Are gum infections in cats serious?
A gum infection is also known as gingivitis and is definitely something for professionals. Inflammation in the area of the gums is very painful for your cat and can also spread to the oral mucosa (gingivostomatitis). The gums themselves play an important role in holding the teeth. If the gum infection is not treated medically in a timely manner, it can potentially develop into periodontitis, which can lead to a rapid recession of the gums and tooth loss.
Symptoms: How to recognize a gum infection
Just like for us humans, inflammation of the gums is also a painful matter for your cat. Surely, she will show some symptoms that you can recognize under close observation:
- Your cat withdraws and does not want to be touched.
- Your cat →eats less than usual and may also lose weight.
- Your cat meows a lot or makes other sounds that could indicate pain, especially when you touch her head area.
- Your cat has bad breath and possibly increased salivation.
- Your cat has discolored teeth.
Note that cats tend to hide pain, so it may be that your furry friend keeps her gum infection well concealed. If you are unsure, take your indoor tiger to the veterinarian just to be safe.
[TRANSLATION ERROR] Eine Zahnfleischentzündung entsteht häufig durch eine mangelnde Zahnpflege. Sie ist sehr schmerzhaft und kann bis zum Verlust der Zähne deiner Katze führen.
Examination by veterinarians
Typically, your veterinarian will first thoroughly examine your cat to find out what the cause of the inflammation is. Often, general anesthesia is necessary, as very few cats will allow their mouths to be examined while in pain.
Using a special probe, the entire oral cavity, teeth, and gums are examined. It is checked whether pockets have already formed in the gums where bacteria can accumulate and whether and how much the gums bleed under slight pressure. If the inflammation is already pronounced, teeth and jawbones are often X-rayed to check if the jaw apparatus has already been affected.
Treatment
In general, a thorough dental cleaning is the means to an end when it comes to treating a gum infection in cats. If the inflammation is advanced, all damaged and loose teeth must first be extracted. The remaining teeth are then freed from all deposits and tartar and subsequently polished. This reduces the surface area for new germs.
If necessary, anti-inflammatory medications, antibiotics, pain relievers, and/or medicine to support the immune system may need to be given for a few days.
[TRANSLATION ERROR] Hat deine Katze entzündetes Zahnfleisch, führt kein Weg an einer tierärztlichen Behandlung vorbei.
How to prevent gum infections in your cat
Better than quickly treating a gum infection in your cat is to prevent it from happening in the first place. Even though many cats develop dental problems over their lifetime, that is no reason to skip the →dental cleaning of your indoor tiger.
A very simple way to prevent dental problems and gum infections is the →right cat food. Unnecessary additives like sugar and grains can promote the formation of deposits on the teeth. That’s why we at Pets Deli only use high-quality meat combined with exquisite fruits and vegetables.
Unser Futter für Katzen: ehrlich, gesund, lecker.
Also, brushing the teeth as part of the →complete care can be helpful if your cat tends to develop deposits and dirty teeth quickly. Since you should regularly take your cat to the veterinarian, you can also have the veterinarians take a look at her little teeth during that visit.
