Complete Care for Your Aging Cat - Amy Shojai [93]
Defects develop at the gum line, or “neck” of the tooth, and form a tiny entry hole (or may start from the inside) to ultimately erode the tooth from the inside out. That leaves literally a hollow, fragile shell of tooth that can easily fracture, and cause severe dental pain. Lesions occur with a frequency of up to two-thirds of cats seen for dental problems.
Veterinarian researcher Dr. Alexander Reiter, studied TRs at the University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine, and found some interesting links. The condition was uncommon before the 1960s, suggesting that something that changed at that time—such as commercial diets. Blood tests of cats with TRs were found to have ingested higher levels of vitamin D, and when various commercial foods were tested, about one-third were found to contain excessive amounts of this vitamin. The diet represents the only source of vitamin D in cats because they are unable to produce vitamin D in the skin. Although further research is needed, Dr. Reiter concluded that dietary intake of excess vitamin D over several years may lead to dental changes that lead to TRs.
“People think that because an animal has been eating well, a broken tooth doesn’t bother them,” says Dr. Gengler, but that’s not the case. Painful teeth can affect your cat’s behavior in subtle ways. For instance, your cat may become irritable, refuse petting, and stop cheek rubbing when the teeth hurt. Typically, though, behavior changes are so gradual owners don’t attribute them to a painful mouth. “Just like us, a broken tooth doesn’t ache all the time,” says Dr. Gengler. When there’s a flare-up the cat may simply hide under the bed.
Cats do their best to hide discomfort and usually eat through the pain. “In the later stages when the teeth start to get mobile, there’s pain. That’s usually what makes them stop eating,” says Dr. Gengler. People tend to think behavior changes are just due to normal aging, and are surprised when treatment returns the cat to the normal behaviors and activities of a much younger cat.
Comfort Zone
A variety of products can help control plaque.
Chlorhexidine and zinc ascorbate are available in topical gels or rinses.
Cats rarely indulge in recreational chewing the way dogs do, but some treat products are designed to benefit dental health. For example, the Wysong Dentatreat and Hartz Crunch N Clean Cat Treats are helpful. Also, C.E.T. Chews for Cats, made from freeze-dried catfish, are soft, chewing treats with enzymes added to help stop plaque from forming. They also include a natural abrasion that cleans teeth as the cat chews. C.E.T. products are available from veterinarians or pet products outlets.
Some cats benefit from being offered a small piece of very lean cooked beef or other firm meat once or twice a week. The size and flavor induces them to chew, especially on the rear molars, which helps naturally abrade these teeth clean. Check with your veterinarian first to be sure this will not upset the cat’s normal diet.
Treatment
Dental disease isn’t limited to the mouth, though. Mouth bacteria from diseased teeth and gums can spill into the bloodstream and travel to damage organs in the body. Plaque and calculus may contain up to a billion bacteria per gram, and is 1,000 to 1,500 times more resistant to antibiotics than free-living bacteria.
The inflammation of the oral tissues that allows the body’s defenses to attack the invaders also allows these bacteria access into the body. Brook A. Niemiec, DVM, a veterinary dentist practicing at San Diego Veterinary Dental Training Center notes that recent animal studies indicate these bacteria affect