Can you imagine what your teeth would look like if you never brushed them? It’s no different for cats, though many cat owners don’t pay very much attention to their cat’s dental health. Bad breath and dirty teeth are unappealing, but many cat owners aren’t aware that these may be indicators of gum disease that can spread to the kidney, heart, and liver. The gums are a boundary to the bloodstream, so unless you are regularly providing dental care for your cat, you are neglecting an important factor in their overall health and putting them at a higher risk for serious illness.
70% of cats over the age of three suffer from some form of dental disease, so chances are your cat could use a dental exam. Even if your cat doesn’t have stained teeth, bacteria can still be present below the gum line, so it’s important to have your cat’s oral cavity examined by a professional. In fact, if your cat has bad breath, they have a form of dental disease.
Without proper care, plaque builds up on the teeth and turns into tartar. These areas spread as long as they are untreated and result in gum disease, tooth loss, and pain. Remember, your cat feels the pain of a toothache just like you do, and worst of all they can’t tell you they’re in pain. You wouldn’t go weeks or months without dealing with a toothache, would you? If your cat doesn’t receive routine dental care, they could be experiencing pain in their gums and jaw.
The best thing you can do to prevent dental disease is to call the Cat Sense Feline Hospital and Boarding to schedule an appointment for your cat. You have to do your part at home with brushing and special dental chews, but your veterinarian plays a vital role in your cat’s dental health as well. Annual dental exams are a necessary part of your cat’s overall health, so call us at (410)420-0535 or come by in person to talk about your cat’s dental health today.