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Elderly cats losing their teeth: causes and what to do
Elderly cats losing their teeth: causes and what to do
Anonim

It is often thought that that of the elderly cats losing their teeth is a physiological phenomenon and given by age. But is this problem really inevitable, or are there causes on which we can intervene?

After the change of milk teeth with permanent ones, which takes place within the first nine months of our cat's life, a tooth loss in the cat is not never an event to be underestimated. The loss of permanent teeth, in fact, is not physiological in the elderly cat but is rather symptomatic of a more serious problem.

The most common causes

cats lose their teeth
cats lose their teeth

Generally, the most common causes of tooth loss in adult cats are attributable to:

  • trauma and fractures: if our cat has the root of the tooth still attached to the gum, then we are faced with a simple one fracture of the crown which however does not imply oral pathologies.
  • inflammation or infection of the oral cavity: tartar, gingivitis, periodontitis, stomatitis, ulcer. The indicators of these pathologies are bad breath, pain during eating, excessive salivation. In the most serious cases it could lead to gum bleeding, lack of appetite and even fever.
  • mouth cancer: Symptoms are variable and depend on the affected area of the mouth: mucous membranes, gums, jawbones. In most cases, the tumor masses form real growths visible to the naked eye.

Prevention and possible remedies

old man and cat at home
old man and cat at home

It is known that an elderly cat is more likely to get sick. Its immune defenses are lowered, free radicals increase and begin to attack cells, bones become more fragile. Exactly as it happens for people.

For these reasons, the best treatment tool is always there prevention:

  • worry about getting it done periodically veterinary checks to your Kitty: at least every 12 months when young; every 6 months as an elderly person.
  • get your cat on a proper diet. It is extremely important that the food is of quality (free of artificial colors, preservatives and flavors, which in the long run could cause problems with intolerances in your feline); that is possibly dry (wet food is the number one cause of tartar in cats' teeth); that is suitable for the age of the cat.
  • if necessary, under the advice of your veterinarian, have your older cat take specific supplements and vitamins that increase its immune defenses and prevent cell oxidation caused by free radicals.

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