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Dental Care
for Cats
By Steve Dale
Steve
Dale's Pet World
Cats are prone to
periodontal disease. Beginning a maintenance program early may
prevent problems later in life. Research indicates that regular
dental care may actually prolong your pet's life. Left unchecked,
bacteria from the mouth can course through the cat's bloodstream,
perhaps eventually affecting its heart or kidneys. One of the
first signs of periodontal disease is "cat breath." A
clean mouth shouldn't stink.
Begin a home dental care program by brushing once or twice each
week. Purchase toothpaste specifically made for pets, and use a
finger brush or a toothbrush for pets. If you prefer, you can even
use ordinary gauze to "brush" the teeth.
Don't force your cat or overly stress it. Instead, slowly
introduce it to the toothbrush or finger brush before actually
beginning the process. Then, add tuna juice before you even try
brushing. Your cat will no doubt get excited, actually helping you
to stick the brush inside its mouth. Eventually, you can begin to
brush. Take it day by day -- this process may take only days for a
kitten, but will take longer with an adult cat.
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