When it comes to veterinary dental care, most pet owners think only of dogs. But did you know that proper dental care is just as important for cats? Your Las Vegas veterinarian at All About Cats Veterinary Hospital tells why.
Why is Cat Dental Care Important?
Just as we humans are susceptible to serious gum and other diseases caused by poor dental care, the same holds true for your cat. Why? True for dogs, humans and cats, food particles combine with saliva that forms plaque which adheres to the teeth and gets under the gums. Plaque is a bacteria magnet. The bacteria then attacks tooth enamel, gum tissue and bone sockets that hold the teeth. Enter gingivitis, periodontal disease, tooth loss, jawbone abscesses and sometimes even infections that spread to the major organs.
How Can I Tell If My Cat Has a Dental Problem?
Cats are secretive, and especially when it comes to pain. They try to hide their discomfort so as not to show weakness, which is how they instinctively protect themselves in the wild. This means you have to do the legwork. If your cat’s behavior suddenly changes, check his or her mouth for:
- Red or swollen gums
- Painful gestures when eating
- Pus
- Foul breath
- Strange lumps
All of these require immediate treatment by our Las Vegas veterinarian.
Dental Cleaning and Evaluation
Prevention is the name of the good health game and that’s why we do a thorough evaluation and cleaning on all our patients.
- Step 1 is a visual inspection of the entire mouth where we evaluate all the teeth and gums.
- Step 2 is a complete set of dental x-rays of all the teeth at no additional cost to you, this service is usually extra charge at other hospitals.
- Step 3 is a thorough cleaning to remove the tartar which attracts bacteria. If we find any damaged teeth or dental decay, we will then perform the necessary treatments required to treat the problem.
Anesthesia
In order to give your cat the dental treatment he or she needs, our Las Vegas veterinarian must use anesthesia to keep him or her still and comfortable. We understand many owners have concerns about the use of anesthesia on their pet, but rest assured, we use the very safest, cat-proven anesthesia product and we monitor your cat’s condition closely throughout the entire procedure.
Preventative Dental Care: Your Role
Good dental health requires more than a yearly cleaning by our vet. You also play a big part in keeping your cat’s teeth healthy. We strongly recommend purchasing a toothbrush and toothpaste especially designed and formulated for cats. In fact, we can give you advice on the best products as well as show you the easiest technique for brushing your pet’s teeth. We can even recommend certain cat foods and treats that are specially designed to prevent dental tartar.
As the Las Vegas cat veterinarians who treat only cats, Dr. Terri Koppe, Dr. Jody Morris, Dr. Heather Zamzow and Dr. Samantha Stewart have the experience and expertise to give your cat the best available dental care. Contact us for an appointmentfor us to evaluate your cat’s dental health!
Still have questions? See ourFrequently Asked Dental Questions page and/or give us a call! (702) 257-3222.