Tartar in cats

Everyone knows the need for regular preventive examinations at the dentist and this is an indisputable fact. However, not every owner of furry pets will think of bringing their pet to the dentist. And even more so, few people thought about such a problem as tartar in cats. The lifestyle of domestic cats is very different from the lifestyle of their wild relatives. In the natural habitat, tartar in cats practically does not form due to the peculiarities of the diet - hard natural food prevents the formation of tartar, thus the animal's teeth are cleaned naturally.

The situation is different with domestic cats, whose main diet consists of soft "refined" food. The convenience of using such food is obvious - their storage does not require special conditions, it is enough to just fill the pet's bowl. But, unfortunately, the convenience of use is not always commensurate with the possible consequences. Practice shows that tartar in cats at home is formed precisely because of the use of soft food and the lack of natural food.

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Causes of Tartar Formation in Cats

Tartar in cats is formed in the form of calcareous deposits, as a result of the vital activity of various microorganisms. Externally, tartar resembles a yellowish coating of dense consistency and hard to the touch. The formation of yellowish plaque begins at a young age of the animal, at the initial stage, plaque consists of saliva and bacteria remaining on the surface of the teeth. Over time, this film thickens, becomes hard, acquires a brown tint and concentrates on the fangs and back teeth, increasing in size. Dental plaque in cats is entire colonies of microbes, the vital activity of which contributes to favorable conditions for chemical reactions of the animal's saliva and calcium, which subsequently form tartar. In addition to an unhygienic appearance, plaque in cats provokes inflammatory processes of the gums and the occurrence of periodontitis.

The main reasons for the appearance of plaque in cats, according to experts, are, first of all, the animal’s “refined” diet, consisting mainly of soft food, improper salt metabolism in the animal’s body, poor oral hygiene, and abnormal positioning of the dental row.

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Symptoms of Tartar in Cats

It is not difficult to detect the symptoms of tartar in cats and every owner of their furry pet can do this. Daily observations and examination of the animal's oral cavity will accurately tell you about the existing problem, if any.

Experts identify the following main symptoms of tartar in cats:

• unpleasant odor from the animal's mouth;
• inflamed gums;
• yellow-brown plaque at the base of the teeth;
• atypical behavior when eating, when experiencing pain.

When examining the animal's oral cavity, it is necessary to carefully examine the gums and possible growths and formations for the presence of tumors of the mucous membrane. Detected similar symptoms of tartar in cats are a direct reason for an immediate visit to the veterinarian for a detailed examination, diagnosis of the disease and a course of treatment for your furry pet.

Treatment of tartar in cats

Treatment of tartar in cats consists of elementary removal of tartar from the surface of the dental row. This procedure is quite painful for the animal and is performed using general anesthesia. Depending on the degree of tartar, it can last about an hour, and in some cases more. The age of the animal determines a number of preparatory measures preceding the removal of tartar. Thus, for a young cat, up to one and a half to two years old, a one-day fast before the tartar removal procedure is quite sufficient.

Pets over three years of age or with chronic diseases undergo a standard preparatory procedure for anesthesia. This procedure includes, first of all, laboratory tests for negative reactions to anesthesia, a general clinical examination of the animal. The process of removing tartar in cats consists of the following stages. The first stage consists of mechanical treatment of the surface of the dentition using a dental instrument. Ultrasonic cleaning is used in the second stage of the tartar removal process. And the procedure is completed by final grinding and polishing of the dentition with cleaning pastes.

Carrying out high-quality treatment of tartar in cats is only possible in a clinic. Removing tartar at home is not possible, since the procedure is quite painful and the mandatory participation of a specialist is necessary to avoid all sorts of complications. And the owners of furry pets need to carry out regular preventive measures aimed at preventing the formation of tartar in their pet.

Tartar removal in cats

Removing tartar in cats has a number of characteristic features. Tartar is the next form of mineralized plaque formed as a result of the chemical reaction of microorganism waste products in the animal's saliva with potassium phosphates. According to the location, supragingival and subgingival tartar are distinguished.

Supragingival tartar is localized on the surface of the teeth directly above the edge of the gum, has a yellow-brown tint, its surface is rough, contributing to the layering of new growths and contributes to an increase in the size of tartar. The inner side of the gums, cheeks and mucous membrane bordering on tartar is constantly inflamed due to systematic trauma from this stone.

Subgingival calculus is localized closer to the roots of the teeth or in the gingival pockets and protrudes slightly beyond the crown. Subgingival calculus is dark green in color and harder than supragingival calculus. It has been scientifically proven that subgingival calculus is formed due to a deviation in the biochemical composition of blood serum, and supragingival calculus is formed by a chemical reaction of saliva and potassium phosphate.

As a rule, over time, both types of tartar provoke the separation of the gums from the roots of the teeth and, as a result, inflammation of the gums and penetration of infection. There are cases when supragingival and subgingival stones grew together. This situation causes not only inflammatory processes in the gums but also in the bone tissue of the teeth, up to their loss. There is also a high probability of osteomyelitis and ulcerative process of the jaw bone. This is why removing tartar in cats is a vitally important systematic procedure.

Cleaning tartar in cats

Cleaning of tartar in cats is performed by veterinarians. It is almost impossible to clean tartar at home. Firstly, the skills and practice of a professional are required, secondly, special tools and equipment are required. Thirdly, anesthesia is required to perform the procedure. In clinical conditions, cleaning of tartar is performed in two ways - mechanical and ultrasonic.

The mechanical method is widely used due to its availability and low cost. However, there is a significant drawback of this method, which is the possibility of injury to the gum or tooth in case of careless pressure with the instrument.

The ultrasound method affects the vibrations of the equipment on the tartar, which subsequently peels off from the teeth and is destroyed. This method is more effective and safer than manual tartar removal. After removing the dental deposits, both methods provide for disinfection of the animal's oral cavity. In some cases, if necessary, a course of immunostimulants or antibiotics is prescribed.

Prevention of tartar in cats

Prevention of tartar in cats at home consists of systematic cleaning of the animal's oral cavity. Almost all pets do not share the opinion about the necessity of this procedure and, moreover, are absolutely not amenable to this manipulation. It is advisable to accustom to cleaning the oral cavity from the age of a kitten, when protective instincts have not yet been formed. It is quite natural that accustoming your pet to cleaning the oral cavity is a long process that requires great patience. Currently, pet stores offer a fairly wide range of special toothpastes that have a pleasant taste for animals and are absolutely harmless if accidentally swallowed. Cleaning the oral cavity is carried out using a brush or with the index finger.

One of the popular preventive methods that can successfully combat the formation of tartar in cats is the use of special mixtures in the animal's diet, which include dietary fiber, which has a harder consistency and a fibrous mesh structure. The granules of such food do not crumble immediately when bitten, but are structured into a fibrous mesh, which performs the function of cleaning the surface of the dentition. Other feed mixtures contain polyphosphates, which, when eaten, are deposited on the teeth and thus prevent the formation of plaque. Of course, the prevention of tartar in cats is not limited to the use of special feeds, and it would be a mistake to call such artificial feed mixtures a panacea, because they consist of synthetic components and their use can only be an insignificant part of preventive measures.

The main prevention, of course, consists of regular visits to the vet and maintaining oral hygiene for your furry pet. A little patience and systematic preventive measures will undoubtedly make your pet's teeth healthy and strong!