Free Cat and Kitten Content For Your Site

Important

Dental Disease in Dogs and Cats

Periodontal disease (problems in the area around the teeth) is one of the most common health problems in companion animals. It is estimated that 80 per cent of dogs and 70 per cent of cats older than 3 years of age suffer from some level of periodontal disease. Just as in the human mouth, the process begins with plaque, which is made of salivary proteins and bacteria. The bacteria irritate the gum, causing an inflammatory reaction, which is known as gingivitis. If the plaque is removed by toothbrushing, the gingivitis resolves and the gums return to normal. If the plaque is not removed, it hardens into "tartar" or "calculus." The calculus provides a rough surface for even more plaque to accumulate. Bad breath may be noted. Inflammation continues in the gums and can also affect any bone in the area, resulting in destruction of the bone around the tooth roots. Eventually, the teeth become loose and may fall out.

In addition to tooth loss, periodontal disease has other, more serious, consequences. The millions of bacteria present in an unhealthy mouth can spread to other parts of the body, such as the heart, lungs, kidneys, and liver, causing disease in these vital organs. In small breed dogs with tiny jawbones, the bone destruction caused by periodontal disease can weaken the jawbone enough to cause a fracture.

The good news is that periodontal disease is completely preventable! Removing the plaque reverses the inflammatory process in the gingiva and restores the gums to health. As we know from our own experience, plaque removal is best achieved by brushing the teeth. Dog and cat teeth are not as close together as ours are, so flossing is not necessary. However, in order to be effective, brushing must be done every day. A soft-bristled toothbrush with a small head is the best tool for removing plaque from your dog's or cat's teeth. Special pet toothpaste is available in flavors such as "malt," "poultry," and "seafood" to help your pet enjoy the experience. Human toothpaste can cause stomach upset if pets swallow the toothpaste. Because dogs and cats rarely get caries (cavities), fluoride is not necessary. Feeding special diets such as Hill's T/D and encouraging chewing activity with toys such as the Dental Kong also help reduce plaque accumulation.

Daily toothbrushing, special diets, and chewing activity help prevent plaque from hardening into calculus. Once calculus is present, however, a professional cleaning is required. Although the bone destruction caused by periodontal disease cannot be reversed, the inflammatory process can be stopped or slowed with proper treatment. Routine periodontal treatment involves sonic or ultrasonic scaling above and below the gumline. Because your veterinarian cannot simply tell your pet to "hold still," these procedures require that your pet be placed under anesthesia. Anesthesia always has inherent risks. However, your veterinarian is experienced and the risk related to anesthesia is minimal. To further minimize this risk to your pet, your veterinarian may recommend blood and other tests prior to sedation. These are done before anesthesia to reveal any problems that may not be obvious from a physical examination. Dental x-rays are important to determine the amount of bone destruction present. Teeth with significant bone loss may benefit from periodontal surgery. Extraction is usually recommended for teeth with little bone support remaining.

In addition to periodontal disease, cats can develop "resorptive" lesions, which can lead to pain and difficulty eating. These lesions are sometimes called "cavities," but they do not result from bacteria and sugars as people's cavities do. Cells such as the ones responsible for removing deciduous (baby) tooth roots become activated and start to attack permanent teeth. The result is destruction of large amounts of the tooth and exposure of the nerve, or pulp, inside the tooth. Pain may be evident in behavior such as pawing at the face, dropping food, drooling, or reluctance to eat. The areas of destruction can be seen on careful examination of the teeth and with the use of dental x-rays.

Resorptive lesions cannot be filled like human cavities, as the cells continue to work under the filling to destroy the remaining tooth. The current recommendation for affected teeth is extraction. At this time, because we do not know why the cells become activated, there is no known way to prevent resorptive lesions. Regular examinations by your veterinarian will help to detect these lesions early, before they cause significant pain to your cat.

By brushing your pet's teeth every day and scheduling regular examinations with you veterinarian, you can provide your companion with a lifetime of fresh breath, clean teeth, healthy gums, and strong jawbones. In addition, you will be helping to keep your pet pain free and in overall good health.

The above is general veterinary information. Do not begin any course of treatment without consulting your regular veterinarian. All animals should be examined at least once every 12 months.

About the author:

From the Textbook of Veterinary Internal Information: Client Information Series. Copyright © 2000 by W.B. Saunders Company. All rights reserved.

Linda Mar Veterinary Hospital and its cat-only affiliate, Coastal Cat Clinic, are small animal practices located in Pacifica, California. To find a veterinarian or to learn more about the vet clinic and our staff, visit:[http://lindamarvet.com/]

Buy this Art Print at AllPosters.com

Also see : Leash Training Your Cat Leash training, like any other training, a cat will require the proper tools, research, patience and good reinforcement. Cats are intelligent and sensitive which you will never want to use force or physical threats on a cat. What you Need to Know about Cat Food #1 Cats Need Protein in their Cat Food The cat food you feed to your cat should always be rich in protein. This generally should come from meat, poultry or fish.

