What do sick cat gums look like?

Do You Know Your Cat’s gum health?

By being aware of your cat’s gum health, you can avoid the painful, potentially life-threatening, and costly issues associated with gum disease in your cat. Animal Dental Care and Oral Surgery of Loveland would like to offer you some tips for assessing cat gum health:

What is gingivitis in cats?

Gum disease, or gingivitis, is a chronic inflammation of the gums. It is a condition that cannot improve on its own and will get worse over time if left untreated. Gum disease occurs in cats as a result of tartar, plaque and bacteria build-up where the teeth and gums meet.

What is gum disease in cats and what causes it?

Gum disease occurs in cats as a result of tartar, plaque and bacteria build-up where the teeth and gums meet. If left untreated, this leads to mouth pain, gum infections, and often tooth loss. Symptoms of gum disease vary and can include:

Why are my Cats gums red on the inside?

Redness of Gums — cats are particularly prone to a disease known as gingivitis (inflammation of the gums). It is easy to spot as the main sign of this disease is redness of the gums – often along the rim of the gum where it connects to the teeth.

How can I tell if my cat has healthy teeth?

If your cat has healthy energy, that’s a great indicator of good overall health. Healthy cat teeth are free of tartar and plaque. You can tell if your cat is developing either of these by looking at his or her back teeth – there shouldn’t be any unusual yellowing or darkening back there. Your cat’s gums should be a bright pink,

How to tell if your cat has gum disease?

Your cat may display the following symptoms in the early or late stages of gum disease: 1 Foul breath 2 Nasal discharge 3 Excessive drooling 4 Difficulty chewing 5 Loss of appetite 6 Pawing at mouth 7 Swelling of face 8 Redness on gums 9 Bleeding gums 10 Receding gums 11 Yellow on teeth 12 Pus near teeth 13 Loss of teeth More

How can I prevent gum disease in my Cat?

Very, very rigorous dental care is the only way to prevent gum disease in your cat, Lund says. That means twice-yearly cleanings, X-rays, and polishing and removal of diseased teeth—as needed—while the cat is under anesthesia.

What causes gingivitis in cats teeth?

Gingivitis in Cats. Plaque is the result of a collection of food, debris, bacteria, dead skin cells and mucous. It forms within 24 hours on clean tooth surfaces. The gum responds to plaque with inflammation of the gingival blood vessels, swelling of the gums, and collagen loss from the gums.

How do vets diagnose gingivitis in cats?

Diagnosis of Gingivitis in Cats. During this second examination, your veterinarian will first anesthetize your cat, take dental x-rays, draw blood to evaluate your cat’s systemic condition and blood cell count, and check for the severity of symptoms like depth of gum pockets and amount of plaque and tartar build-up.

Can gingivitis in cats be reversed?

Gingivitis in Cats. Gingivitis is considered the earliest stage of periodontal disease. This stage is reversible with proper care. It is indicated by inflammation of the gingiva, or gums. In the early phases of gingivitis, some plaque is present and there is a mild redness of the gums, but the gingival surfaces are smooth.

Why do some cats have more plaque on their gums than others?

Some cats seem to accumulate large amounts of plaque with a minimum of gingivitis while other cats’ gums react more severely. A cat’s unique degree of gingivitis largely has to do with genetics, but gingivitis in cats can also be affected by certain conditions, including:

What is periodontitis in cats?

Periodontitis is associated with tooth disease, with the build-up of plaque on the cat’s teeth. This allows bacteria to become attached to the gum margins and gradually work their way down the tooth root. The end result of this is that the tooth becomes loose and painful.

Why are my Cats gums red and irritated?

This causes gum irritation and leads to an inflammatory condition called gingivitis. Gingivitis, which is evidenced by a reddening of the gums directly bordering the teeth, is considered to be an early stage of periodontal disease in cats. After an extended period, the calculus eventually builds up under the gum and separates it from the teeth.

What kind of gum disease does a cat have?

Periodontal disease is a gum disease that is common among cats. When plaque formed from saliva and bacteria inside the mouth is left untreated, it turns into a yellow layer known as tartar. The bacteria releases toxins below the gum line, that causes an inflammation of the gums known as gingivitis.

What should a cat’s gums look like?

Cat gums are usually light pink colour and firm to the touch. Some cats will have black spots on their gums; this usually occurs in red or orange coloured cats and is known as lentigo. Teeth should be firmly adhered to the gum, with no pockets between the tooth and the gum.

What are the causes of receding gums in cats?

Gum disease develops in 85 percent of cats over 2 years old, according to WebMD. Most are treated through professional teeth cleanings. In cats without periodontal disease, the gums lie snug around the teeth. If your cat has gingivitis, plaque builds up around the gum line, causing the gums to recede from the teeth.

Why are my cat’s gums red and swollen?

These “pockets” between the teeth and gum line fill with food debris and bacteria, causing the gums to become red and inflamed. While gum infections are typically caused by tartar buildup, your cat’s red gums could also be caused by certain nutritional disorders, feline panleukopenia, immune disorders,…

How to tell if your cat has dental problems?

Signs of cat dental problems can include: 1 Redness of Gums 2 Gum Recession 3 Bleeding Gums 4 Plaque and Tartare 5 Broken or Wobbly Teeth 6 Swelling of the Gums Around Some Teeth 7 Lumps on the Gums

Do cats get toothaches?

By Jenny Green. Cats don’t like to advertise when they’re in pain, so you have to watch for signs of toothache to prevent your cat from suffering long periods of discomfort and stress. Problems that cause toothache in cats include tooth decay, tooth resorption — which is caused by decay below the gum line — inflamed gums and fractured teeth.

How to tell if your cat has periodontal disease?

Diagnosis of Periodontal Disease in Cats. That is the first indication of a problem. Your veterinarian may press gently on the gums to see if they bleed easily, which is a sign that a deep dental cleaning, or more, is needed. Once under anesthesia, the diagnosis of cat periodontal disease involves a number of procedures.

How can I tell if my cat has a tooth infection?

This is visible as a hard cream or yellow colored deposit on the tooth enamel, typically found alongside the gumline. Pay attention to problems in your cat’s mouth, such as bad breath or bleeding gums. These can be signs of an infection. If you see the signs of dental disease, you should take your cat to its veterinarian for a cleaning.

What does gum disease look like in a cat?

What Gum Disease Looks Like in Cats. “They will look really hot, red and angry. When they are, you know the cat is in discomfort,” Lund says. Mild facial swelling is also possible. The difficulty in eating occurs not because of tooth pain—cats actually use their teeth very little when eating, Dr. Lund says.