Do you get your cat's teeth cleaned?

[CJ2008]

I remember doing this for one of my cats at around 1 years old - where they put him under and did a deep cleaning of the teeth / gums.

I'm considering doing this for my other cat (even though he's now over 2 years old).

Do you guys do this? Is it something you repeat every year?

(Edited how I said the part about the anesthesia)

 

[Laila619]

My cat is going to be 9 this April. So far I've only had her teeth cleaned once, when she was 3 years old. I think she really needs it again though. Her teeth are not the best. I really should have been brushing her teeth from day one, but I think it's too late for that now and she would never let me. There is always a small risk every time you put them under anesthesia so it's a bit scary.

 

[CJ2008]

Right, it's always a risk to have them go under...

My cat has really bad breath...I brush his teeth once in a while but not as often I should for sure...

 

[stargurl78]

My cats are both 7 1/2 and I got their teeth cleaned about a year ago. That was the only time I've done it and that is probably the last time I'll do it since I know you aren't supposed to put them under once they reach a certain age. I asked the vet to check their teeth when I would bring them in for check-ups and every year until last year she said they both looked good. Only one of the cats really needed to have it done but I figured I would just get them both done at the same time. I definitely don't think its something you need to do every year.

 

[iheartscience]

I just had my baby girl Olivia's teeth cleaned. (In my avatar.) She actually developed an abscess from tooth decay. We knew she would need a cleaning at some point, but the vet said we should keep brushing and monitor her teeth. I actually only learned that you're supposed to brush cats' teeth about a year or two ago, and I started, but she's 9 now so it wasn't soon enough!

If you have a vet with good technology (way to monitor blood pressure, heating, etc.) then anesthesia shouldn't be too dangerous. Also the cats should get blood work done prior to the anesthesia. I still worried of course, but one of the vets at our practice specializes in dental work so they have all the best equipment.

I'm supposedly supposed to brush her teeth every day, but seeing as how she's a cat, I'm not sure that's possible. I do my best, and she's actually fairly tolerant and lets me do a LOT to her that my other cats won't let me do, but she's small and it's hard to get her back teeth, which was where the issue was.

Our vet also recommended Biotene Veterinarian Maintenance Gel, which can be purchased at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001UFLP30/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A2O43LY5M9U2FR I just ordered mine so haven't used it yet, but you're supposed to rub it on their "dry gums," so again, we'll see how that goes. Don't get me wrong, I will do anything for my babies, but I think some things just aren't realistic for cats. I mean I'm supposed to dry their gums off and THEN rub this on it? Yeah, they'll be fine with that!

ETA I'm going to take my other 2 in for a cleaning soon-probably within the next month or two. Can't decide if I want to take both at once or just do it one at a time.

 

[CJ2008]

Don't get me wrong, I will do anything for my babies, but I think some things just aren't realistic for cats. I mean I'm supposed to dry their gums off and THEN rub this on it? Yeah, they'll be fine with that!

hahahahah I know I feel the same way when the vet gives me recommendations to do certain things.

Just like when I go to the hairdresser and she shows me some blow dryer / brush move that should be "easy." Yeah right.

 

[lin_ny]

Apparently feeding them a raw diet (dogs too) helps to keep teeth clean and free of tartar build up. My boyfriend's mom swears by it. I think the meat has enzymes or something that help the dental health. It also is apparently amazing for their digestion and overall health in general.

 

[zoebartlett]

Funny you should mention this, CJ! We JUST did this with one of our cats (6 years old) a few weeks ago. Our vet recommended at a recent visit that they get their teeth cleaned every year or two. I was nervous about putting them under but our cat who had it done did fine. (We just did it with one but we plan on bringing our male in next summer. It's kind of pricey so we wanted to spread it out a bit. It cost $300 for one cat, but it could have cost a bit more if the vet had to do any extractions or if it was a complicated case.)

