VCA
VCA city cats Arlington Ma VCA City Cats Hospital
665 Massachusetts Ave., Arlington MA 02476
Tel: 781-641-3673
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Hours:
Mon 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Tue  8:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Wed  8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Thu  8:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Fri  8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sat  8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Sun  closed

 

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Home Dental Care

Imagine what would happen if you did not take care of your teeth. The same applies to your pets. Regular dental care is as important to them as it is to you.

Prevention of dental disease should be included as part of your cat's overall preventive medicine program, just like vaccinations. Whatever method you use, chews, rinses, or brushing, start out slowly and be consistent.

Periodontal disease is the most common infectious disease in dogs and cats. If left untreated, this means pain, bad breath, and tooth loss for your cat. Chronic infections in the mouth can spread harmful bacteria to the bloodstream and infect the heart, lungs, liver and kidneys. Fortunately, most periodontal disease can be prevented by daily home care and regular veterinary checkups.


 

Signs of dental disease

Look for these warning signs of periodontal disease in your cat:

  • Bad breath is one of the first signs of dental disease.
  • A yellowish-brown crust of plaque on the teeth near the gum line.
  • Red and swollen gums.
  • Pain or bleeding when your cat eats, or when the mouth or gum are touched.
  • Decreased appetite or difficulty eating.
  • Loose or missing teeth.

 

Three steps to dental cleaning

Good to Chew

C.E.T. Oral Hygiene Chews for cats are made from freeze-dried fish, provide an abrasive texture for removal of plaque and contain the C.E.T. Dual Enzyme antibacterial/antiplaque system. Available in fish or poultry flavor.

They can be fed as a treat once a day (on non-brushing days) or as directed. Chews are the easiest method of care, but should be used with brushing for best results.

 

Best to Brush

Following a complete cleaning by City Cats, using C.E.T.’s specially designed soft-bristle toothbrushes and pet-pleasing toothpastes will fight placque and prevent disease.

C.E.T. Toothpastes come in flavors pets love, are meant to be swallowed, and come in two formulas— Enzymatic Toothpaste in poultry, malt or vanilla-mint flavors and Tartar-Control, a more abrasive formula with strengthened enzyme system in seafood or beef flavor.

If your cat simply will not tolerate brushing, there is an alternative: City Cats carries an oral cleansing gel, Maxi/Guard, that offers the compound zinc ascorbate/taurine to promote healthy gums and lessen tartar build-up.  Maxi/Guard is natural, safe for daily use, and is generally well-accepted by pets. Works with or without brushing.

 

A Good dental diet

Good oral health requires a food designed to clean the teeth, in addition to regular veterinary care to identify signs of periodontal disease early. For maximum benefit, City Cats recommends Prescription Diet t/d as the sole food in your cat's diet. Because of the larger kibble size, your cat may intially eat the food as a treat.

 

 

 

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How to brush your cat's teeth
(courtesy of C.E.T. Dental Care)

Tooth brushing doesn't happen overnight. It requires training, just like any other behavior.

First, select a convenient time when you and your cat are both relaxed. For the first few days, simply hold your cat as you normally do when petting him/her. Gently stroke the outside of your pet’s cheeks with your finger for a minute or two.

After a few days, place a small amount of C.E.T. Toothpaste on your finger and let your pet sample the flavor. Pets love the flavors of C.E.T. Toothpastes and soon will consider it a treat.

Next, introduce your pet to a C.E.T. Toothbrush or Fingerbrush. Place a small amount of C.E.T. Toothpaste on the brush and gently brush one tooth with a slow circular motion.

Gradually increase the number of teeth brushed until you’ve built up to 30 seconds of brushing per side.

It is important to reward your cat with a healthy treat and plenty of praise after every step of this process.

As with any other routine, it’s best to begin a dental care program when pets are young.

visit C.E.T.'s site for more information on their products.

 

back to care directory

 

signs of dental disease

3 steps to dental cleaning

a good dental diet

how to brush
your cat's teeth

dental

 

Your cat's health is our top priority and excellent service is our goal.

VCA City Cats Hospital
665 Massachusetts Ave., Arlington, MA 02476
Telephone: 781-641-3673; Fax: 781-641-3663;

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