Aging Cats and Their Common Dental Issues

Maintaining the health of your cat’s mouth is more than just providing them with a stunning appearance. It is crucial to their overall well-being and happiness. Dental health issues in older cats can be a significant cause of discomfort. Still, they could also be the beginning of a variety of medical issues that can have a profound impact on the quality of life of your cat.

Being predators by nature, They are aware that sick and weak are their targets; therefore, it is their nature to conceal any signs of weakness. This makes it difficult to tell if your cat is sick.

Old Cats and Their Dental Issues

The process of aging is inevitable; however, suffering and illness aren’t. A responsible pet owner aims to help your cat’s natural aging process and identify problems early. This way, you can avoid potentially life-threatening conditions for your pet. As a pet owner, you must be aware of some of the most common dental health problems that could be present in older cats.

1. Gingivitis

According to a pet dentist, gingivitis is a prevalent dental health issue. Although you might have thought it was only a problem for humans, it could be just as likely to impact your pet. The accumulation of plaque over time is the main reason for gingivitis, which affects mainly senior cats. Plaque bacteria slowly move into the gums, which triggers an inflammation response from the cat’s immune system.

However, it’s crucial to remember that various circumstances can cause gingivitis. The feline leukemia virus as well as diabetes, are two instances.

2. Periodontitis

Another common dental problem in older cats is periodontitis, which results from gingivitis. As plaque accumulates and gums are inflamed, it causes inflammation and the bones supporting your pet’s teeth. The loss of teeth can occur when you don’t treat them.

The veterinarian will inspect the mouth of your pet and its teeth in a thorough physical exam to detect indications of periodontitis. An animal hospital can also use the x-rays of anesthesia to assess the jawbone and teeth’s supporting structures to determine the severity of the bone injury.

3. Tooth Resorption

As high as 75% of cats five years old or more suffer from tooth resorption, which is a painful dental issue. Dentin, a bony substance that forms a large portion of the structure of teeth, is destroyed and eroded. The pain can be extreme, and eventually, tooth loss could result in animals suffering.

At present, the root of dental resorption remains a mystery. Although various theories have been suggested to explain tooth loss, for instance, excess levels of Vitamin D are found in cat food. More research is needed to determine the exact cause of this painful ailment.

4. Stomatitis

Stomatitis is the second most frequent oral problem in older cats. The chronic inflammation of the oral tissues of cats can be the primary of this uncomfortable illness. Along with the gums, the tissues surrounding the teeth, as well as in the rear of the mouth of a cat, may be affected by this condition. Chronic gingivostomatitis among cats is a different name for the condition known as stomatitis.

We are still determining what causes the stomatitis that cats suffer from. There has yet to be a definitive scientific explanation at present. However, it could result from the cat’s immune system reacting to the calicivirus or another immune-related virus.

5. Oral Tumors

Oral cancers rank fourth as the most common kind of cancer that cats suffer from. However, the majority of these are malignant. If your cat has Squamous Cell Cancer, the most common type of tumor, it is crucial to act swiftly to treat and diagnose it to ensure it has the highest chance of surviving.

Certain factors can increase the risk of developing cancer in pets. But smoking cigarettes, flea collars, and canning cat foods have all been associated with an increased chance of developing squamous cell cancer. You can schedule the procedure for tumor excision with an Aurora veterinary hospital surgeon.