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Your Cats Teeth - Have You Brushed Them Recently?
Our pets, today, are living longer than they ever have before. This is a great thing for the millions of pet owners who love their animals. There is, however, a down side. The longer lifespan of our pets also leads to age related complications; diabetes, arthritis and tooth decay. While most of these illnesses require expensive medicines and treatments, tooth decay can be very easily prevented at home.
Dental disease begins to affect cats as early as age three. In fact, close to 70% of cats have signs of dental issues by this age. With so many cats being affected, what is a concerned owner to do? Thankfully, there are some fairly simple things that the average cat owner can do to prevent or prolong the onset of dental issues.
One of the best things that you can do for your cat begins when it is just a small kitten. Get the kitten used to having its teeth brushed - yes, brushed. Brushing your cat's teeth has the same effect as brushing your own, it will help to remove tartar and plaque. Another advantage to brushing is the fact that it also helps to eliminate bad breath. There are several methods and products available to you to help you with this process. There are special brushes or sponges, tooth cleaners and even gauze that is designed for this.
When you are taking care of your cat's teeth, the object is just to have the cat chew on the brush. This has the same effect as the up and down motion of actual brushing. If your cat doesn't like the brush in its mouth (and a lot don't), you can wrap a small piece of gauze around your finger, apply the tooth cleaner to the gauze and rub the cat's teeth with your finger. Getting your cat accustomed to this type of handling may take a little while, but there are some tried and true steps to help you both adapt to this process.
When you are first beginning the brushing process, go slow. Cat's, even kittens, don't like change. The first step is to get the cat used to you simply putting your fingers into its mouth. Be sure that the cat is in the most agreeable mood possible, use a calming voice and maybe have a friend as added help while you are getting the cat used to the idea of brushing the teeth. Begin by gently rubbing the gums, no brush is needed at this point. When the cat will let you put your finger into its mouth without protest, it is time to carefully open the jaws and rub on the inside of the teeth, again only with your finger. This step should go faster. When the cat is ok with this step, it is finally time to move to the brush or the gauze. Whatever you do, do not rush this process!
As your cat ages, there may be some amount of tartar and plaque build up despite your efforts to stop it. A simple trip to the veterinarian can help decide if a more through cleaning of the teeth is needed. These steps will help to ensure that your cat has healthy teeth that will last a lifetime.
