Are you dealing with cat breath is nothing short of "cat-astrophic?" Fear not for the days you spend your life with terrible halitosis are nearing the end of a much anticipated.
Nasty cat breath is, unfortunately, pretty common and may be caused by dental disease. Basically, what happens is the bacteria is building along the gum line, causing gingivitis, gum inflammation, or infection. If left unchecked, gingivitis can eventually lead to periodontitis, an inflammation of deeper tissues surrounding and supporting teeth, and in severe cases, infection in the mouth can spread through the bloodstream to other parts of the body!
So the cats are at risk for dental disease? Most of the pet show early signs of dental disease as soon as it reaches maturity, especially if they do not get preventive care. But other factors can affect your pet's risk for dental disease. Here are a few:
Diet dry food leaves less residue on the teeth than soft food. Chewing hard buckets help keep your pet's teeth clean, but not always enough. Ask your veterinarian about a diet specially formulated for cats to reduce the formation of tartar.
One of the main chemical factors that can cause tartar buildup is the individual chemistry of your cat's mouth. Some pets need yearly dental cleanings and others require them only every few years.
Certain metabolic diseases metabolic disease, such as hypothyroidism or kidney disease, may increase the risk of your pet, dental diseases. Diseases that wreak havoc on the immune system, such as feline leukemia virus and feline immunodeficiency virus infection, may also play a role.
So aside from the funky cat breath, how can a cat lovers know whether their pet is valuable to have dental disease? Keep your eye out for these signs:
Red, swollen gums
Bleeding gums
Little or no interest in food
Trouble eating
Drooling
Loose or broken teeth
Heavy tartar deposits on teeth
Swelling or drainage hole at the bottom of the eye
If you see one, get your cat to the vet.
In addition to cleaning the house weekly and annual cleaning at the vet's office, make sure your cat has plenty of toys to chew rawhide gear and strip. While they alone will not prevent dental disease, they help remove plaque.
Nasty cat breath is, unfortunately, pretty common and may be caused by dental disease. Basically, what happens is the bacteria is building along the gum line, causing gingivitis, gum inflammation, or infection. If left unchecked, gingivitis can eventually lead to periodontitis, an inflammation of deeper tissues surrounding and supporting teeth, and in severe cases, infection in the mouth can spread through the bloodstream to other parts of the body!
So the cats are at risk for dental disease? Most of the pet show early signs of dental disease as soon as it reaches maturity, especially if they do not get preventive care. But other factors can affect your pet's risk for dental disease. Here are a few:
Diet dry food leaves less residue on the teeth than soft food. Chewing hard buckets help keep your pet's teeth clean, but not always enough. Ask your veterinarian about a diet specially formulated for cats to reduce the formation of tartar.
One of the main chemical factors that can cause tartar buildup is the individual chemistry of your cat's mouth. Some pets need yearly dental cleanings and others require them only every few years.
Certain metabolic diseases metabolic disease, such as hypothyroidism or kidney disease, may increase the risk of your pet, dental diseases. Diseases that wreak havoc on the immune system, such as feline leukemia virus and feline immunodeficiency virus infection, may also play a role.
So aside from the funky cat breath, how can a cat lovers know whether their pet is valuable to have dental disease? Keep your eye out for these signs:
Red, swollen gums
Bleeding gums
Little or no interest in food
Trouble eating
Drooling
Loose or broken teeth
Heavy tartar deposits on teeth
Swelling or drainage hole at the bottom of the eye
If you see one, get your cat to the vet.
In addition to cleaning the house weekly and annual cleaning at the vet's office, make sure your cat has plenty of toys to chew rawhide gear and strip. While they alone will not prevent dental disease, they help remove plaque.