Caries In Cats: Is It Possible?
True or false: only men can have cavities? False of course, all mammals are susceptible to developing dental caries, including dogs and cats. And in our pet felines, cavities are particularly rare, but cause your pet to suffer in silence.
So what does cat decay look like? Prevention is better than cure, and for that, it helps to know your hairball’s oral system.
Caries In Cats: Formation And Description
A carnivorous animal par excellence, the cat generally has very good teeth. Cavities are therefore rare in our companions. However, if they appear, in particular because of an unsuitable diet, you must know how to recognize them.
The enamel of the cat’s tooth deteriorates. Gradually, the tooth deteriorates and becomes hollow, small cavities are observed in it, which slowly destroy the tooth. Meanwhile, Grisou is sensitive to pain and does not chew his kibble as usual. Sometimes, he doesn’t even dare to eat any more for fear of the pain.
Yes, your cat has a cavity. In veterinary matters, we rather speak of lesion of the collar or lesion of dental resorption. And spotting this oral lesion is not easy, since it has the same color as your cat’s tooth.
Only small cavities detected on his teeth, the unusual behavior of your companion or a check-up visit to your veterinarian will allow you to put a word on his ailments.
Good to know : it is generally the carnassials, the equivalent of our molars, which are affected by cavities in cats.
Avoid Cavities: Good Oral Hygiene
Oral health goes through prevention, as with humans. This is still the surest way to avoid complications and prolong the life of your cat in good conditions.
Many external causes can accelerate the process of caries formation. They can find their origin in an infection or an immune deficiency for example. However, the majority of cavities in cats come from poor oral hygiene.
However, you can take a few simple steps to avoid neck injuries, such as:
- Prefer kibbles to wet food, the latter allowing regular descaling gently
- Offer your cat a few treats a week to help maintain dental plaque
- Definitely ban sugar from your diet to respect your natural body
- Brush your cat’s teeth twice a week, this gesture is easier if you get used to it kitten
Finally, a routine consultation with your veterinarian is a good time to take stock of your cat’s teeth and detect any cavities as early as possible. In prevention, your veterinarian can carry out a descaling if he considers it necessary.
Treating Cavities In Cats: Fillings Or Extractions
Cavities in cats must be treated and cured quickly in order to avoid “pulpitis”, that is to say inflammation of the dental pulp. Indeed, this causes your cat to suffer from “dog sickness” and ends up completely destroying the tooth concerned.
Only your veterinarian can diagnose and treat cavities in cats. He can make a bandage or a filling to relieve your cat. But most often, he will choose the extraction of the tooth, for the comfort of your tomcat and the extinction of the pain.
A feline cavity can be expensive for cat owners: veterinary consultation, x-ray, general anesthesia and surgery. This is why we insist on the need for prevention and on the usefulness of taking out mutual insurance for your cat.