Buy this Poster at AllPosters.com

Recently added articles Korean scientists clone red fluorescent cats Korean scientists have cloned cats possessing red fluorescence protein (RFP) that can be used to treat human genetic diseases Fancy a Cat Clone Sure, you can clone your favorite cat. But the copy will not necessarily act or even look like the original. The Scottish Fold Cat The first Scottish Fold cat came from a farm in Pearthshire, Scotland, England in, 1961. The cat was discovered by a local shepherd who noticed the strange folded ears Cats Help Shield Owners From Heart Attack Whether it's a frisky kitten or a tubby tabby, a cat at home could cut your heart attack risk by almost a third, a new study suggests It is estimated that a cat can kill up to one hundred birds each year. Millions of birds are killed by pets and feral cats as are tens of millions of rodents and other small animals. Cats are not a natural part of the ecosystem. They were introduced to North America in large numbers in the 1800's. Unlike other predators, cats are fed and inoculated against disease, and are not reliant on their hunting skills for survival. In addition to killing birds through hunting, cats can transmit diseases, which kill wildlife. Feral, or wild cats are descended from domesticated pets When cats are lost or abandoned, they return to a more primitive wild state, know as feral. Although feral cats may live alone, often they join large groups or colonies of other wild cats. Their lives are hard, and their life expectancies are much lower than their domesticated kin The two most obvious reasons a cat may no longer want its food, is firstly has the food gone bad. Sometimes cat food can become tainted in its packaging, check to see if the can has any dents in it or if there is damage to the packaging in any way. Smell the food your self and see if there are any unusual odours or any mould on the food. Secondly, is the cat ill in any way? Sometimes bad teeth can cause problems or they have a stomach bug. A vet should check out any suspicions of illness immediately. Build a four-perch cat tree Complete plans for a cool cat tree Even though felines tend to be very healthy for the duration of their lives, they do have some common cat ailments. For the most part, a healthy diet and careful grooming will alleviate and even prevent many common cat ailments. If your cat changes its behavior or schedule of activities, a checkup with a veterinarian is highly recommended. While the turnout may be one or more common cat ailments, it never hurts to be on the safe side. Cat Stomped to Death in Film Draws Outrage Cyber sadists have figured out a way to profit from cruelty to small creatures Animal rights activists say it's high time China enacts tough laws to stamp out such abuse. A Potential New Pet Food Scare The issue this time is jerky treats made in China. Specifically, veterinarians are reporting an increase in cases of dogs being sick after eating certain jerky treats. The symptoms of the sickness include vomiting, diarrhea and severe lack of energy. Fortunately, no pet deaths have been reported as of yet although veterinarians are only becoming aware of the problem on a large scale now. Also see : Could Your Dog or Cat Be at Risk for Kidney Disease?: Catching an Illness at an Early Stage Is Your Best Strategy Just like people, animals are susceptible to illness and stress. And, just like people, there is a lot you can do to keep them healthy. Leash Training Your Cat Leash training, like any other training, a cat will require the proper tools, research, patience and good reinforcement. Cats are intelligent and sensitive which you will never want to use force or physical threats on a cat.

Buy at AllPosters.com

Also see : Save money and time by applying proven solutions to get rid of cat urine odor in your home Cat Owners' Cat Training Books: Cats are wonderful animals! It is remarkable how well these animals have adapted to domesticity

Buy at AllPosters.com

Is Your Cat A Mac Daddy Cat? Mac Daddy Cat Challenge- Can your cat hack it? Think you have a Mac Daddy Cat? Upload your cats photos and let the world decide.Can your cat hack it? Check out today's featured article! Also see : Cat Litter Box Strategies for Special Needs Kitties: You don't often hear about or see information for special needs kitties. These may be blind, very old (with limited mobility), or disabled in some way. Disabled cats may be amputees, or even paralyzed. Feeding and Training a Cat: Semi-moist foods are usually less expensive because they contain some vegetable protein and are usually supplemented with nutrients to make them nutritionally complete, especially for growing kittens

Buy this Art Print at AllPosters.com

Also see : Ensure a Good Relationship Between Your Cat and Your Kids: Many parents know that the best way for children to learn compassion and the importance of keeping commitments is by helping to care for a cat Health Problems In Cats: It may come as a surprise, if you're a new cat owner, that many health problems may befall your feline friend. Some problems are easily preventable, while others are hereditary

