What is periodontal disease
70% of cats up to 3 years old have periodontal disease, the most common in adult cats Clinical symptoms,
It can cause various oral diseases, seriously affect the cat’s internal organs, and cause damage to organs such as the heart, kidneys, liver, brain and bladder.
In cats with periodontal disease, bacteria on the surface of the teeth can cause the accumulation of white blood cells and cause bacterial infection.
These bacteria, food residues and saliva will form a plaque, and after 24 hours these plaques will mature to form dental plaque, and the minerals in saliva will harden the plaque, which is dental plaque. Stone formation and birth.
Is it very complicated, in fact, just like we eat for a long time without brushing our teeth, food residues remain on the surface of our teeth,
Long time. Not only will it cause tooth decay, but it will also affect the gums and the nerves connected to the gums.
So we often say that toothaches are terrible, too uncomfortable!
We are all so miserable, what about the cat?
If the calculus accumulated on the surface of the cat’s teeth is not treated in time, it will cause inflammation of the cat’s teeth and damage the cat’s immune system, which will make the cat’s teeth red and swollen And inflammation, do not ignore!
Once the tooth inflammation is irreversible, the only way is to extract the tooth!
Think about how terrible it is for a kitten that is only a few years old to be forced to have its teeth pulled out because of lack of proper care.
Clinical manifestations of periodontal disease
Halitosis (this is all chronic The first and easiest symptom to be noticed by parents who are feeding cat food Inability to eat normally, chewing food
Blood in the basin or chewing
blood in saliva
loose teeth
Reluctance to be touched
Sneezing or nasal secretions
The above are some periodontal diseases Symptoms and specific symptoms still require the judgment of a professional doctor.
But if your cat has one of these symptoms, please pay attention to it and go to the hospital for treatment as soon as possible.
Common oral examinations by doctors
1. During the physical examination , the doctor will usually pry open the cat’s mouth to observe and assess the plaque and calculus.
2. However, if cleaning is required, professional scaling and polishing must be performed after the cat is anesthetized, and the growth of each tooth must be observed and evaluated.
3. If necessary, it is necessary to take X-rays for careful observation
How to prevent periodontal disease
Daily periodontal care is the best way to prevent periodontal disease!
Of course, pay attention to diet, use mouthwash, and chew with teeth to clean food residues left on teeth
There are many methods, the most important thing is the persistence and patience of parents.
It is recommended to gradually familiarize the cat with the taste of toothbrush and toothpaste from the time the cat is 4-5 months old.
If your cat is an adult, you must be patient to train them, and go to the hospital for a detailed periodontal examination at the same time,
Follow the doctor’s advice, do not blindly and arbitrarily Compulsory brushing of cats’ teeth will not only arouse their disgust with brushing, but also affect your relationship.
How to brush your teeth
1. Choose the right time
Brush your cat’s teeth when they’re most relaxed: for example, when they’re just waking up, when they’ve washed their faces, when they’re most tired of you.
Observing whether the cat is relaxed is also one of the homework of parents.
If the cat is struggling a lot, wrap them in a large towel or blanket
If they are really nervous, don’t continue on the day, change time, after all feelings Most importantly
In the process of getting familiar with the cat, you will try all kinds of setbacks and failures. But in the long run, cats know that this is something they can’t escape, and they will slowly accept it.
2. Daily brushing/regular brushing
Just like us humans, daily brushing is the most A good choice
If you are busy with work or your cat resists seriously, you can choose to brush your teeth regularly (2 to 3 times a week)
Plaque will deposit in the mouth24-48 Calculus will form in a few hours, so if it is not treated in time, the tartar will accumulate and form inflammation.
3. Choice of toothbrush
3. strong>
There are a lot of toothbrush options on the Internet
Finger sets
Toothbrush
Removing tartar
Never use a human toothbrush and toothpaste. Cats are not dogs, and their teeth are very small. Using a human toothbrush will damage the cat’s gums!
4. Brushing method
In the initial familiarization stage, we You can use a finger cot to cleanly wipe the cat’s teeth and pay attention.
Then try putting toothpaste on the fingertips for the cat to lick to familiarize them with the smell and see if they like the toothpaste.
Cat toothpaste is edible!
Then try applying toothpaste or treats (cat strips) to the toothbrush and let them lick on the toothbrush. Finally, let the cat get used to the feeling of the teeth entering the mouth
Every step must be patient!
TIPS:
Lift the cat’s upper lip, place the toothbrush on the surface of the teeth, and think of you How do you brush your teeth~~ The toothbrush and the teeth are at a 45° angle, and the way to draw a small circle should be brushed left and right up and down.
Notes
If you are just starting to brush and your cat has gum inflammation, a small amount of bleeding is normal The phenomenon.
But be careful if you keep bleeding every time you brush your teeth, are you brushing too hard?
Is the cat’s inflammation more serious? If yes, go to the hospital immediately, the cat will tell you that it is uncomfortable!
Also, don’t eat a big fat man in one bite, just brush a little every time, you don’t have to brush the whole mouth,
One small step for you is one giant leap for a cat. Don’t worry about other teeth, change the place to brush every day, mainly brush the canines and premolars.
And don’t worry about the inside of the teeth, their little tongues have a cleaning function.
You can feed them a small snack or distraction while training.
