Library

Cats + Dental & Oral Health

  • Colostrum is the antibody-rich milk produced from the mother's mammary glands during the first few days of life. It contains a thousands of antibodies (immunoglobulins), lactoferrin, growth hormone, growth factors, white blood cells, enzymes, vitamins and substances that regulate the body's immune response.

  • Dental disease is one of the most frequent ailments seen by veterinarians, and can be found to some degree in the majority of cats over two years of age.

  • Metronidazole is a synthetic antibacterial and antiprotozoal agent. It is used to treat infections such as gingivitis, wound infections, and giardiasis.

  • Oral hygiene preparations include dentifrice, toothpaste and dental paste or solution. Most contain an inorganic abrasive and chlorhexidine. These products are used to prevent dental plaque and gum disease.

  • An epulis (plural epuli) is the clinical name for a swelling on the gums. Several different tumours share this name, often of different origins including the tooth-socket lining and lining epithelium of the mouth.

  • Oral fibrosarcomas are rapidly growing, malignant tumours originating from the fibrous connective tissue of the mouth. The tumours are rarely cured by surgical removal.

  • Oral melanoma (malignant melanoma or melanosarcoma) is a tumour of melanin pigment producing cells (melanocytes). The cancers are rapidly growing and unfortunately are rarely completely cured by surgical removal.

  • Oral papillomas are benign tumours of the epithelial lining of the mouth and throat caused by papillomaviruses. The viruses are specific for that species of animal and fairly site specific but can be transmitted to skin or eyes if the protective outer epithelium is damaged.

  • Squamous cell carcinomas are malignant cancers originating from the lining cells of the mouth. They are locally invasive and often recurrent.