Deciding to start a cat at home, a man takes responsibility for his life. In addition to creating a comfortable environment for living and feeding the animal, it requires constant care. Particular attention should be paid to the teeth of cats that need to be cleaned periodically. Otherwise, the pet may have serious problems with the oral cavity. About how to properly brush your cat's teeth at home, and will be discussed in this article.
How often to brush your teeth?
Cats belong to those animals that independently monitor their hygiene. However, this does not mean that pets do not need additional care. Cats, like humans, may have problems with the oral cavity, which are most often associated with improper dental care.
In their natural habitat, all cats are forced to independently obtain their food and hunt. Wild animals often have to eat solid food and gnaw bones.
Thus, cats regularly clean the tooth enamel, preventing the deposition of salts on it and removing the remnants of food.
Domesticated individuals often feed on soft feeds and do not have the ability to peel plaque from canines. In the oral cavity can also be preserved pieces of food, appear salt deposits. Over time, in the areas adjacent to the gums, stones form.
In advanced cases, the bacteria spread to the soft tissue, an unpleasant odor appears from the mouth. The gums first become inflamed, and can later begin to bleed. If time does not take measures to treat a pet, then his teeth will begin to fall out. To avoid such pet health problems, better to take care of the condition of his teeth in advance.
If the animal’s oral cavity has not been treated for a long time, and problems with enamel or gums have already begun to appear, you should contact your veterinarian. In this case, you may need specialized cleaning in a veterinary clinic.
As a rule, cats do not need daily cleansing of the mouth. Enough to carry out the procedure for cleaning the enamel at least once a week. However, in some cases, the pet’s teeth will require more thorough and frequent care.
If the pet prefers mostly cat food and other soft food, then it is better to brush the teeth three to five times a day. Due to improper procedure or the use of ineffective means, an animal may have bad breath or enamel deposits. In this case, you need to start brushing your teeth more often and thoroughly.
Small kittens do not need to be cleaned by the oral cavity, as they have milk teeth until the age of 3-5 months. However, during this period, you can gradually accustom animals to cleaning. You can start with a simple massage of the gums, and then proceed to the "acquaintance" of the animal with a brush.
Necessary tools and tools
You can clean the mouth cavity of cats in several different ways. Depending on the used equipment and suitable tools and tools are selected. The standard set for the procedure is a special brush and toothpaste or gel.
You can purchase the necessary tools in pet stores. Brushes can vary in size and shape. On sale there are special fingertips massage and with bristles. However, this method is unsafe, since not all cats will allow their fingers to touch their teeth, they may even bite.
It is allowed to use a toothbrush for children, as it has a soft nap and will not damage the cat's gum. As an alternative method of cleaning, they take a piece of soft cloth and wrap an index finger around it.
As for toothpastes for cats, unlike toothbrushes they cannot be replaced by human means. This is due to the fact that animals do not spit out the paste and do not rinse the mouth after it. Therefore, funds for people can harm the cat, even lead to poisoning.
In pet stores and veterinary clinics you can find pasta with flavors of various products, such as meat and fish. Taste can attract an animal, facilitating the process of cleaning enamel. Some cats categorically do not accept the mechanical method of cleaning enamel.
In this case, you can purchase special liquid. She is bred in the water that is given to the pet to drink. The composition of the tool includes special components that allow you to remove plaque from the teeth and clean the mouth of bacteria. It is also recommended to include more solid foods in the animal menu.
Periodically, you can give your pet nibble chicken bones. Pet shops sell special delicacies that help scrape plaque off tooth enamel, such as chewing sticks.
It is impossible to use hard or sharp objects, such as toothpicks, to clean the oral cavity, as they can injure the animal.
Carrying out the procedure
Before you begin to regularly brush the animal's teeth, it is desirable to prepare for this procedure. Otherwise, the cat may aggressively respond to attempts to put a foreign object in its mouth. If the pet's enamel will be cleaned using a special fingertip or a piece of soft cloth, it is important that he is used to finding the master's finger in his mouth.
Schooling can begin with a gentle massage of the gums. You can also coat your finger with something tasty and attractive to your pet, and let it lick the skin. If a toothpaste and a brush will be used for cleaning, it is necessary to give the cat a preliminary acquaintance with these objects.
Let the pet sniff the brush and gnaw the bristles. From the tube you need to squeeze a little toothpaste, and give the cat a taste of the composition. If the animal refuses to lick the agent on its own, a small amount of the paste is applied to the tip of the nose. Thus, the cat will be able to try and appreciate the taste of the composition.
If the pet has liked the mixture from the tube, then you can put a small amount on the toothbrush and let the animal lick it. Before proceeding with the cleansing of the entire oral cavity, it is recommended to start teaching the cat to the procedure, periodically applying paste on the front teeth.
The process of cleaning the mouth of a cat may seem complicated only at first glance. If you follow the basic recommendations and gradually accustom the animal to this procedure, then there will be no difficulty in the cleaning process.
For the first time, cotton sticks can be used to clean the enamel, as not all cats quickly get used to the toothbrush.
Before starting the procedure, it is important to ensure that the animal is in a good mood and is not under stress. But it is also important that the cat was healthy and well fed. It is not recommended to disturb the pet during sleep and intentionally wake him only for the sake of brushing his teeth.
Kota must be fixed in a comfortable position. The most convenient if the animal will be back to the owner, as in the case of resistance, the pet will begin to push and back up. It is desirable to partially restrict the pet in the possibilities of movement, for example, by holding it between his legs or swaddling in a sheet.
Conducting such manipulations, you should remember about the safety of the cat. In no case can strongly squeeze the animal.. Before proceeding with the cleaning, a small amount of paste is squeezed onto the toothbrush. Next, you need to take a pet by the head.
The most convenient way to do this is from above, pressing your ears with your palm, and place your index finger in the corner of your mouth. So it will be easier to fix the jaw in the open position. Start brushing with the front teeth, brushing them up and down.
Do not forget that you need to brush not only the outer side of the teeth, but also the inside. Having cleaned the front fangs, it is necessary to delay the pet's cheek on one side and tackle the back teeth. Next, the procedure is repeated with the opposite side. All movements must be careful not to harm the animal.
In total, the procedure takes no more than one minute, but for the first time it may take more time.
Veterinary advice
One of the common mistakes when brushing teeth in cats is haste. Each animal may respond differently to this procedure. Some individuals quickly get used to cleaning the mouth strip, and some will need more time. Impatience and assertiveness can only frighten a pet or cause him irritation and aggression.
Even if the pet quietly tolerates brushing, for him such a process is most often stressful, especially at first. So that the cat does not hold onto the owner, after the manipulations done it is recommended to pamper the animal with his favorite delicacy.
In addition to the promotion of delicious food, a pet must be calmed down with strokes. It is best to establish a clear mode for the procedures, as this will help the cat to get used to them faster.
If there are several cats living in the house, then each animal must have its own toothbrush.
Before starting to carry out regular cleaning of the tooth enamel in a cat, it is recommended to visit a veterinarian. The doctor will be able to assess the condition of the animal’s oral cavity and give basic recommendations on the procedure and the selection of the necessary means. In case of problems with the teeth, the doctor will carry out a professional cleaning in the clinic.
Some cat owners resort to using non-standard cat toothbrushes. For example, soda and wine or hydrogen peroxide. This method of cleaning the mouth can not be called absolutely safe for the pet. If used improperly, such agents can adversely affect the gums and the health of the cat.
How to brush your cat's teeth at home, see the next video.
