My 15-year-old cat has gingivitis. What should I do to help her?

Question

My vet said my 15 cat has gingivitis, what do I do? I would love a second opinion on what to do. Please help. Pet's info: Cat | Pug | Male | neutered | 15 years and 7 months old | 11 lbs

Jenna Beyer, DVM, MBA, cVMA · Accepted Answer

Gingivitis is inflammation of the gums around the teeth. In cats, it can be quite serious and cause significant pain. Sometimes a dental cleaning to remove the tartar from the teeth will cure the problem, but in some cats it becomes a recurring issue that needs more aggressive treatment. In the worse cases, we will remove all the teeth in an effort to make the cat more comfortable. If Tyson has never had a dental cleaning by a veterinarian before, it is probably about time. Pets aren't as prone to dental disease as humans since they don't eat much sugar, but if they can still produce tartar. Routine brushing of your cat's teeth can prevent some of the tartar buildup, but it will not be able to remove what is there. If you would like to confirm your vet's diagnosis of gingivitis, I recommend taking Tyson to a second vet for examination. Here is a good article: https://www.petcoach.co/article/6-things-every-dog-owner-should-know-about-dental-care

My 15-year-old cat has gingivitis. What should I do to help her?

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