Dental Prophylaxis

Lance tries some t/d after his prophy

Plaque builds up on teeth immediately after each meal. Eventually, with the help of bacteria naturally in the mouth, it calcifies into tartar, a hard substance which inflames the gums and can make the teeth fall out.
Your cat will need a dental prophy- a scale and polish - if we notice plaque and tartar building up at the annual check-up. It is common for cats to need a prophy every year - just like humans.
After a scale and polish we discuss how to prevent more plaque and tartar building up on the teeth.
Many cats like stir fry strips, which keep their chewing teeth nice and clean as they chew along the strips.
Cats who like their crunchies might prefer Hills t/d or Greenies. As their teeth break through the biscuit it cleans the food and plaque off.

Signs of dental pain

We take a dental Xray of some painful canine teeth

Cats are determined to hide any sign of pain or discomfort from us. The observant owner may notice one or more of the following if they are really on the ball:

• not grooming properly, leaving coat matted, loose or scurfy
• eating on one side of mouth or tilting the head to one side when chewing
• resenting stroking around the face/jaw
• not enjoying handling at all
• keen hunter not interested in hunting any more
• keen warrior not interested in fighting any more
• not wanting to play with tug toys
• throwing food to back of mouth to chew
• bringing unchewed, unlubricated food up within 10 minutes of a meal
• hesitating at food bowl even though clearly hungry
• not crunching kibble
• preferring moist to dry food when used to prefer dry to moist and vice versa
• bad breath
• eating only a little but going back to the bowl often
• drooling
• pawing mouth
• swollen face
• bleeding from mouth
• grinding teeth

Vaccinations and regular check ups

Bella has her annual check up

Because cats are so good at hiding illness and discomfort it is imperative that they have a check-up at least once a year. Cats older than 9 years of age may need a physical twice a year especially if we identify any problems.
During the examination we check their eyes, mouth, teeth, ears, heart, lungs, skin, joints and belly for any abnormalities. Many cats start having dental problems as early as 3 years old. Skin disease, allergies and gut upsets an happen at any age.
We discuss the optimal diet for your particular cat because every cat is an individual.
Behavioural problems like inappropriate urination, yowling or attacking often come up in discussion, too.
If your cat is likely to go into boarding or other stressful situations then we recommend an annual vaccination for enteritis (also known as panleukopenia or parvovirus) and the two flu viruses (calicivirus and herpesvirus). This vaccine is also known as the F3 or 3 in 1 vaccination.
Inside cats who don't go into boarding may need less frequent F3 vaccination.
Cats who go outdoors or who may escape home, particularly if they fight, require an FIV vaccination against feline AIDS every year. It is important that cats receive the FIV vaccine boosters exactly 12 months apart.
We also give or recommend the best worming and flea treatments for your cat during the annual visit.

Niles has his spring clip

Niles came in for his annual check-up, clip and dental examination today. Because his coat gets so matted in spring his carer opts to have him clipped all over every year. Eleven year old Niles passed his physical exam and blood tests with flying colours. 

He had a general anaesthetic so that we could scale and polish his teeth and take out one decayed canine tooth. 

Niles does not like the clippers and the matts were perilously close to his skin so Nurse Eliza clipped him while he was still asleep.  

He was very frisky when he woke up, demanding a late breakfast asap! 

Niles before his clip

Nurse Eliza does a thorough, stress-free clip

Niles in his smart blue coat ready to go home

Every pet deserves a healthy, pain-free mouth

Dr Christine Hawke, a veterinary dentist, believes every pet deserves a healthy, pain-free, mouth. Most pets hide mouth pain and discomfort. Regular check ups and dental treatments prevent gum disease, tartar build-up and loss of teeth.
Book your cat's check-up during Dental Health month in August and be sure your cat is not stoically hiding a painful mouth.

Free dental check

August is dental month at Hall Vet Surgery.
Bring your cat in for a free dental check this month and learn how to keep her mouth and teeth clean and healthy.

Phone us a few days ahead to make an appointment.

Dental health is essential to overall health in our cats. Learn more about cat teeth problems and keeping cats' mouths healthy on this blog.

Cats hide pain from us. Often they have just got used to a level of dental pain and infection that soon cripple us!

Make sure your cat is happy, healthy and pain free. Phone for an appointment during Hall Vet Surgery dental month

Tooth decay

Many cats suffer holes in the teeth where the teeth meet the gums. These  neck lesions, or FORLS, are intensely painful.
Cats with bad mouths show less interest in food. Some approach the food bowl eagerly but then pain overcomes hunger and they leave most of the food. They chew cautiously, drop food from the mouth, or swallow with difficulty. Dribbling, blood-tinged saliva, and bad breath are common.
Reluctance to eat leads to weight loss.
Tartar builds on the holes and rubs the inside of the cheek causing further pain. Severely affected cats paw their mouths or shake their heads.
The only effective treatment is extraction of the affected teeth under general anaesthesia.
Most people comment that their cat is much happier and more relaxed afterward. The short-lived pain of extraction is much less severe than the chronic and intense pain of the tooth neck lesions. We can prevent the pain of extraction but not the pain of neck lesions.
The cause of neck lesions is unknown. However, good dental health and a healthy diet help preserve teeth as long as possible. Regular veterinary checks reveal and treat neck lesions early.
Chunks of meat and small bones such as gravy beef, rabbit or chicken carcasses, kangaroo, chop bones or chicken thighs encourage chewing and prevent the build-up of plaque and tartar. Greenies are a palatable treat that clean the teeth as well. A bowlful of special dental foods such as Royal Canin dental or Hills t/d several times a week prevent dental disease.
Chewing meat and dental biscuits stimulates the production of saliva, which contains natural antibacterial substances, and scrapes plaque and tartar from the teeth.
Calicivirus vaccination helps prevent gingivitis.

Friends for Life

The American Association of Feline Practitioners has released a fabulous new brochure for owners of older cats.  It covers signs of aging, nutrition, disease, dental care, in fact all of the issues we've been grappling with here!  Download and enjoy!!

Friends for Life brochure

Teeth and tartar

A healthy mouth equals a happy, healthy cat.  In nature cats hide pain so that predators and rivals cannot better them. 
In our homes this is a huge disadvantage.  We don't often look in our cats' mouths so we don't realise that they are hiding holes in their teeth, loose teeth, tartar or gum disease.
Cat's teeth are prone to decay at the gumline.  Rough teeth gather plaque and tartar which rub against the gums and cause inflammation and infection, resulting in loose teeth.
Cat owners are often surprised when we recommend dental work for their cats  They are even more surprised - and delighted! - at how happy and playful their cats are after bad teeth are removed and the remainder scaled and polished.
A good Australian pet dentistry site is:
Sydney Pet Dentistry

The staff at Hall Vet Surgery are happy to talk teeth any time.