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Like Humans, Cats Also Need Regular Dental Checkup
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by: Russell
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Word Count: 493
Cat enthusiasts need to make sure that a dental checkup is part of every trip to the veterinarian. Like all mammals, cats are vulnerable to a variety of dental diseases and problems, some more serious than others. Having your vet give your favorite tabby a thorough dental examination 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 begins to get his or her permanent teeth. Kittens start out with twenty-six "baby" teeth, which usually begin to appear when a kitten has reached the age of three to four weeks. Starting an an age of about three or four months, permanent teeth begin to replace these temporary teeth. By the time the process is complete, adult cats have a total of thirty permanent teeth divided into two rows of sixteen (upper jaw) and fourteen (lower jaw) teeth.
Because cats don't eat foods rich in sugar or drink highly acidic soda pop, cavities are generally less widespread in cats than they are in humans. Unlike humans, however, cats can't brush or floss, which makes them quite susceptible to a gum disease called gingivitis. More than 70 percent of cats have some level of gum disease by the time they turn three. Symptoms of gum disease are inflamed gum tissue, a build-up of brown or yellow tartar or calculus along the gum line, and persistent bad breath. A vet can address these issues by removing the tartar and calculus deposits, which in turn reduces inflammation and mouth odor.
Another fairly routine dental issue with cats is a broken tooth. Often caused by a fall or trying to bite or chew on extremely hard food, this kind of dental injury usually involves a cat's sharp upper incisor. A cat may or may not exhibit signs of pain if it has a broken tooth. Cat owners are frequently alerted to the condition, however, by the seemingly unrelated symptom of sneezing. Cats with a fractured or broken tooth signal it's time for a trip to the veterinarian by sneezing repeatedly and with virtually no interruption.
While gum disease or a broken tooth usually prompt cat owners to visit a vet without much delay, regular checkups can also help to ward off or identify more serious conditions. Oral health problems in cats are sometimes indicative of more serious conditions like resorption lesions or viral infections like feline leukemia, feline immunodeficiency or feline calicivirus.
Having a vet check the oral health of your cat on a regular basis can add many happy years to the life of your pet. Finding a vet for your cat is often as easy as asking a friend or relative who also has a pet. If you're a solitary cat lover looking for a vet, check your local or online yellow pages for a list of qualified veterinarians in your immediate area.
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Are you a cat lover looking for a vet? Locate a veterinarian in your neighborhood using CityBook.com's online yellow pages.
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