Cat Dental Care
Prevent your cat’s dental tartar from getting worse
Cat Dental Care
Prevent your cat’s dental tartar from getting worse
How do I brush my cat’s teeth at home?
- It is best to start getting your kitten used to brushing their teeth at a young age. You can use a veterinary formulated toothpaste in a flavor such as “tuna” or “chicken” which can make it more palatable. Some kittens do best with a finger brush or veterinary toothbrush. You will want to start slowly and increase from there.
- At first, you can offer your kitten a small amount of a wet cat treat or the toothpaste and allow them to lick it off your finger, or off the toothbrush. Limit sessions to a few minutes or less once a day or every couple days. During these sessions, you may want to use a towel or loose blanket but do not restrain your cat harshly as this can set you back considerably. After a few sessions, you may progress to brushing the teeth in the front and on the sides. Most of the veterinary toothpastes will work as long as they make contact with the teeth.
- Home care is meant to prevent your cat’s dental tartar from getting worse, but will not reverse existing dental disease.
- Please note that if your cat has pre-existing dental disease or stomatitis, their teeth may be too painful to allow you to brush them. If your cat seems painful or is dropping food, it is best to ask your veterinarian whether it is time to schedule a dental cleaning or oral surgery for your cat.
Why does my cat have bad breath?
Bad Breath may be a sign of dental disease or stomatitis. Your veterinarian can examine your cat’s teeth and see if one of these is the culprit. There are also systemic diseases which can cause bad breath, so if your cat does not have dental disease, your veterinarian may offer additional diagnostic testing such as bloodwork to see if a systemic disease is causing the issue.
Why is my cat drooling?
Drooling can be a sign of nausea or dental pain in cats. If drooling is a common issue for your cat, it is important to have your veterinarian perform a dental examination on your cat. If your cat is too painful to allow a dental examination while awake, your veterinarian may offer a sedated examination or may recommend scheduling a dental procedure.
Why is my cat dropping food while eating?
If your cat drops food while eating, this is commonly caused by oral pain which may be due to dental disease, oral mass, or stomatitis. It is important to have your veterinarian perform a dental examination on your cat. If your cat is too painful to allow a dental examination while awake, your veterinarian may offer a sedated examination or may recommend scheduling a dental procedure.
How often does my cat need his teeth cleaned?
Veterinary dentists recommend a professional dental cleaning for your cat at least once a year. If your cat has more significant dental disease, dental cleanings may be recommended more often.
What can I expect during a dental appointment for my cat?
- During a dental appointment for your cat, they will be placed under general anesthesia. This allows your veterinary team to clean your cat’s teeth, perform a complete oral examination, and take dental radiographs. Dental radiographs can show if there is dental disease below the gum line and if there are any teeth that need to be extracted, or if there are conditions that may require referral to a veterinary dental specialist.
- See also How to Brush your cat’s teeth, International Cat Care.