Though a trip to the vet may not be your cat’s favorite past time, it is important to get their teeth checked and cleaned!
Often times, we forget that our pets can have the same health problems that we can. Because cats don’t brush their teeth daily like we do, we may think that dental problems aren’t something they deal with. On the contrary, dental disease is very common among cats which is why it is important to get their teeth examined and cleaned on a routine basis. Here are five signs that your cat may have a dental disease.
Bad Breath
Of course, your cat’s breath is not going to smell minty fresh. However, the odor should not be strong enough to make you turn away from them when they get close to you. If they lick you and the skin that they touch smells bad, that is a red flag. A really fishy or rotten smell on their breath could be a sign of dental disease.
Not Eating
You begin to pick up on your cat’s eating behaviors as times goes on. If you notice that they aren’t eating, it could be because their mouth hurts so bad that they can’t eat. A clearer sign that this is directly related to dental disease is if they approach their food bowl as if they are hungry and then hesitate to actually eat. Despite the actual reason, a significant loss of appetite is something that should be addressed with your vet.
Strange Eating
Sometimes, your cat will eat their food, but they won’t do it normally. Your cat may chew on only one side of their mouth if they are having discomfort. Another sign that your cat’s mouth is in pain is if your cat seems to be dropping a lot more food than usual.
Don’t Touch My Face
Now, not every cat enjoys being touched around their face. However, this is something that you would probably already be aware of. If your cat normally allows you to rub them around their face and mouth and suddenly they flinch or pull away when you do so, this may be a sign of dental disease. Your cat’s mouth may be hurting which is why they no longer want you to touch it.
Drooling
It is not very common for your cat to drool on a regular basis. This behavior is an immediate red flag and could mean that they have some sort of dental disease. Sometimes, the saliva will also contain blood. Your cat may continuously paw at their mouths or shake their head because of the discomfort.
Call Catonsville Cat Clinic Today!
For 20 years, the Catonsville Cat Clinic has been providing quality veterinary care to the cats of Catonsville and beyond! Dr. Pam Nesbitt, who purchased the practice in July of 2011, runs the Catonsville Cat Clinic with compassion in mind. A team of professionals with an advanced level of veterinary medicine is at your service to make sure your cat is healthy and happy. So stop on by; we’d love to get to know you and your cat!
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