Jude’s Groom
Published: July 31st, 2021
Jude’s Groom
Published: July 31st, 2021
THIS ARTICLE IS FROM THE SUMMER/AUTUMN 2021 EDITION OF OUR PETS & VETS MAGAZINE
Here at Stray Aid, we have a small cattery that only takes in ‘hand-overs’ from families who are no longer able to care for their feline friends. Jude is a very sweet 6-year-old cat who came to us due to a change in circumstances in her previous family. She was already spayed, but when our vet examined her, she found that Jude needed some attention to her teeth, and some matted fur removing from around her neck.
A general anaesthetic was required for both procedures. The fur was matted right down to her skin and had to be shaved off with electric clippers so as not to cut her skin. The noise and feel of the clippers would have been very frightening for Jude if she had been awake, especially since they were close to her head.
The rest of Jude’s coat was beautifully groomed by Jude herself, the matted fur was in the areas she couldn’t reach. This is why it is vital to groom your cat daily, especially if it is long-haired.
Jude’s teeth were scaled and polished. Luckily, her teeth were healthy and none needed to be extracted. Many cats suffer from resorptive lesions of the teeth, which are patches of tooth decay and enamel loss that develop along or just beneath the gum line. More than a third of pet cats are affected at some point in their life. Affected teeth are painful and may break. The teeth usually need to be removed. It isn’t possible to detect resorptive lesions underneath the build-up of tartar on the teeth, so we didn’t know what to expect once Jude’s teeth had been cleaned.
It isn’t easy to brush your cat’s teeth, but there are a number of things you can do to help. These include tooth gels, dental chews, special diets that need chewing and mouthwashes that can be added to your cat’s drinking water. Never use human mouthwash or toothpaste as they are not appropriate and may contain chemicals that are toxic to your dog or cat.
After Jude’s spruce up, she is now waiting for her lovely new home.
