Dental Health Month

February Pet Dental Health Month

Are you brushing your cat's teeth? Are you having them cleaned two to three times a year by a professional? Maybe like me, you are doing the once a week thing, like I do on Sundays. I clean ears, brush teeth and do a bath, not every week, but at least two times a month. To my surprise, this is not enough to keep my pets really healthy!

When our cats have bad dental problems, this can and will lead to other health issues. Did you know the cat is prone to certain dental disease that can cause some very serious health problems? Gum and tooth problems are the leading cause of health problems in cats. I am here to help you go for it, and even an old cat can learn to let you clean his or her teeth.

Where to Start

If you have a cat over three years old and have never had their teeth cleaned by your vet, I first suggest you should go for a well DDS checkup and see what your dentist has to say. Once you get a clean bill of health, it is now your turn to bond with your cat over teeth cleaning, and to make this time a pleasant time that is not stressful for either of you.

Your vet probably will also inform you that at least once a year you should have your cat's teeth cleaned by a hygienist. Non-anesthesia is what you want to look for. Anesthesia should only be used in the cases where teeth need to be pulled or for deep gum work. Most cats can have the yearly cleaning done by a hygienist who can come to your home and not use anesthesia, and for not too much money. You can expect to pay from $150 up to $200 for a good in-home cleaning, you may be able to find this service for less - it will all depend on where you live.

Benefits of Regular Brushing

When you brush your cat's teeth, you reduce plaque and the build-up of tartar, which can cause gum disease. Brushing may also prevent something called forls. A forl is a pit that develops on a tooth near the gum line, and this can be very painful. I was told by my vet that one out of three cats suffer a forl at some point in their lives, so all the more reason for you to try to start when your cat is young, and brush his or her teeth a minimum of at least two times a week. However, if you can make it a daily habit, the health benefit in the long run will save stress for you and your cat, and could just save on what could be a very large dental bill.

PLEASE REMEMBER, HUMAN TOOTHPASTE IS VERY HARMFUL FOR YOUR CAT!!

Supplies

It is important that you use veterinarian approved toothbrushes, finger toothbrushes and toothpaste. Here are my five steps to help you get started with cleaning your cat's teeth.

1. If you have a kitten, or you have never tried to get to your cat's teeth, begin by using you finger dipped in something they love!. Try tuna water; cats love this! Use this training tool for four days by putting the treat (the tuna water) on your finger and open your pet's mouth and rub it all around. As the cat gets used to having your fingers around his mouth, praise him a lot.
2. Now move to a piece of gauze wrapped around your finger; now they are going to get used to a bulkier finger. Be sure to keep the sessions short, never more than three to five minutes at a time. Be sure you are working the tips of the gum line and the teeth. You can do this several times a day when first trying to train your cat, but I would suggest no more than three times, and spread them apart by several hours.
3. Now it is time to find toothpaste your cat will like. This is trial and error but they now make several flavor choices to choose from like chicken, beef and fish. They are all safe for your cat, and the best part of the whole process is that while you still have to brush his teeth, you don't have to try to get your cat to rinse. You will still be using a finger wrapped with gauze at this point. Put the toothpaste on the gauze and brush the gums and teeth. Once they are used to this, you are ready for the next step.
4. It is time to get the toothbrush. Here too, there are many styles on the market. You can find anything from a plastic glove with finger brushes on the thumb and forefinger (my personal favorite), to a regular toothbrush, to a toothbrush you can put on your finger. If you find that you receive too much resistance from trying to brush your cat's teeth with a brush, you can use a clean piece of gauze to apply the toothpaste.
5. Remember to brush the teeth well. I even like some of the new breath sprays available on the market today, and this is the last step I take. I can promise you, I know that if I am unable to brush everyday, I will at least try and use the new breath spray I have.

“Remember the animals in your life are not just your pets they’re your friends” WNR

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