Natural Pet Health

Cat owners know for a fact that bad cat breath can be downright awful. It isn’t that much different from bad human breath, as both are caused by bacteria found in the mouth that breaks protein down and releases the sulfur compounds out into the air. Sulfur smells really bad on its own, which is why breath containing it smells bad as well. The bacterium that causes bad breath with cats is normally associated with a buildup of tartar around the teeth. Tartar is yellow in color, known as a coating of bacteria, food, and minerals.

Your cat’s teeth must be cleaned regularly to avoid dental diseases since the consequences can prove to be more serious as the problem ages. If plaque is not removed on a regular basis, it mineralizes and forms tartar, which can irritate gums and lead to gingivitis.

Untreated gingivitis can further lead to a more serious condition called periodontitis, which affects gums and bones around the teeth. The matter does not stop at offensive cat breath that mouth infections are liable to cause. Dental diseases lead to tooth extraction and can potentially spread further and affect vital organs like the kidneys, the liver and even the heart.

It is recommended to start brushing for pets teeth at 8-12 weeks of age, but it never to late to begin! Here is a step-by-step guide to introducing teeth brushing to your pet.

Supplies you will need include gauze, toothbrush, and pet toothpaste. Be sure to use pet toothpaste as human toothpaste contains products that will make your pet sick.

Week 1: Introduce Your Pet to Mouth Care

Using your hand, gently open the pet’s mouth and run your finger around his or her lips, lifting the lips, etc. This should begin for just 30 seconds on day one and progressing to a couple of minutes by the end of the week. Reward -your pet with a small treat at the end of each session.

Maintaining your pet’s dental health is a very important part of caring for your pet, yet nearly half of all pets suffer from gum disease, calculus, and dental problems.

Since dental health is linked with overall wellness, when proper care is not given to our pets’ gums and teeth, the risk of disease and illness greatly increases. Problems can include liver, kidney, heart inflammation, and infection.

Also consider the many uses of your pet’s teeth! Dogs and cats make much fuller use of their teeth than humans do – using them in ways we usually use our hands—which is just another reason why it is so important to help maintain and promote health.

Dental health in pets

The most common ailments seen by vets in dogs and cats are dental problems. More than half of all pets suffer from gum disease, dental calculus or similar dental problems.

Calculus is the brown build-up of plaque found extending downwards on the tooth from the gum line. Calculus is a haven for bacteria which can have serious consequences for your pet’s general health.

These bacteria can not only cause abscesses and tooth loss but can have effects further afield – even resulting in organ damage as the bacteria are carried from the mouth, through the bloodstream.

Availability of better preventive care has resulted in our pets living longer than before. The flip side is that pets now have to struggle with age related conditions and dental problems that are fast emerging as the most commonly diagnosed medical problems in cats.

If you see signs of cat bad breath there is every reason for you to suspect that something is wrong. Feline bad breath may occur due to any of the following reasons:

Cat breath may become offensive due to teething. By the time cats are six months old they start shedding their baby teeth. The time between shedding and eruption of permanent teeth is a trying period for pets just as it is for human babies. The gums appear red and swollen and you can see new teeth breaking out. You may address the problem by rinsing her mouth with baking soda diluted in water. You can also get an oral breath spray for your cat.

Did you know that dogs and cats need dental care as much as we do? Just as dental health is linked with overall health in humans, so is true with cats and dogs.

With Pet Dental Care Month approaching in February, it’s important that pet owners know that when proper care is not given to their gums and teeth, our pet’s body becomes vulnerable to disease and illness.

Conditions such as liver, kidney, heart inflammation and infection are many times triggered by poor dental hygiene and periodontal disease. That being said, dental disease is one of the most common forms of disease in pets.

What to expect when your puppy/kitten is teething.

Around 4 months of age your puppy or kitten will lose its first set of teeth and the adult teeth will begin to emerge from the gums. The teething process continues on and off for several months and, as with human babies, this is often a painful or uncomfortable process for your pet.

You will be able to work out when your pet is teething from his increased chewing and biting on everything imaginable that is within reach.

Although sometimes tiresome, teething is a stage all kittens and puppies must go through and, happily, it will pass fairly soon. Relieving your pet’s pain at the same time as protecting your possessions from the sharp little teeth will be your top priorities!

Cat owners know for a fact that bad cat breath can be downright awful. It isn’t that much different from bad human breath, as both are caused by bacteria found in the mouth that breaks protein down and releases the sulfur compounds out into the air. Sulfur smells really bad on its own, which is why breath containing it smells bad as well. The bacterium that causes bad breath with cats is normally associated with a buildup of tartar around the teeth. Tartar is yellow in color, known as a coating of bacteria, food, and minerals.

A simple spritz to bad breath

Those who have awoken in the morning to a nose-full of pet breath wafting across the face would agree that all cats and dogs should have their teeth brushed!

This is far easier said than done. Most pet owners find the task of brushing a feline or canine mouth extremely difficult, and this can also be an emotional task for our poor pets, too!

While we may not realize it, the bacteria in a cat or dog’s mouth forms its own ‘ecosystem’ and self-regulates itself naturally. This is not to say that an animal’s mouth should be left unattended. On the contrary, while all mammals have bacteria in their mouths, it is only when levels stay within the normal range that oral health is achieved…