Our pets need the same hygiene products as humans. And the teeth of cats and dogs also require grooming. How to brush a cat's teeth and how, at what age to accustom an animal to this procedure - we will talk about this in this article.
What a tiger, what a kitten
Our domestic cats are a species of cat family. And all representatives of this species are real predators and themselves actively extract their prey. Accordingly, the structure of the teeth in them has clear features of fitness specifically for this method of nutrition. The question of why and how to brush a cat’s teeth arises due to the fact that our pets often eat completely non-natural food. And this weakens their natural mechanisms for cleaning teeth from tartar and bacteria in the oral cavity.
Domestic cat's teeth
Like humans, cats have milk teeth that are replaced by permanent teeth at the age of three months.
The kitten’s milk teeth begin to grow from two weeks of age. The babies have 12 incisors, 4 canines and 14 premolars located on the upper and lower jaw. The growth of milk teeth in kittens is not accompanied by any unpleasant moments.
The loss of milk teeth and the growth of molars in cats is often completely invisible to the owner. A 9-10 month old cat has 30 teeth:
- The front teeth are incisors. There are 6 on each jaw.
- Elongated fangs - 2 on each jaw.
- Distant teeth are premolars. There are 8 on the upper jaw, and 6 on the lower jaw.
- At the very end are molars. There are 2 on each jaw. These are the so-called wisdom teeth and may not grow in all cats.
These are the teeth of a cat and after a complete change of dairy to molars, all pets are vaccinated against rabies. A vaccine administered before the end of their shift can lead to underdevelopment of dental bulbs and partial loss of teeth by the cat. Therefore, during this period they do not get vaccinations, especially from rabies!
How often?
It is clear that there is no physiological need to brush a kitten’s milk teeth. But it is from childhood that it is logical for a pet to start accustoming to this procedure. And you can start with a simple massage of the gums, gradually accustoming the pet to the brush and paste.
During meals, cats, like humans, have leftovers on their teeth and between them. Over time, tartar (mineralized plaque) forms on them, while in cats it is located on the outside of the teeth. Its growth leads to gum damage, stomatitis and periodontal disease.
In their natural habitat, cats get rid of tartar by eating bones, but our pets often eat soft and liquid foods. Thus, problems with tartar in domestic cats should be helped to solve. To clean a cat’s teeth from tartar (how and by what, we will tell below) is not difficult, but it can be done no more than 2 times a week.
Remember: eight out of ten domestic cats over 3 years old have dental problems. The growth of tartar injures the gums, leading to their inflammation and bleeding. And bacteria can enter the bloodstream and lead to serious damage to the entire animal organism.
Symptoms when you can not pull
When certain symptoms appear, in order to avoid thorough damage and even tooth extraction in cats, it is imperative to brush your teeth at a pet. These symptoms include:
- Bad smell between meals from the cat's mouth.
- Pinned or pinned hard formations on the teeth. Usually they are tan.
- Red and sore gums, sometimes bleeding.
- Irritation of the animal when eating. Mournful meowing and constant friction on the cheek.
- Tumor-like flux on the gum of an animal. In this case, the veterinarian must be consulted urgently.
Cats are proud creatures and often do not show at all that there are problems with teeth. This is how the process can go quite far, and gingivitis will cause the cat to chew only on one side and lose weight. That is why cats aged should be regularly taken to the veterinarian for examination, which will allow you to identify the problem in time and begin timely treatment.
Toothbrush and toothpaste
Rule number one is choosing cheeks and pasta. The veterinary industry offers special toothbrushes for cats, even massage and bristles in the form of a fingertip (but be careful - the cat may not bite quite painfully). In an extreme case, a children's toothbrush with soft bristles that will not damage the animal’s gums is also suitable. You can use a finger wrapped in a soft cloth.
Specialty pastas with meat or fish flavors are also sold in pet stores. Cats do not gargle, so they swallow the rest of the paste. And that is why human pastes that contain fluoride (can lead to poisoning the animal) are not suitable for them, and their mint taste will only scare away the animal.
Instead of pasta at home, you can brush your cat’s teeth using soda and red wine. First, they rub their teeth with wine, and then soda gruel. Wine vinegar and soda react and successfully remove tartar. Instead of wine, you can use hydrogen peroxide.
Important: if you have several cats, then everyone should have their own toothbrush. That's exactly the same as people.
Liquid paste for cat
Veterinary stores also offer a product such as liquid toothpaste. If your pet doesn’t agree to mechanical cleaning in any way, it’s better not to injure him or spoil your nerves. The liquid paste is simply dissolved in ordinary water, and the cat drinks such water.
Together with such a paste, it is recommended to include solid feed in the animal's diet. Or let the cat gnaw a bone with the rest of the meat.
Special vitamin sticks for brushing your teeth are also on sale. This is an easy way, but also the least effective. Cats quickly lose interest in them, and their teeth still require more thorough care.
Preparation and conduct of the procedure
It doesn’t matter how your cat will sit in his arms, the main thing is the result. Do not immediately start active actions - let the cat taste the pasta and get used to the brush.
The whole process of brushing your teeth should take no more than a minute. Teeth are cleaned one at a time with mild pressure at an angle of 45 degrees. Start with the front incisors and gradually increase the number of teeth, capturing the edge of the gum, but not the gum itself. If you accustom yourself to this procedure, you started a kitten, then an adult cat may well even enjoy this procedure.
After brushing your cat’s teeth at home, you can wipe them with a swab dipped in warm water.
A few general recommendations
The biggest mistake of the owner in this matter is a rush. The first attempt to brush a cat’s teeth usually ends with scratched and bitten hands and a cat’s persistent aversion to the procedure. Accustom the cat to brushing his teeth gradually, without injuring the animal, and this will not be the worst torture for him.
After the procedure, encourage the pet. The cat must learn a lesson: a successful tooth brushing will be followed by a treat. During the procedure, talk with the animal, use gentle intonations and strokes.
It is very good to carry out an “operation” at the same time. This will teach the pet to be obligatory and need to brush your teeth.
Brushing teeth at the clinic
A specialist in the clinic conducts ultrasonic brushing of a cat’s teeth as an extreme measure for neglected and inconvenient animal tartar. This procedure is painless for the animal and is carried out without anesthesia. Before brushing your cat’s teeth in the clinic, you need to prepare for the procedure.
For young cats, this preparation includes fasting for 1-2 days. For weakened and old animals, it is advisable to conduct a general examination and pass clinical tests.
The procedure usually involves several stages: mechanical cleaning, ultrasonic removal of the stones, grinding and polishing of the cat's teeth . In general, everything is like people.
However, the whole procedure will be useless if after such brushing your teeth do not maintain their condition at home.
Dental Prevention
Now we know how to brush a cat’s teeth. But in order to keep them healthy and ensure their pet's well-being, it is necessary to observe some rules. For instance:
- Continue brushing your cat’s teeth at home. How and by what, we explained in detail.
- Provide the cat with proper and balanced nutrition. Solid animal feed should be included in the animal’s diet, and even better - a special feed to prevent the formation of tartar and gum disease.
Remember that brushing your cat’s teeth will not do any harm, but it will save the pet from many intestinal diseases caused by bacteria and poorly chewed food lumps.