Like humans, cats also need regular dental examination Cat lovers need to ensure that a dental exam is part of every visit to the vet. Like all mammals, cats are vulnerable to a variety of diseases and dental problems, some more serious than others. Having your vet give your favorite tabby a thorough dental exam at least once a year is an important step in ensuring a long and healthy life for your cat.
Most dental problems in cats develop after a cat starts to make his permanent teeth. Kittens begin with twenty-six "baby" teeth, which usually begin to appear when the kitten reaches the age of three to four weeks. Starting a d'environ age of three or four months, the permanent teeth begin to replace these teeth. When the process is completed, the adult cats have a total of thirty permanent teeth divided into two rows of sixteen (upper jaw) and fourteen (lower jaw) teeth.
Because cats do not eat foods high in sugar or soft drinks highly acidic, cavities are generally less common in cats than they are in humans. Unlike humans, however, the cats can not brush or floss, making them very susceptible to gum disease called gingivitis. More than 70 percent of cats have some degree of gum disease when they turn three. The symptoms of gum disease are inflamed gums, tartar build a brown or yellow or calculation along the gumline and bad breath persists. A veterinarian can solve these problems by removing the tartar and calculus deposits, which reduces inflammation and bad breath.
Another issue fairly routine dental with cats is a broken tooth. Often caused by falls or try to bite or chew food very hard, this type of dental injury usually involves a cat marked upper incisor. A cat may or may not show signs of pain if she has a broken tooth. Cat owners are often informed of the state, however, by the seemingly unrelated symptoms of sneezing. Cats with a fractured or broken tooth signal, it is time for a visit to the vet by sneezing repeatedly and with virtually no interruption.
Although gum disease or a broken tooth usually invites owners of cats visit a veterinarian without undue delay, regular checkups can also help to remove or identify serious conditions. problems of oral health in cats are sometimes indicative of serious conditions such as damage or reduction of viral infections such as feline leukemia, feline immunodeficiency and feline calicivirus.
Having a veterinarian check the oral health of your cat on a regular basis can add many years of happiness in the life of your pet. Find a veterinarian for your cat is often as easy as asking a friend or relative who also has a pet. If you're a lonely cat lovers looking for a veterinarian, consult your local or online yellow pages for a list of qualified veterinarians in your immediate area.
Posted on April 8, 2010.
