Happy Birthday, Kitty!

People always want to know how old their dog or cat is in human terms. The rule of thumb for dogs has been one dog year equals seven human years, but we know that it not exactly right. Little dogs like Bichons tend to live longer than big dogs like Newfoundlands. Also the first few years of a dog's life are accelerated. A one-year-old dog is capable of reproducing and so it is definitely not the equivalent of a seven-year-old human (unless you believe those crazy tabloids)!

Unlike dogs, after the first few formative years of life, the ratio of cat years to human is about 1:4. As you can see, a feline surpassing 20+ years is deserving of a Willard Scott-esque birthday celebration!

Cat's Age               Equivalent Human Years
 1 year                    15-18 years
 2 years                   21-24 years
 3 years                        28 years
 4 years                        32 years
 5 years                        36 years
 6 years                        40 years
 7 years                        44 years
 8 years                        48 years
 9 years                        52 years
10 years                       56 years
11 years                       60 years
12 years                       64 years
13 years                       68 years
14 years                       72 years
15 years                       76 years
16 years                       80 years
17 years                       84 years
18 years                       88 years
19 years                       92 years
20 years                       96 years
Adapted from Think Like a Cat: How to raise a well-adjusted cat -- not a sour puss by Pam Johnson-Bennett


Here are some tips for helping your kitty reach his or her "centennial" celebration.

1. Schedule annual wellness exams with your cat's veterinarian even though vaccines are not due. Most progressive veterinary clinics now booster feline vaccines only every three years. That's the equivalent of 12 years between doctor visits in human terms! Screening bloodwork should be performed periodically (and at least annually in senior cats) to catch certain diseases early. Early detection allows for easier management and a longer, happier life.
2. Spay or neuter your kitty to avoid medical and behavioral problems that may result in accidental death, illness or euthanasia.  
3. Feed your cat a high quality cat food but limit portions! Obesity is a huge problem in felines leading to diabetes, arthritis, heart disease, and skin problems from inability to groom. Most cats do not get enough moisture in their diets and suffer from GI and urinary problems as a result. Train your kitty early on to enjoy quality canned or moist foods. Dry food does not -- I repeat, does not -- prevent dental disease.
4. Dental disease is a common and painful condition in many cats, and it negatively affects their overall health. Ask your veterinarian for advice on how to prevent and manage dental disease in your cat. Just like people, most pets should have their teeth professionally cleaned (i.e., by their veterinarian) periodically.
5. Know what plants and household items are potentially toxic for your cat to avoid tragic illness or death. Also, PLEASE remember very few human medications are safe for cats. Some over-the-counter flea and tick treatments are OK for dogs but are deadly for cats!
6. Environmental enrichment can improve the quality and length of your cat's life. Many feline diseases are linked to stress. Learn as much as you can about feline behavior and play with your kitty every day. Especially in multi-cat households, make sure you have provided the proper resources for cats that may not get along all the time. A rule of thumb for litter boxes is "1 per cat plus 1." That means if you have three cats, you should have four litter boxes. Also properly placed scratching posts may eliminate the supposed need for declawing. By "properly placed" I mean in highly visible areas the cat has chosen, not the owner!  

Sadly, even with proper care and the best intentions some cats do not live to ripe old age. It is no different with us humans (I'm thinking of the fit and trim 30-somethings who die tragically from cancer or accidents). However, cats who receive proper exercise and nutrition, regular medical and dental care, and environmental enrichment will have an improved quality of life no matter how many candles are on their tuna cake.

All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth

This popular holiday song is a perfect Practical Pet Vet blog topic on Christmas Day. However, every day of the year veterinarians are confronted by toothless dogs and cats. Unfortunately there is no Kris Kringle Tooth Fairy waiting in the wings to deliver a second set!

As pets are living longer and are viewed as furry family members, dental care is becoming an increasingly important part of veterinary care. Aside from causing terrible breath, the oral bacteria associated with plaque enters the bloodstream and travels throughout the body to cause disease in the liver, kidneys, heart, brain, and elsewhere! Moreover, severe dental disease (bleeding gums, loose teeth, abscess) is known to be painful and decreases a pet's quality of life. Most owners don't recognize this change in their pet until after the pet has healed from a dental procedure. Then many report their dog or cat is acting like a puppy or kitten again!

As with most medical conditions prevention of dental disease is preferable to treatment. Regular tooth brushing is the best prevention. No, crunchy dry food is not going to do it. (If you ate nothing but carrots and corn flakes you would still need to brush your teeth and see your dentist!) Dogs and cats can learn to enjoy tooth brushing as a special treat or bonding time with you...ask your veterinarian for suggestions on how to do this. Certain treats and chewies will help reduce tartar, but some, like real bones, can actually break teeth so again check with your veterinarian.  There are many gels, sprays and water additives available through your veterinarian that can also help reduce the disease-causing bacteria in your pet's mouth. And for dogs there is an annual dental vaccine!

So what if your pet already has bad breath, severe tartar and missing or loose teeth? It's time for a dental procedure. No matter how nice your dog or cat is, sedation or anesthesia is required to properly clean the teeth and perform any surgical procedure. Some groomers offer tooth brushing or "cleaning" as part of their services. Any type of oral care your pet allows is great, but not even the best groomer on the calmest pet can clean the teeth below the gumline where the majority of tartar and disease resides. Cleaning the exposed part of the tooth above the gumline creates a nice smile and reduces halitosis but creates a false sense of security that all is well in the mouth!

Like people most dogs and cats over the age of 3 would benefit from preventative dental cleanings (yep, under sedation) at least once a year. Very small dogs (e.g., Yorkies, Maltese, Chihuahuas, etc.) ideally would have cleanings twice a year!

Some owners bring their pets in for dental cleaning and request that the veterinarian "not pull any teeth unless absolutely necessary." Oh, boy. Obviously, these people have never had to extract a fractured and painful but not yet abscessed and mobile tooth before. It is no walk in the park. Nope, veterinarians (the ones I know at least) would never extract a non-diseased tooth just to rack up the final bill! Really, it's not worth the effort.

The goal is to AVOID needing this many extractions!
However, this dog undoubtedly feels better without
the chronic toothache these diseased teeth caused!

If by the end of the dental procedure (or after lifelong dental procedures) your pet's smile is more toothless than toothy, don't fret too much. The missing teeth would have eventually fallen out anyway (with more pain, more chance of complications like retained roots and no antibiotic therapy), and your pet will probably still eat dry food. Most dogs and cats don't chew their food well with teeth (another reason regular dry food does not prevent tartar formation). I've even met some dogs with few remaining teeth who actually still enjoy gnawing their chewies!

If you've been told your dog or cat needs a dental procedure, here are some questions to ask your veterinarian:
1. Will my pet have pre-anesthetic blood testing done?
2. Do you expect my pet will need any extractions?
3. If my pet has extractions, what kind of medications will s/he go home with (pain relievers, antibiotics)?
4. What can I do at home after the dental procedure to keep my pet's mouth healthy?
5. Can I get an estimate for the dental procedure?

February is National Pet Dental Health Month. With the winter holidays behind us by then, February is the perfect time to focus on getting your furry family member scheduled for dental assessment and/or treatment!