Taking Kitty To The Dentist

It is important for your cat to go to the dentist at least annually for checkups, the same as it is for you. Many people never think about this. Good dental health can keep your cat happy and disease-free for a lifetime. Whenever your cat goes to the vet, make sure that dental health is checked and discussed. If your cat is acting strangely or seems to have changed his eating habits, make sure that poor dental health is not the problem.

Kittens, like human babies, have fewer teeth than adult cats. Each kitten has 26 temporary teeth, which begin to appear at about three weeks of age. As an adult cat, they will develop 30 permanent teeth, 16 on the top and 14 on the bottom, which will begin to appear around the age of three of four months old. Some of these teeth have two roots while others have three.

The most common dental diseases found in cats are resorption lesions and gum disease (gingivitis). Resorption lesions are also known as cervical line lesions or neck lesions and often result in tooth loss. These lesions are difficult to detect, as they often grow below the gum line. Over 70% of all cats developer gun disease by the age of three. If your cat's teeth shows a yellow and brown tarter build up along the gum line and over the tooth, red inflamed gums, and chronic bad breath, you can bet your cat has gum disease.

Oral disease is often an indication of other more serious health problems. For example, it is common for a cat with feline leukemia virus (FeLV) to have oral health problems.

Dental conditions are also commonly found with feline immunodeficiency virus and feline calicivirus. If your cat is found to have dental problems, you need to see a vet right away to make sure they are not symptoms of a much more serious condition.

During a fight with another animal, or even biting something too hard to chew, a cat can loosen or even break a tooth, which usually ends up being the upper canine tooth. This is the tooth in your cat’s mouth that looks like a large fang. If this is fractured, your cat may or may not be in pain. The first symptom of this kind of a fracture is continuous sneezing.

Cats are susceptible to a number of dental diseases and problems, just like we are. By taking your cat to the vet often and asking about oral health, you can make sure that you are providing the best health care for your feline friend. After all, your cat is  not just a family pet, but instead, is another member of your family.