10
I noticed that my cat drools when she sleeps. Is this normal? I've been noticing that when she's sleeping she has some drool on the sides of her mouth and sometimes on her chin. I've even noticed some on her whiskers.
11
Why does my cat have bad breath?
12
My cat is over 13 years old. I'm concerned about cleaning his teeth cleaned.
1
I've been feeding my 11-year-old cat a special lamb and rice cat food which seems to have helped his itchy yeast infection-prone ears. Now, however, I'd like to feed him a dental diet food for his bad breath. How long does he need to be on the lamb and rice diet before I can safely switch, or does he need to be fed that forever?
If the yeast infection in his ears has been responsive to a dietary change, switching food may result in the return of the infection. I would suggest that you merely add a few kibbles of the dental diet to his normal food and continue to monitor both his ears and his breath. If his ears begin to bother him, you may not be able to add in the dental diet. If however, the ears remain clean and clear, you can try adding in a bit more of the dental diet. A dental diet may help with his bad breath but if the tartar on his teeth is severe or he has gum disease he may also need a dental cleaning to really clear up the odor from his mouth.
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2
I wanted to know what products are good to help keep my cat's teeth healthy.
Your cat's teeth should be kept clean to reduce the likelihood of the development of dental problems. Many cats will allow their teeth to be cleaned, especially if this procedure was started from the time they were were weaned as kittens. Use a small toothbrush made just for cats. A nonfoaming cat toothpaste, specially flavored with a taste cats like, is usually sold with the toothbrush. These products are available at most pet stores. Remember to keep dental care sessions short. As a word of caution, do not use toothpaste formulated for humans because cats will ingest the toothpaste and it may cause an upset stomach.
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3
My 7-month-old male kitten has severe halitosis. Other than that he seems very happy and healthy. He constantly plays and has no trouble eating dry food. The gums around his canine teeth do seem to be a bit reddish, though. What should I do? Thanks!
It is calculated that 95% of cats will have dental disease in their lifetime, making this the most common disease of pet cats. Dental disease begins as the cat eats and food particles accumulate along tooth surfaces. Bacteria in the mouth digest the food to form plaque, which is the yellow sticky film found on the teeth. As this infection spreads, dental disease develops.<br><br>When enough plaque builds up, an infection of the gums known as gingivitis can occur. This is often seen as a red line along the teeth on the gums. As time passes, the plaque calcifies and hardens to form tartar, which, in a way, holds the infection against the teeth and pushes it still further under the gums, leading to the formation of "pockets". Periodontal Disease is this deeper infection of the gums along the tooth margins and tooth roots, which will, if left unchecked, lead to tooth loss as the root decays. Clinical signs include bad breath, rubbing the face and mouth, increased salivation, bleeding gums, pus around the teeth and the obvious build up of plaque and tartar on the teeth. As for humans, plaque and tartar must be removed from the teeth with scrapers and mechanical devices, and then teeth need to be polished smooth again. As animals will not "hold still and open wide", anesthesia will be needed. While not 100% preventable, there are many things that can be done to preserve oral health. Feeding dry kibble is a good place to start. Brushing the teeth on a regular basis with disinfectant medications or enzymatic pastes is also possible depending upon how cooperative the patient is. Your veterinarian can show you how to do this and recommend appropriate products. Lastly, remember that plaque will still form and some degree of professional care will be needed from time to time.
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4
My cat has a recurring mouth infection. She has been getting steroid shots, which aren't lasting, or good for her. My veterinarian suggesting putting her to sleep. Any ideas?
There are many reasons a cat may have chronic recurring dental or mouth infections. If steroid shots are not helping, you might want to consult with a veterinary dentist to see if a dental procedure may be helpful. Another possibility is to consult with a veterinary internist to determine if an immune dysfunction may be the reason that she is unable to fight off the infection. Either way, there may be specialists in your area or at the Veterinary College who could give you a second opinion.
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5
Is it normal for my almost 5-month-old kitten to have incisors growing in behind the ones already existing? Do the old ones eventually fall out? My kitten currently has 4 incisors on the bottom and 4 on the top.
