3 Signs Your Cat's Teeth Are Giving Them Trouble

All cats need dental care, but many don't receive any. It's important to take your cat in for regular dental checkups with your veterinarian. Also, you should be able to recognize the signs and symptoms of dental woes. If you notice your cat having any of these three symptoms, a veterinary visit should be at the top of your to-do list.

Bad Breath

Cats have a bad reputation for having fishy breath, but there's a big difference between that and truly foul breath.

Anyone can have bad breath immediately after eating, but if your cat's breath smells bad long after meals, there could be a problem. You should also be mindful of a cat's breath smelling like decay or rot, as this may indicate that severe gum disease or tooth decay has taken hold. If it bothers you having your kitty's breath smell like their food after eating, simply brushing their teeth on a daily basis will alleviate this symptom (and help to prevent further oral health problems).

Meowing While Eating

Some types of cats can be chatty, and it's normal behavior for a kitty to be talkative while it's waiting to be fed. However, if your cat continues to meow, growl, or make other strange noises while eating, there could be a problem.

Many cats who are experiencing pain in their teeth and gums will make noises while they eat simply because it hurts to chew. If you have more than one pet, you should make sure to separate your cat's food from the others to ensure that they're not simply being territorial. If the behavior continues, it probably indicates that they need dental work.

Weight Loss

Lastly, when a cat's oral health becomes poor enough, it can cause a cat to lose weight. This is an extension of the prior problem, where it simply hurts to eat. If you tend to feed your cat a dry diet of kibble, this is more likely to happen since harder food is more difficult to eat with a toothache. However, in either case, a kitty may simply refuse to eat if the pain becomes severe enough.

A cat's loss of appetite presents two problems: they lose weight, and that weight loss can trigger fatty liver disease. Both of these problems can become severe quickly if left untreated, so if you think that your cat is losing weight or doesn't show interest in its supper, you should seek help from a a veterinary service, like Cats Only Veterinary Hospital, immediately.

Simply brushing your cat's teeth and taking them to the veterinarian for regular dental care can help to prevent all of these problems from happening. If you want the best for your cat, talk to a veterinarian to get help treating or preventing these problems.

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