Support Your Local Cat Adoption Programs

New Article - Pet nutrition basics for dogs cats


New Article - Keep your cat disease free


New Article - Groom your cat to avoid hairballs


New Article - Dental disease in dogs and cats


New Article - Cat litter box location strategies

Add Your URL To Our Directory
Submit your link to our open link directory - all websites are welcome to post their link

---

More Cat, kitten, cat litter, free content, Articles

How Long Will My Cat Live?: Veterinary medicine has made some great advances in recent years, and this is one of the reasons the average age of domestic cats is increasing.
A well cared for cat that is kept indoors and is fed a good nutritional diet, would be expected to live for about 15 years

Could Your Dog or Cat Be at Risk for Kidney Disease?:
Catching an Illness at an Early Stage Is Your Best Strategy Just like people, animals are susceptible to illness and stress. And, just like people, there is a lot you can do to keep them healthy.

Tell a friend:

Buy at AllPosters.com

---

Vote for our site

Pet Classifieds Free Pet Classifieds

Our Awards

An Engineer's Guide to Cats

New Article - Five cat food factors that discourage feline utd


New Article - Training a cat to do tricks




New Article - Health risk of catnip


New Article - Feral cats

More Articles from my Article Directory

Pet Nutrition Basics for Dogs & Cats
Good Nutrition is just as essential for your pet’s health as it is for your own health. Your pet needs a balanced diet to help keep him healthy. Unlike humans, your pet’s daily diet is the same day to day.

Hyperthyroidism in Cats:
Hyperthyroidism is caused by a tumor, usually benign, of the thyroid gland that secretes excessive amounts of thyroid hormone. This has many effects on the cats body since the thyroid controls many basic body functions such as heart rate

Falling in Unrequited Love with a Siamese Mix: Yoda, the Cat!
Twelve years ago, after he started living on his own, my son adopted a Siamese mix and called him, "Yoda."

Discover the Trade Secrets of Professional Ragdoll Cat Breeders
to Care for, Breed and Show Ragdoll Cats

Home remedies for cats & other pets: Urinary Infection
A common home remedy for a cat urinary infection is the intake of cranberry, orange and other citrus juices. They work in boosting the acidity of the urine and decreasing the amount of bacteria

The Temperament Of Cats
Perhaps you imagined yourself as a sleek young woman like Selena Kyle. But is a cat the right pet for you? To decide, you must have an idea what to expect from a cat. You must be familiar about the temperament of cats.

The Manx Cat Myth
A neighbor or someone you know has a tailless cat. You've never seen anything like this so you inquire, they tell you it's a Manx cat.




New Article - Cloned cat kittens


New Article - Natural food for dogs and cats


New Article - Scottish Fold Cat


New Article - The right cat litter box for your cat


New Article - When to vaccinate your cat your kitten


New Article - Cats and kidney disease


New Article - Dog and cat allergies


New Article - Your cats first Vet visit


New Article - Train a cat to listen

Newest Cat and Kitten Articles

Finding the Perfect Cat or Kitten for You and Your Family:
Some people say they are exclusively "cat people," meaning they only want to have a cat as a pet. That doesn't mean that just any cat will be the right companion

Pet Horoscopes - ARIES: (3/21-4/20): Aries cats are always bursting with energy. They love attention, petting and cuddling and are never shy. In fact, it may be hard to keep up with these hyperactive animals.
Quick tempered, they are not the type to back down from a fight. They are easily embarrassed, so don't scold them in public. Reward good behavior with a special snack. Never give your cat "people food." Strong flavored and spicy treats are their favorite. The most difficult aspect of keeping an Aries cat is to get them to obey you. They may be difficult to housebreak. Firmness, a schedule, and repetition is what is needed.

The best ways to HALT CAT AGGRESSION:
whether it is fear aggression, petting-induced aggression, re-directed aggression, territorial aggression or just plain old play aggression

The Manx Cat Myth
A neighbor or someone you know has a tailless cat. You've never seen anything like this so you inquire, they tell you it's a Manx cat.

"Safety in the Fresh Air and the Outdoors for Your Cat - How To Build a Cattery"
Animal welfare organizations and humane societies have been very successful in helping people to accept that their cats are safer living exclusively indoors, especially in urban areas.

Ragdoll Cat Breed Origins
The Ragdoll cat's origins are filled with wild and bizarre stories. The stories frequently contradict depending on who the storyteller is and much of it borders on the ridiculous

How to Make a Smooth Move with your Pet
Moving with Cats: You know how stressful a move can be, and now imagine how your cat can feel on seeing you packing boxes and movers wrapping the furniture and taking it away. Cats are territorial animals and feel the change of environment much stronger than dogs


New Article - Common cat ailments


New Article - Taking care of an older cat


New Article - Get ready for kittens