From: ac999257@umbc.edu (ac999257)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: kitties and gingivitis
Date: 26 Jan 1993 17:35:04 -0500
Organization: University of Maryland, Baltimore County Campus
NNTP-Posting-Host: umbc8.umbc.edu

In article <dsmither.728083745@cunews> dsmither@alfred.carleton.ca (Diane Smithers) writes:
>I need some information on gingivitis in cats.  I have relatively
   ...
>
>(science diet).  I have recently noticed that when he eats the dry, he
>doesn't chew it, and it doesn't look right somehow - I'm sure he used
>to chew before.  Also, his breath is kind of bad,  but I have trouble
>knowing whether that is just cat "winter-dry-air-too-much-time-near
>-a-heater-and-not-enough-water" breath, or something to do with the
>wet food, or whether it could be gingivitis.  I will take the cat in
>to the vet in a couple of days, but I'd like some information about
>gingivitis if people have any.  The cat is about 2 years old - can it
>occur at any age?  What causes it and what are the main ways of
>telling?  
>

Gingivitis and other dental problems are serious. Your vet will be
able to explain and help you learn how to help your cats. I have
noticed that some cats are more prone to dental problems than
others. I've had cats that went all their life without a problem,
and one that has to have his teeth cleaned by the vet every 6-12 mos.
One of my two current cats only has her teeth cleaned every two
years, the other had a major dental catastrophe this past summer.
I posted a note about it a couple months ago, but I'll reiterate
the details.

Ms. Agnes Depesto went in for her annual checkup, although this one
had lapsed and was about 18 months since her last. The vet showed
me the really bad gum problems and recommended a cleaning as soon
as possible. So a few days later, he did the cleaning and found
really really really bad tooth decay. Agnes had to lose 7 teeth,
including some of her back teeth. Others were salvagable but could
be lost within a year. He explained in detail the structure of
a cat's teeth and the common problems. One thing that was clear
was that not a lot is known about cat's teeth -- he couldn't even
find good pictures in his textbooks to show me. They get a particular
kind of cavity called neck-lesions that aren't well understood.
He said Agnes had probably been in considerable pain, and would
be in really bad pain for 1 or 2 days, but would then improve
tremendously.

I asked how she could have been eating dry food with such bad
teeth. Well, cat's don't have to chew their food completely to
eat. Agnes was throwing up whole food occasionally, so she was
apparently not chewing her Kit and Kaboodle. She also had really
bad breath, which is a giveaway sign of tooth trouble. I failed
to recognize these signs because I thought it was normal for
cats to have bad breath, and that she was throwing up because
she was chewing to fast because she was so hungry when I got
home from work. I was really wrong.

When I brought poor Agnes home, I felt like the lowest most
despicable mom in the world. She was so pathetic and in so much
pain! She couldn't rest her head anywhere to sleep. It was
the sadest sight, and I just cried. My vet said it wasn't my
fault, that some cats are really prone to such problems. But
I should have done better and checked her gums and brushed
her teeth. My vet gave me the cutest little fingertip kitty
toothbrush and helped me figure out how to brush her teeth -- 
she really hates it. So now, I brush them often.

Agnes improved tremendously within 24 hours. This was 6 mos
ago, and she is a different cat. She still eats dry food, although
I switched to a brand with smaller pieces and boy wasn't that
fun! And she has gained a pound -- she was SO skinny before.
She's obviously happier and her breath doesn't smell and the
throwing up has stopped.

Check your cats gums for fire-engine red stuff around the teeth
and open the mouth to look on both sides of the teeth. This
will tell you if your cat has a problem. Definately, no matter
what, take your cat to the vet! Routine cleaning isn't very 
expensive, but what I went through with Agnes was pure Hell for
both of us and was quite an expensive and painful learning
experience. I don't brush Carmen's teeth (she won't let me and
I would need a cat straight jacket to do it) but I check them
regularly. The vet said she's fine and only needs to have
her teeth cleaned occasionally (it's been 2 years between
cleanings). This is a problem that can occur at any age and
can be severe in some cats and not so severe in others. It's
also a problem that lots of "cat moms" don't know about, and
isn't well documented. Talk to your vet.

Good luck!

Mary