Every caring and responsible cat owner wants to ensure the longest and most comfortable life for his cat. Taking care of your cat’s teeth is essential to preventing serious health problems and keeping your cat feeling well.
With the rapid development of veterinary dentistry, the care and hygiene of cats’ teeth is also becoming easier. Not all cats enjoy dental care, but a responsible owner’s goal would be to have a method that is most comfortable and appropriate for their four-legged family member.
Why is it important to brush your cat’s teeth?
Enamel damage, gingivitis, bad breath, tooth loss and other dental problems can result from poor oral hygiene in cats. Owners often notice darkened teeth and red gums. Dark spots on the crown of the tooth are dental plaque, and red gums are a sign of periodontal disease.
Cats need their teeth not only for eating, but also for carrying objects, toys, prey, protecting themselves from danger and other important functions. Damaged teeth and other problems in the oral cavity can eventually cause not only direct disorders, but also indirect malfunctions of internal organs. Malnutrition due to painful and damaged teeth in cats leads to emaciation, roughness of the coat, liver and kidney disease.
Leer mas
The Manx cat is a unique tailless breed native to the Isle of Man
What is tartar in cats?
Tartar in cats is plaque that forms due to an excessive amount of bad bacteria and proteins in the mouth. These are crystallized plaques. Tatars can be visually recognized by owners by their color.
Tartars are yellow, brown and gray in color. Most often, calculi in cats are seen on the back teeth (molars), then on the canines. These stones cause many unpleasant phenomena both for the cat itself and for its owners.
What are the complications of tartar in cats?
Because of tartar, the gums begin to itch, so cats try to scratch them and damage objects in the environment even more. Bleeding and decaying gums can be very painful for cats.
Cats poke their faces at their owners more often, and in most cases, owners experience unpleasant odors. Sometimes the consequences caused by tartar can be complicated by sepsis, tooth decay, softness and fractures of the jaw bones and skull. Cat owners should take great care of their cat’s teeth, because not all tartar is visible in cats, sometimes it forms not on the crown of the tooth, but on the neck under the gums.
Leer mas
Why doesn’t my dog eat? Main causes and solutions
Cleaning the cat’s teeth can be done at a veterinary clinic by specialists or at home with additional tools.
How do you clean a cat’s teeth in a veterinary clinic?
When cleaning your cat’s teeth, tartar and other plaque are removed and the tooth enamel is polished. To carry out complete removal of stones and achieve the best effect, general anesthesia is applied to cats when cleaning their teeth – narcosis.
Cleaning a cat’s teeth without anesthesia can hurt him both physically and psychologically. Cleaning tartar in cats is carried out using a new special device – an ultrasonic scaler. By using the right equipment, the cat’s teeth are not damaged and the bacteria that form tartar are destroyed.
To ensure the health of the animal, we always recommend that cats have general blood tests before brushing their teeth.
Leer mas
The most popular cat names and their meanings
Cleaning cats teeth at home
After teeth cleaning and plaque removal in cats, veterinarians and dentists recommend using special tools at home to extend the interval between teeth cleaning procedures in the clinic. There is a wide variety of products for cleaning cat teeth, so owners can choose the most suitable ones based on the size of the mouth and the lifestyle of the animal with the advice of a specialist:
- Toothpaste and toothbrush for cats. Cat toothpastes can come in a wide variety of flavors to make it easier for your cat to undergo this procedure at home. Veterinarians and dentists recommend choosing special, small and very soft toothbrushes to ensure the most thorough cleaning of your teeth.
- Teeth cleaning wipes. This tool works for cats if the cat does not agree to cleaning with a brush, and it is easier for the owner to enter the cat’s mouth with the little finger of his hand. Teeth cleaning wipes reduce the reproduction of bad oral bacteria on tooth enamel.
- Liquid for the prevention of dental plaque in cats. You can use a special liquid to add to your cat’s drinking water. This type of preparation also reduces the growth of bad oral bacteria on tooth enamel.
- Tooth gel. Such a dental hygiene product is often the most convenient for the owner, since it only needs to be applied to the teeth without cleaning them. This method protects the host’s fingers, since the gel is applied with a special pipette.
- Special chews. Veterinarians recommend that dogs use special chews to prevent dental plaque, which help remove plaque naturally and prevent plaque formation.
How much does it cost to clean cats’ teeth?
The cost of cleaning cats’ teeth is calculated very individually based on the condition of each patient and the needs of its owner. The price of cat teeth cleaning at the Begemots veterinary clinic varies from 30 to 60 euros WITHOUT the drugs used during and after cleaning.
The cost of dental cleaning for cats can vary depending on the amount of plaque, gum damage, and the level of damage to the teeth themselves. All further tooth extractions, root canal treatment, restoration of a broken tooth, treatment of periodontal damage and similar procedures incur additional costs. The price of cat teeth cleaning does not include blood tests and inhalation anesthesia.
Cleaning cats’ teeth at the veterinary clinic «Begemots».
Begemoto Veterinary Medical Center offers several oral and dental procedures for cats. In the Begemoto clinic, dentists and stomatology specialists not only diagnose dental diseases and problems, but also treat and prevent them. Veterinarians: Dentists can perform the following on cats:
Leer mas
Cleaning and caring for your dog’s teeth
- Professional dental plaque removal and hygiene
- Therapeutic treatment of the oral cavity
- Aesthetic sealing to restore cracked parts of the teeth
- Extraction of milk and permanent teeth
- Endodontic root treatment
- Plastic and fracture surgery of the jaw
We encourage you to contact our veterinary team immediately if your beloved pet has oral problems.
latest posts published
Belgian Malinois: characteristics of the dog breed
Norwegian Buhund: characteristics of the dog breed
Caring for the Chinese Water Dragon
The best brushes for cats
How to choose the best chew toys and treats for your dog
How to train your puppy to walk on a leash
Czech Terrier (Cesky Terrier): characteristics of the dog breed
Pembroke Welsh Corgi: characteristics of the dog breed
The best bags for carrying cats