The incisor teeth normally fall out at about 6 months of age. However, if both sets of teeth are present at the same time, they may need to be removed by your veterinarian. Please visit your veterinarian to determine if the teeth will fall out on their own or a dental procedure is needed to remove them.
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6
I think my 3 1/2 yr. old female and 5 year old male cats may need a professional teeth cleaning. Their teeth are on the yellow side (I noticed some plaque build-up) and gums are pinkish-red. However, I am wary of the anesthesia that professional teeth cleaning requires. I know there are always risks with anesthesia--not to mention that the ordeal would be quite traumatic on my cats! Do you think this is necessary for their health? Are there other options that do not require anesthesia? Thanks for your opinion!
Good dental health is unfortunately often overlooked for our pets. Plaque on the teeth can lead to gum disease and infection and bacteria in the mouth can lead to infection elsewhere in the body. I believe good dental health is extremely important. Although there is always a risk with anesthesia, there is also a risk with poor dental hygiene. Please discuss with your veterinarian the best approach to clean your cat's teeth and to keep them clean in the future.
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7
My cat is 7 years and is losing his teeth. What can I do?
Your cat is a bit young to be having such trouble with his teeth but it can happen. Dental or gum disease are often reasons that a cat might lose their teeth. Regular dental care is important to overall health and for healthy teeth and gums. This includes proper diet, regular teeth brushing and regular dental cleaning. Other metabolic diseases can also result in gum irritation and infection and tooth loss. Please consult with your veterinarian for the best treatment regime for your cat.
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8
My cat has a front broken tooth (one of the long ones). She has an absess and it must be pulled. I need to know that this will not be painful for her afterwards.
An abscessed tooth is very painful and must be treated. It is essential that she has this taken care of before she becomes quite ill. At the same time she should have all her teeth cleaned and examined for other problems. If she is in any discomfort after the dental surgery your veterinarian could prescribe pain medication for her.
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9
We found our cat as a stray about four years ago. As such, we don't know her exact age, although we didn't think she was that old when we found her. Recently, she started getting alot of mats in her fur, and it seems she won't clean herself properly. She also has her tongue sticking out through her teeth almost all the time- something we didn't ever see her do before. Is this age-related, or perhaps stress, as she is a mostly indoor cat who lives with two of her own male offspring? What could we possibly do- or is there nothing to be concerned about?
Both the problems you mentioned, the matted fur and tongue protruding from her mouth could be signs of a dental or oral problem. If she has a dental problem it may be too painful to groom herself or keep her mouth closed. Cats do need dental care including dental cleaning and tooth brushing on a regular basis. A veterinary examination will help determine the cause of her problem and then, appropriate treatment can be prescribed.
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10
I noticed that my cat drools when she sleeps. Is this normal? I've been noticing that when she's sleeping she has some drool on the sides of her mouth and sometimes on her chin. I've even noticed some on her whiskers.
A cat may drool if they are experiencing some oral health problems. Dental disease or even a sinus problem may cause a cat to have increased amounts of saliva and result in drooling. If the problem is recent, a veterinary examination is needed to determine why she is now drooling when she sleeps.
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11
Why does my cat have bad breath?
A foul odor from the mouth is usually indicative of dental disease or sinus problems. Maintaining good dental health is an important part of caring for your cat. Not only should her teeth be brushed regularly, but she needs to have then cleaned as well. Dental tartar and disease can cause gum irritation and tooth loss as well as metabolic diseases from the bacteria on the tartar entering the body. A veterinary visit will determine just what needs to be done to find the source of the odor and the appropriate treatment.
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12
My cat is over 13 years old. I'm concerned about cleaning his teeth cleaned.
Good dental health is an important component of longevity in our companion animals. Not only can dental disease be painful, but tartar can cause gum infections and the bacteria can travel to other parts of the body. Prior to anesthesia your veterinarian will do a physical examination and possibly some blood work to determine the overall health of your cat. Many veterinary hospitals use short acting inhalation anesthesia to help diminish the risks. Working with your veterinarian and carefully assessing the health of your cat will determine if a dental cleaning is the best option for him.
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