保険 アリコ
Cat Advisors Online
Reports, Articles & Advice
on Cats and Cat Care
Your selected article is displayed below. Other articles can be selected by either returning to the
home page
or from the menu further down this page.
Dental Care for Kitties Most pet owners can spot their pet’s health issues right away. One health problem that may not be so easy to find is dental disease. Cats, just like humans, can have problems with their teeth. As cats age, most do have some form of periodontal disease. Only a vet can tell for certain, but there are things that you can look for when you suspect dental problems with your cat. Most vets would agree that dental problems can stem from other sorts of health issues and should not be ignored. Proper health check ups with the veterinarian and spot dental problems before they get out of hand, In addition, there are several steps you can take as a pet owner to help your cat have healthy teeth and gums. To help your cat’s teeth stay in top shape, there are several things you can do. First, make sure your cat sees the vet, sick or not, once a year for a health exam. The veterinarian will be able to spot dental problems during annual exams. Your vet will look for bad breath, tooth decay, and missing teeth. All of these can point to more serious issues. Another way to help your kitty have healthy teeth is to brush your cat’s teeth. Yes, there are special toothbrushes and paste that will help your kitty keep his or her teeth healthy. Daily brushing is recommended, but for most cats, twice a week will suffice. Most pet stores carry cat toothbrushes and soft rubber brushes that fit on your finger. If your cat is reluctant, try to do only a small portion of the mouth at first and then add more each day. If you have a kitten, start brushing his or her teeth very early to get used to the routine. There are specially made toothpastes that are available. Most cats enjoy the taste and will think of brushing as a treat. One product that is available to help keep kitty’s mouth healthy is specially made rinses. These are good for older cats and cats that already have dental issues. These special rinses come in antiseptic gels, rinses and flavored sprays. It is not recommended to use these instead of brushing, but the rinse will help with tooth decay. Just as dogs can benefit from chewing so can cats. There are numerous products available for cats to chew to help their teeth and gums. Some are flavored with fish or poultry, which appeals to most cats. The abrasive texture of these dental chews helps remove food, debris and plaque that can build up on your cat’s teeth. Extreme caution should be used when giving your cat a bone to chew for this purpose. Poultry bones are extremely sharp and brittle. Small pieces of bone can become lodged in your cat’s throat or digestive tract causing serious trouble. Most vets recommend that chicken and turkey bones never be given to cats for this reason. Proper dental care in your cat is very important. Problems with the teeth can be caused or can cause other health problems including periodontal disease, feline stomatitis, Feline Odontoclastic Oral Resorption Lesions (FORL) and malocclusion. Most of these dental problems are treatable with proper medical care. Periodontal disease is caused by build up of plaque and tartar. When tartar and plaque forms on the teeth is forces bacteria and food debris underneath the gum line and around the jawbone. This can cause inflamed gums and swelling and bleeding gums. Bad breath is another common sign of periodontal disease. This is the most common type of dental disease in cats and can be treated with a cleaning along with the use of antibiotics. Sometimes, extraction of some teeth is needed for extreme cases. FORL is another form of dental disease often found in cats. This can be compared to a cavity in a human. Lesions on the teeth begin to form in the enamel of a tooth. When the plaque accumulates, the tissue around the affected tooth becomes inflamed. Sometimes the irritation can extend into the pulp cavity and can kill the tooth. If your cat has FORL, the vet will usually recommend extracting the affected tooth. Feline Stomatitis is a very serious form of dental disease in cats. This is usually seen as an autoimmune disease and is most commonly found in cats that already suffer from more serious health issues. Stomatitis is caused when the body rejects and becomes allergic to the plaque on the teeth. Sometimes it can spread into the throat causing painful red lesions. When a cat has stomatitis, it will become very uncomfortable and may stop eating. You should seek the advice of your veterinarian right away. Another type of dental disease that cats can have is called malocclusion. This is when the teeth are not aligned properly. When a human has forms of malocclusion, braces are in order. When cats suffer from severe forms of this, it can cause difficulty with eating and lead to severe weight loss. With the advances in technology, there are now specialized vets that deal with orthodontics in pets. """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Find further advice, articles, cat care FAQ, and more at: http://www.cat-advisors-online.com """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Deworming Your Cat How Often
Parasite Problems in your Family Feline
Measures You Can Take to Prevent an Infestation
Fighting Fleas Indoors
Tips to Treating your Yard for Fleas
Flea Treatment Options for your Cat
How to Treat for Ticks around the Clock
Why the Cat Hacks Up Hairballs
How Can You Prevent Your Cat from Getting Hairball
s
Five Basic Tips to Co-Exist Peacefully with your Feline
Reasons to Declaw Your Cat or Not To
Five Tips for Litter Box Training Your Cat
How Often Should You Clean Your Cat's Litter Box?
Six Basic Behavioral Problems in Cats
What Is Cat Scratch Disease, and Preventing It?
Common Cat Allergies and How to Treat Them
Dental Care for Kitties
Easy Tricks to Medicating your Cat
Five Reasons Why Your Kitty Needs a Special Diet
Treatment for those Kitty Ear Mites
Mange Treatment Options for your Cat
What to Do when Your Cat Gets a Snake Bite
Top Three Skin Conditions in Cats
Top Signs that your Cat Might Have Been Poisoned
What to Expect When Your Cat is expecting
Important Basics in Baby Kitten Care
Major Milestones in Kitten Development
Timetable for your Cat’s Vaccinations
What Illnesses Does Your Cat’s Vaccinations Cover?
Ten Tips in Preparing Your Home for a New Cat
Six Important Cat Items Every Owner Should Have
General Nutrition Information for Your Feline
Dietary Needs for your Cat
Five Most Common Cat Ailments to Watch For
How to Avoid Catching an Illness from your Feline
Five Most Toxic Houseplants for Cats and What to Do
Interpreting your Cat’s Stalking Instinct
Spay or Neuter your Cat
Can Cats and Dogs Co-Exist Peacefully?
Things to Look for When Adopting a Cat from an Animal Shelter
Weight Management for your Feline
Birthing Basics for Cats What You Should Know
Beating the Heat Protecting your Cat from Extreme Temperatures
Easy Tips for Cleaning Up Cat Messes
Toxoplasmosis What is It and How to Avoid It
Training Your Cat Is It Even Possible?
Cats Need Leashes Too How to prepare them for that first walk
Valuable Insight into all that Caterwauling
Claw Care for Kitties
Collaring your Cat-How to Safely Keep Them On
|
Home
|
Contact
|
Links Of Interest
|
Link To Us
|
CAO's blog
|
© copyright cat-advisors-online.com 2006