I brought her in early in the morning and they put her under and cleaned her teeth a couple hours later. They wanted her to stay for a few hours afterward so they could monitor her. She did great! She was groggy when we got home and she was a bit lethargic for the rest of the day. The vet tech had us feed her half of what we usually do that night, but the next day, she was back to her old self with no dietary restrictions.

There was some decay but it was minimal. The vet did recommend that we add Oxy Fresh to their water bowl. http://oxyfresh.com/pet/stop-pet-bad-breath-pet-oral-hygiene-solution.asp... They also recommended this food: http://www.hillspet.com/products/pd-feline-td-feline-dental-health-dry.html... We're using this food as treats instead of replacing what they're eating now since our male cat is on Rx food already. The feline T/D food is larger than other dry food and is meant to help keep teeth clean.

We didn't even think about this too much until our vet mentioned it a few months ago. We thought we were doing really well since they only eat dry food, not wet. There's special cat toothpaste you can get at the vet's that you can try but really, what cat is going to let you in to brush their teeth?! We chose to do the dental cleaning instead.

These truly are our furbabies, so we were willing to pay this expense. It might seem silly to some but we were okay with it. Hope this helps!

 

[zoebartlett]

My cats are both 7 1/2 and I got their teeth cleaned about a year ago. That was the only time I've done it and that is probably the last time I'll do it since I know you aren't supposed to put them under once they reach a certain age. I asked the vet to check their teeth when I would bring them in for check-ups and every year until last year she said they both looked good. Only one of the cats really needed to have it done but I figured I would just get them both done at the same time. I definitely don't think its something you need to do every year.

Really? Our vet didn't mention this. Our cats are a bit younger than yours is though (6), so maybe that's why.

 

[Deactivated member 42515]

I don't have a cat but I've always taken my parents chihuahua (used to be mine before I got married. They wanted to keep her) to get her teeth cleaned. Now that she's about 9 years old, the vet always does a blood test before to make sure she's ok to go under.

Again, not a cat but my baby girl Emma needs to get her teeth cleaned. She never chews her food, just swallows it and same goes for treats and bones. Livi will chew on a bone and clean her teeth, so even the back teeth are sparkly clean, Emma on the other hand eats her bone like someone is gonna steal it from her. So her teeth are icky and her breath smells like poop and fish. Blech! But I'm always afraid of putting any of my babies under.

Just to let you know tho, before Mia, my parents' chihuahua had her teeth cleaned she had no sensitivity. After, she refuses to eat hard food. She doesn't seem to be able to chew very well. We asked the vet and they said that could be a side effect... We were not happy.

 

[iheartscience]

Don't get me wrong, I will do anything for my babies, but I think some things just aren't realistic for cats. I mean I'm supposed to dry their gums off and THEN rub this on it? Yeah, they'll be fine with that!

hahahahah I know I feel the same way when the vet gives me recommendations to do certain things.

Just like when I go to the hairdresser and she shows me some blow dryer / brush move that should be "easy." Yeah right.

Ha EXACTLY. I may love my cats as much as I love humans, but I know they aren't humans! Apparently the vet doesn't realize that?

 

[mary poppins]

We haven't gotten our kitten's or two prior cats' teeth cleaned.

Soon after bringing our kitten home from the shelter, we noticed she had really bad breath. Really. Bad. It got so bad we had to give her a bath - she was cleaning her fur / body with her stinky saliva and ended up getting a funk. We also got concerned that she had a dental problem.

Per our veterinarian's instructions, we switched her food from Hill's Science for Kittens to Hill's Science Prescription Diet Feline Dental Health for a while. The stink breath cleared up within 24 hours but we became concerned that she wasn't getting the proper kitty nutrition she needed. When we switched back to the HSD kitten food, her stink breath returned within 24 hours.

For now, we are alternating the kitten and dental food until the kitten food runs out. Then we will find different kitten food. Suggestions for other brands are welcome. And for those who give raw food, can you provide a description of what that involves?

