dental care

Ask These 13 Questions Before You Schedule Your Cat’s Dental Procedure

Feline Health| 57 Comments

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Guest post by Andrea Tasi, VMD

This post was first published in September 2015 and has been updated.

Andrea Tasi, VMD owns and operates Just Cats, Naturally, a housecall based, feline-exclusive practice dedicated to the holistic, individualized approach to each cat. Dr. Tasi uses classical homeopathy, nutritional therapy, and behavior and environment-related techniques to help healthy cats stay well and help ill cats regain their health. Whenever one of Dr. Tasi’s feline clients needs any kind of dental work, even just a routine cleaning, she makes sure that her clients as these questions before scheduling a procedure.
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1TDC™ Reduced Allegra’s Gingivitis

Feline Health| 5 Comments

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This post contains affiliate links*

If you’ve read this blog for a while, you’ve heard me talk about 1TDC™ and about how much I like this supplement. I don’t use the term “miracle” lightly, but I am using it for this product. And now, I got to see the benefits first hand: at Allegra’s check up last month, our vet found that her gums looked better than last year and that there is less evidence of gingivitis. Continue Reading

Common and Not So Common Dental Problems in Cats

Feline Health| 3 Comments

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Dental disease is the most frequently diagnosed health problem for cats. According to the American Veterinary Dental Society, an astounding 70 percent of cats show signs of oral disease by age 3. The inflammation and infection associated with periodontal disease can lead to damage to other organs such as the heart, kidney and liver, and lead to other serious health problems.  Dental disease can also be an indicator of immune system disorders.Continue Reading

1TDC™: A 4-in1 Wellness Solution for Your Cat

Feline Health, Products| 9 Comments

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3 in 4 cats have some form of dental disease. 1 in 3 adult cats are are dealing with arthritis and other joint issues. Both conditions are painful, and since cats are masters at hiding pain, you may not even be aware that your cat is suffering. Wouldn’t you love to have one single remedy that not only addresses both of these issues, but that is so easy to administer that your cat will think she’s getting a treat?Continue Reading

Review: MAXI/GUARD Oral Cleansing Gel

Feline Health, Products| 11 Comments

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Dental disease is the most frequently diagnosed health problem in cats. Seventy to ninety percent of cats have some level of dental disease. If left untreated, it can lead to health problems for your cat, ranging from bad breath, dental pain and loose teeth to systemic illnesses that can be life-threatening.

The most effective way to prevent dental disease is to brush your cat’s teeth. Ideally, you get your cat used to this when she’s still a kitten, but even older cats can learn to accept having their teeth brushed. You can read my account of how I trained Allegra and Ruby to accept having their teeth brushed here.Continue Reading

Allegra Goes to the Dentist – Part Four: Returning Home

Feline Health| 9 Comments

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This is the last installment of our four-part series Allegra Goes to the Dentist, in which I share my recent experience with Allegra. I’m hoping that it will not only put your mind at ease if you’re faced with a cat who has to have a dental procedure, but that it will also help you ensure that your cat gets the optimal level of care before, during and after her dental work.

If you’ve missed the first part in this series, please read Allegra Goes to the Dentist – Part One: Diagnosis, and Choosing a Veterinary Dentist

If you’ve missed the second part in this series, please read Allegra Goes to the Dentist – Part Two: Preparation

If you’ve missed the third part in this series, please read Allegra Goes to the Dentist – Part Three: Our Day at Animal Dentistry and Oral SurgeryContinue Reading

Allegra Goes to the Dentist – Part Three: Our Day at Animal Dentistry and Oral Surgery

Feline Health| 12 Comments

Animal-Dentistry-and-Oral-Services

This is the third installment of our four-part series Allegra Goes to the Dentist, in which I share my recent experience with Allegra. I’m hoping that it will not only put your mind at ease if you’re faced with a cat who has to have a dental procedure, but that it will also help you ensure that your cat gets the optimal level of care before, during and after her dental work.

If you’ve missed the first part in this series, please read Allegra Goes to the Dentist – Part One: Diagnosis, and Choosing a Veterinary Dentist

If you’ve missed the second part in this series, please read Allegra Goes to the Dentist – Part Two: PreparationContinue Reading

Allegra Goes to the Dentist – Part Two: Preparation

Feline Health| 2 Comments

dentist-preparation

This is the second installment of our four-part series Allegra Goes to the Dentist, in which I share my recent experience with Allegra. I’m hoping that it will not only put your mind at ease if you’re faced with a cat who has to have a dental procedure, but that it will also help you ensure that your cat gets the optimal level of care before, during and after her dental work.

If you’ve missed the first part in this series, please read Allegra Goes to the Dentist – Part One: Diagnosis, and Choosing a Veterinary DentistContinue Reading

How to Keep Your Cat’s Teeth Healthy

Feline Health| 32 Comments

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Dental disease is the most frequently diagnosed health problem for cats. According to the American Veterinary Dental Society, an astounding 70 percent of cats show signs of oral disease by age 3.

What is dental disease?

Normal teeth should be white or just a little yellow. Gums should be light pink and smooth (except in breeds with pigmented gums). Oral disease begins with a build up of plaque and tartar in your cat’s mouth. Without proper preventive and therapeutic care, plaque and tartar buildup leads to periodontal disease, which manifests in red and/or swollen and tender gums, bad breath, and bleeding. When the gums are swollen, they can be painful – a good rule of thumb is that if it looks like it might be painful, it probably is. Cats are masters at masking pain – when in doubt, assume that your cat is experiencing at least some discomfort.Continue Reading

Stomatitis: Painful for Cats, Frustrating for Guardians and Veterinarians

Feline Health| 64 Comments

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Stomatitis is is one of the most painful and frustrating conditions cats can develop. Buckley suffered from this condition; a severe inflammation of the oral cavity in cats in which the affected cat essentially becomes allergic to her own teeth. The outward signs of this condition are red, inflamed, and often ulcerated gums, and this can be very painful for the cat.Continue Reading