Bad breath is not a disease in itself. It is a symptom of an underlying problem. Often that underlying problem is periodontal disease. Left unchecked, poor dental health can lead to loss of teeth and serious infections throughout your cat's body. The harmful bacteria associated with dental disease produce blood infections which can damage your cat's vital organs.
As bacteria from the periodontal infection enters the bloodstream, it gets pumped into the heart, lungs, kidneys, and liver. After a period of time, the bacteria can cause serious diseases such as encephalitis, heart disease and irreversible kidney disease.
Prevention is the ideal. Studies show that by age three, more than 70% of cats show some signs of gum disease. You can help prevent gum disease by removing plaque regularly as part of your pet's home dental care routine. Most cats need professional teeth cleaning every six to 12 months.
Our dental services include teeth cleaning and polishing, and tooth extractions. The pictures to the right show before (top) with tartar build-up and after (bottom) the dental cleaning.
To schedule an exam for tooth evaluation and predental preparation, please call our client care specialists today.
| When Should I Have My Cat's Teeth Cleaned? |
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 Around 2 - 4 years of age cats typically start to build up tartar and can possibly have problems with gingivitis. We recommend dental care as needed to prevent the loss of teeth and decrease gingivitis. Dental disease in cats is cause for heightened concern due to the potential damage to internal organs that may develop.
Additional stress on a cat's kidneys can be caused by the bacteria and toxins released into the bloodstream as a result of plaque buildup. This is worrisome, as feline kidneys are subject to a number of age-related changes that can result in impaired kidney function or failure. Lack of regular dental care can, potentially, accelerate kidney deterioration and shorten your cat's lifespan.
Normal dental prophylaxis is recommended on a case-by-case basis for senior age cats. Ideally, regular cleanings would be performed to prevent tartar build-up, periodontal disease, and gingivitis (which can all contribute to systemic problems) but many times older animals have other serious health issues that deem dental cleanings an unnecessary risk. However, in a healthy kitty, advancements in monitoring, anesthesia, and pain management have made the dental prophylaxis a valuable tool in the perpetual war on disease.
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