Nemo & Rana

At the time of his castration, Nemo had his teeth examined under general anaesthetic. He was noted to have very inflammed gums, a condition called juvenile gingivitis. 

Some notes about juvenile gingivitis;

Juvenile gingivitis is general inflammation in the gingiva in young cats. Juvenile gingivitis is typically diagnosed between 6 and 12 months of age.

An exact cause is not known, but the disease complex is believed to be caused by one or more of a number of predisposing factors such as inflammation during shedding baby teeth, some viral infections, bacteria, and maybe even a genetic predisposition, since some breeds (Maine Coon and Siamese) are more frequently affected.

Treatment is targeted towards two goals; keeping the mouth clean and supporting the immune system. While Nemo was under anaesthetic we gave his teeth a clean. A clean mouth is obtained ideally by daily toothbrushing. Nemo will go home with a dental pack and this is the best thing you can do for his teeth. We have also started him on a diet called T/d which is like an edible toothbrush as the kibble will scrub his teeth while he eats. 

nemo may require a dental scale and polish every 3-6 months until the gingivitis settles, something we offer through our vet clinic at $240. This may not be required, but we recommend a dental check (free of charge at our practice) every 3 months and we can advise if required. 

If the gingivitis is not well controlled then he may require his teeth to be removed so the most diligent you are with his dental care, the less likely this is from happening. 

Please take the time to read this memo and we are happy to discuss this further with you if you have any questions.