Maintaining your cat’s dental health is not just about providing them with a stunning appearance, as it is vital to your cat’s overall health and well-being. Oral health problems in older cats can be a significant source of discomfort. But they also could be the start of a range of medical issues that affect your cat’s quality of life.
Being natural predators as predators, they know that those who are sick and weak will become their prey. Thus, it is in their nature to conceal any indicators of weakness. This is why it can be difficult to recognize your cat is suffering.
Old Cats and Their Dental Issues
It is inevitable to age, but suffering and illness aren’t. Your primary goal as a pet owner is to help the natural process of aging for your cat and to spot any signs of trouble in the early stages. By doing this, you can avoid a dangerous illness for your pet. As a pet owner, it is essential to know about some of the most frequent dental health issues that might be present in older cats.
1. Gingivitis
Gingivitis is a frequent dental health issue. Although you might think it is only an issue for humans, it may similarly impact your pet. Plaque build-up over time is the principal cause of gingivitis, primarily for older cats. Plaque bacteria are slowly transported to the gums and trigger an inflammation response from your cat’s immune system.
On the other hand, it’s essential to know that many circumstances can cause gingivitis. The feline leukemia viruses and diabetes are two such instances.
2. Periodontitis
Another common dental problem in senior cats is periodontitis, which develops from gingivitis. When plaque build-up occurs, it irritates the gums and bones that support your pet’s teeth. Dental loss can result if you do not treat it.
Your veterinarian will examine your pet’s mouth and teeth as part of a comprehensive physical examination to look for evidence of periodontitis. The x-rays produced by anesthesia are also utilized to check the jawbone and teeth’s supporting structures to determine the extent of bone injury. You can consult a cat dentist for your cat’s dental wellness and maintenance.
3. Tooth Resorption
As high as 75% of cats five years old or older suffer from tooth resorption, a painful condition of the dental system. Dentin is a bony component that forms a large portion of the tooth’s structure and is destroyed and eroded. The pain can be extreme; eventually, tooth loss is possible in cats suffering from this.
The cause of the root of dental resorption is still unknown. However, several theories have explained that tooth resorption, for instance, an excess vitamin D level within cat foods, further investigation is needed to pinpoint the precise etiology of the painful condition.
If you’re looking for a vet clinic in Seattle, you can do a quick search online and check on the best results available in the area.
4. Stomatitis
Stomatitis is the next most frequent oral problem in older cats. Chronic inflammation of the mouth tissues in cats is the primary reason for this awful illness. Alongside the gums, the tissue surrounding the teeth, as well as in the rear of the mouth of a cat, could be infected by this disease. Chronic gingivostomatitis in cats is a different name for the condition known as stomatitis.
We are still determining what causes the stomatitis that cats suffer from. There is no definitive scientific explanation currently, but it could result from the cat’s immune system reacting to the calicivirus or another immune-affecting virus.
To get in touch with a veterinary surgeon that can help you, you can ask for reputable vet facilities or search the web and book a schedule.
5. Oral Tumors
Oral tumors constitute the 4th most prevalent type of tumor affecting cats and dogs. Unfortunately, most of them are cancerous if your pet has Squamous-cell carcinoma, the most common type of tumor that you must act fast to identify and treat so that it can have the highest chance of surviving.
Several factors increase the risk of pet cancer. However, cigarette smoke or flea collars, the canned food for cats, have all been associated with an increased risk of squamous cell carcinoma.
