H E A LT H
&
W E L L N E S S
Teeth Troubles
By
Suha Jafri
Find out what are the common dental problems in pet cats and dogs
and what you can do to maintain oral hygiene and avoid dental
diseases.
Pet dental hygiene is a cause for concern
for many pet owners, mainly because
the symptoms can often go unnoticed.
Sometimes, the symptoms are so minor that
the dental problems are discovered at a
much later stage.
Regular check ups are an absolute necessity
for your pet but if you, or your pet, dislike
constant trips to the vet, then you can do a
few routine checks at home to ensure that
your pet’s teeth and gums are healthy.
CATS
Dental diseases are one of the most common
medical conditions in felines. Approximately
two-thirds of cats over the age of three
have some kind of dental disease. The most
common problems are due to periodontal
disease, gingivitis and cervical neck lesions,
also known as oral resorptive lesions.
The most common cause of oral disease in
cats is tartar and calculus accumulation on
the teeth. The tooth surfaces are a home
to thousands of bacteria that multiply and
produce a layer of plaque. Some of this
plaque is naturally removed during eating or
by use of the tongue. However, the remaining
14
plaque quickly mineralises, forming tartar and
calculus.
Tartar is easily identified by its dark colour. It
normally starts at the gum edge, especially
on the back teeth. In severe cases, tartar
and calculus may cover the entire tooth.
If the disease is caught at an early stage
and thorough veterinary dental scaling and
polishing is performed, most of the teeth and
gums will have full recovery. This is why it is
extremely important to ensure oral check ups
are up to date.
Periodontal disease is an inflammation or
infection of the bone and ligaments that
support the teeth; as it
progresses these
tissues are
destroyed,
leading to
excessive
tooth mobility
and eventual
tooth loss.
Bacteria
can spread
deep into the
tooth socket
creating abscess
or even more severe