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What is periodontal disease?
'Periodontal' comes from two Greek words that mean 'around the tooth.' Periodontal disease is a series of changes that are associated with the inflammation and loss of the deep supporting structures of teeth.
How does periodontal disease develop?
 If gingivitis is left untreated, it will progress to periodontal disease which is irreversible.
Food particles and bacteria collect along the
gum line forming plaque. If plaque is not removed, minerals in the saliva combine with the plaque and form tartar (or calculus) which adheres strongly to the teeth. Plaque starts to mineralize 3-5 days after it forms. The tartar is irritating to the gums and causes an inflammation called gingivitis. This can be seen as reddening of the gums adjacent to the teeth. It also causes bad breath.
If the calculus is not removed, it builds up under the gums. It separates the gums from the teeth to form "pockets" and encourages even more bacterial growth. At this point the damage is irreversible, and called "periodontal" disease. It can be very painful and can lead to loose teeth, abscesses, and bone loss or infection.
How to Tell if Your
Cat Has Periodontal Disease
What factors affect the development of periodontal disease?
Numerous factors play a role in the formation of plaque, tartar, and the development of periodontal disease. These include:
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Age and general health status
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Diet and chewing behavior
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Breed, genetics, and tooth alignment
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Grooming habits
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Home care
Age and Health Status: Periodontal disease more commonly affects older animals. Cats infected with feline leukemia virus, FIV or calicivirus have a much higher incidence of periodontal disease.
Diet and Chewing Behavior: Studies show that hard kibbles are slightly better at keeping plaque from accumulating on the teeth.
Breed, Genetics, and Tooth Alignment: Oriental short-hair and Siamese cats are more commonly affected than other cats.
Grooming Habits: Hair accumulation and impaction around the tooth and in the gingival sulcus can increase the development of tartar.
Home Care: Regular brushing of your cat's teeth can greatly reduce the accumulation of plaque and development of tartar, thus reducing the risk of periodontal disease.
In general, the more acid the saliva, the more rapid the build-up of plaque.
The number and type of bacteria in the mouth influence the progression of periodontal disease.
What are the signs of periodontal disease?
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As periodontal disease progresses, you may observe the following signs:
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Purulent exudate (pus) around the tooth
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Persistent bad breath
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Gums that bleed easily
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Sensitivity around the mouth
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Pawing at the mouth
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Gums that are inflamed (red), hyperplastic, or receding
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Loose or missing teeth
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Loss of appetite
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Stomach or intestinal upsets
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Drooling
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Difficulty chewing or eating
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Irritability or depression
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How is periodontal disease diagnosed
Chronic Renal
Failure
What is Chronic Renal Failure?
Chronic renal failure (CRF) occurs when 70% of kidney function is irreversibly destroyed. The kidneys consist of tiny units called nephrons, which are responsible for filtering out toxins and wastes from the blood. These toxins and wastes become concentrated in the urine and eliminated from the body. When the kidneys no longer have enough functioning nephrons to effectively rid the body of toxins, uremic poisoning results. Causes
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As one of the most common causes of death in the geriatric cat, CRF can occur as a result of:
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Kidney inflammation
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Congenital renal diseases
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Renal lesions
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Unresolved pyelonephritis (bacterial infection of the kidney)
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Feline leukemia
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Feline infectious peritonitis
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Hypertension (high blood pressure)
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Toxins
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Chronic immune stimulation including chronic oral and skin infections, inflammatory bowel disease, pancreatitis, diabetes
Signs
The normally functioning kidney is able to rid the body of toxins and wastes by storing them in the bladder as concentrated urine. However, the failing kidney is unable to use a small amount of water for the toxins (concentrated urine), and because of this failure in water conservation, more water is needed to flush the toxins from the body. Consequently, the most common symptoms of CRF are polydipsia (increased drinking) and polyuria (increased urination). These are also the two most common signs of diabetes.
As CRF progresses, other physical signs include:
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weight loss
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dull coat
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dehydration
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lethargy
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vomiting
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muscle wasting
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depression
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mouth ulcers
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halitosis
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coma
 Diagnosis and Testing
Diagnosis of CRF can be made by a variety of methods. Physical examination findings of abnormally small or large kidney(s) may initiate further testing of kidney function. Tests most commonly utilized to assess kidney function include a urine specific gravity test to determine how well the kidney is concentrating urine and blood work to determine the levels of toxins in the blood. The two most significant blood test results are the BUN (blood urea nitrogen) and the creatinine levels. BUN is a protein metabolyte and although lab values differ, the approximate range is between 14-36 mg/dl (5-12.9 nmol/L) for healthy kidneys. BUN is related more to diet, and if dehydration is present, will show increased values. Creatinine is thought to be a more reliable indicator of kidney function as it shows how well the kidneys are filtering out the toxins and is less dependent on dietary factors and hydration status of the cat. A normal range for creatinines value for the healthy kidney is 1.0-2.2 mg/dl (88.4-194.5 umol/L). Additional blood values used to diagnose renal failure include phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and packed cell volume.
Other tests to determine kidney function include x-ray of the kidneys, kidney ultrasound and biopsy.
Treatment
CRF is a terminal illness. However, with specialized treatment, many CRF cats are able to live months to years before succumbing to the disease. The goal of treatment is to ease the work done by the kidneys and to prevent dehydration. Thus, management to slow the progression of the disease revolves around two mainstays of treatment, diet and fluid therapy, both of which are
controversial
 How to Photograph a Puppy?
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Remove film from box and load camera.
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Remove film box from puppy's mouth and throw in trash.
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Remove puppy from trash and brush coffee grounds from muzzle.
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Choose suitable background for photo.
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Mount camera on tripod and focus.
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Find puppy and take dirty sock out of the mouth.
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Place puppy in prefocused spot and return to camera.
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Forget about spot and crawl after puppy on knees.
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Focus with one hand and fend off puppy with the other hand.
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Get tissue and clean nose print from lens.
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Put cat outside and put peroxide on the scratch on puppy's nose.
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Put magazines back on coffee table.
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Try to get puppy's attention by squeaking toy over your head.
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Replace your glasses and check camera for damage.
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Jump up in time to grab puppy by the scruff of the neck and say
"No.. outside!"
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Call someone to help clean up the mess.
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Sit back in chair for deep breathing and resolve to teach puppy "sit" and "stay" first thing next morning.
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