Felines can develop various health problems. One very common one is gingivitis in cats, and there are effective ways to treat the disease and give your pet a better quality of life.
So, to find out all about gingivitis, such as its symptoms, causes and treatment, read on. In the following topics you'll find the main information on the subject.
- Causes and symptoms of gingivitis in cats
- Treatment and prevention
Causes and symptoms of gingivitis in cats
The main cause of gingivitis in cats is a lack of proper cleaning of their mouths and teeth. After all, without this care, bacterial plaque forms and, if left untreated, can lead to tartar. Tartar worsens gingivitis, causing the animal to experience intense pain and difficulty eating. However, this is not the only reason.
The condition can arise due to feeding, especially when the food is moist. A pre-existing immune condition can also cause gingivitis in cats. Even a virus, which can develop in the cat's mouth, can cause the disease.
This is the calicivirus, but vaccinating your pet regularly is enough to avoid contamination. There is also the feline leukemia virus, which is another reason for triggering gum inflammation.
In addition, gingivitis in cats most commonly affects young animals or young adults. To identify it, you can see a thin red line along the gums. This is usually the first symptom, as are red and swollen gums.
Since they feel pain, they may reject dry food, which is harder and can hurt. They will also find it difficult to swallow and may lose weight.
Other symptoms are bad breath and when the cat stops licking itself. If the condition worsens, the cat may become depressed and irritable. They may also start to bite and salivate excessively.
Treatment and prevention
The symptoms of gingivitis in cats are easily confused with other diseases. That's why, as soon as you notice the signs, it's important to seek specialized help. The vet will offer the best treatment, which usually consists first of painkillers to control the pain.
Then you need to control plaque, which is done with antibiotics in conjunction with cleaning the mouth and polishing the teeth. At home, you need to brush your pet's teeth and use mouthwash. If the condition is advanced, it may be necessary to remove the affected teeth.
But all this can be prevented by frequently brushing your pet's teeth. Although it's not an easy task for the guardian, there are specific products that help with the task, such as special toothbrushes. So the sooner you start brushing your cat's teeth, the easier it will be.
In addition, brushing should be done at least three times a week, as it helps prevent other oral problems. Toothpaste should also be exclusively for pets, as the kind used by humans is toxic to felines.
Get to know Soft Care's Odonto Line, which helps prevent gingivitis.
Veterinarians can contact Soft Care to find out about all the products in the Odonto Line. To do so, go to SAC - Customer Service.
