How to keep your cat’s teeth healthy and sparkling with these 5 basic dental care tips for cats
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Although our feline friends cannot tell us they have a toothache or feel discomfort while eating, they suffer from painful dental issues like humans. However, taking proactive measures to prevent dental problems can save you and your beloved pet from inconvenience. Learn the basic dental care tips to improve your cat’s dental health.
Ensure Well-being With Yearly Checkups
- Unfortunately, most pet owners don’t realize the significance of annual dental checkups and veterinary visits. Over time, minor dental issues can become significant health complications, especially when left untreated. Therefore, it is crucial to prioritize your feline’s annual checkup.
A dental examination is an essential part of the yearly veterinarian assessment. During this time, the veterinarian assesses the pets’ overall health and oral well-being. In addition, if your cat requires professional dental cleaning or has other dental problems, inform your veterinarian to address the problem promptly.
Consider Specialized Dental Diets For Cats
- Diet and regular checkups are vital in protecting your cat’s dental health. Talk to your veterinarian to determine the appropriate food choices that promote your cat’s overall well-being and dental health.
Specialized prescription diets are available for cats suffering from dental diseases or oral health concerns. These diets are specifically formulated to improve a cat’s dental health. Moreover, clinical trials are run to validate the effectiveness of specialized diets in maintaining good oral hygiene.
Establish A Daily Dental Care Routine
- While adult cats require additional patience and effort, teeth cleaning can be manageable if you start when your pet is young. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) recommends using gauze and toothpaste to familiarize young kittens with teeth cleaning. Another helpful tip is to dip your finger into canned tuna or chicken juice and gently rub it on the cat’s gums to make the process enjoyable for them.
However, once your cat understands this routine, switch to a bristled finger brush or a toothbrush specially designed for cats. It is essential to remember that consistent daily brushing is the most effective method to prevent dental disease in cats. Toothpaste formulated for felines are easily available in appealing flavors. Nevertheless, avoid using toothpaste intended for humans, as fluoride ingestion can cause severe illness in your pets.
Gently Stimulate Gums During Brushing
- Dental decay often results from irritated or inflamed gums. Therefore, gum stimulation is essential to your pet’s oral care routine. Healthy gums have a pink and vibrant appearance instead of red.
If you notice inflamed and red gums in your cat, it could indicate an underlying dental disease. While brushing your cat’s teeth, gently massage their gums. This helps heal and strengthens the gums, reducing the risk of future gum problems.
Offer Hard Chew Toys
As natural predators, cats need a diet that includes hard bones, which helps in tartar removal and maintains healthy teeth and gums. Since domesticated cats do not prey on mice and other animals for their daily meals, provide them with hard chew toys. This helps satisfy your cat’s natural chewing instincts while promoting their dental health.
However, when selecting chew toys for your cat, ensure they are not harder than your fingernail. Extremely hard toys can lead to tooth fractures. Furthermore, it is advisable to choose toys specifically designed for cats.
For professional teeth cleaning of your pet, book an appointment with Autumn Trails and Veterinary Center. We perform various dental services to help keep your pet’s mouth looking and feeling great. We are located in Charlottesville, VA. Appointments are conveniently available; call us at 434-971-9800.