 

[yssie]

We use gauze - they won't tolerate any more friction than that. Mina's prone to gum disease so we have to be careful about keeping her on schedule. I'd like to start brushing Emily's teeth - she's still teething though, and nipping at everything... maybe we can start when she doesn't so closely resemble a mobile hole-punch

 

[asscherisme]

My vet suggested that I get one of my cat's teeth cleaned. I am procrastinating the appointmnet because putting her under scares me. I love her so much and I fear that if something happened to her I would not forgive myself. Perhaps my fear is a bit overly irrational but the anethesia part scares me.

I will be following this thread closely.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

My cat is 2 1/2 and he's never had his teeth cleaned and there is no way in hell I'd go near him with a toothbrush. He has VERY sharp claws and teeth and would rip me to shreds thinking we were playing a game.

I'd only have his teeth cleaned if the vet said there appeared to be some teeth health problems! I will have to keep an eye on him only because he refuses canned food of any sort...he won't even eat canned tuna, so when he's older, it may be harder for him to chew crunchy food. We'll see!

 

[CJ2008]

Zoe - yeah I guess I want to do whatever preventive maintenance I can do. With my last cat I did that for him at 1 year but he still ended up needing all his teeth removed years later - which was very costly from what I remember.

 

[CJ2008]

Soon after bringing our kitten home from the shelter, we noticed she had really bad breath. Really. Bad.

Mine too, MP. Part of the reason I want to take him in...make sure everything's OK.

 

[CJ2008]

maybe we can start when she doesn't so closely resemble a mobile hole-punch

My current beast does let me brush his teeth - but it isn't easy or fun and the back of his mouth is so small it's hard to get to his back teeth.

Plus I haven't been consistent enough with it and it's been weeks maybe even longer that I've done it so who know if he'd let me now...

BTW - thanks everyone for your feedback and help. hopefully we'll all learn something

 

[chrono]

I've only done it exactly once during my cat's 16 years of life. Never brushed her teeth either but her dental health is very good. Never lost a tooth, had tooth abscess or any issues. I don't know if it's the food, her specific breed or something else though.

 

[erinl]

My cat will be six in june and I plan on having it done. Last year the vet told me she was starting to get some plaque. I would have done it sooner but my yorkie had a cleaning this year and several extractions, which was pricey!

 

[mary poppins]

Soon after bringing our kitten home from the shelter, we noticed she had really bad breath. Really. Bad.

Mine too, MP. Part of the reason I want to take him in...make sure everything's OK.

Did you try switching food yet?

Over the phone, our vet suggested trying Hill's Science Dental for Feline and then bring kitten in if that didn't help. It did help, and reverted to bad breath when resumed prior kitten food. We concluded it was a food problem rather than a dental problem. Switching to a new kitten food.

ETA: Oh, I see your cat in question is more than 2 years old now. Is the bad breath a recent development or ongoing since you got him?

 

[ecf8503]

Hi!

I'm a veterinarian and I worked in cats-only practices for years.

Yes you should absolutely get your cat's teeth cleaned! As has been mentioned before, anesthesia is very safe if your cat has had pre-op bloodwork that shows no problems, and they are in good health otherwise (no heart problems, etc). But even if there are issues (like kidney disease, which is very common in older cats), it doesn't mean they can't have any anesthetic procedures performed - I have had my own cats' teeth cleaned even while they have kidney disease - we just take precautions, and they pulled through just fine.

Remember age is not a disease - just because they are older doesn't mean they can't have something done. Cats all age differently - some cats are "old" at 10-12, some live to be over 20! And dental disease is a harbor for bacteria, which can turn into abscesses and even invade the bloodstream, setting up infections in other locations in the body.

The problem with cat teeth is that they develop cavities, properly called resorptive lesions, below the gumline where they can't be see by the naked eye. X-rays should always be performed to determine the health status of all the teeth. And whether a tooth needs an extraction (which is the proper treatment for these lesions, as they can't be "filled" like human cavities can be), depends on the severity of what is found on x-ray and exam via probing, just like your dentist would do.

Don't be afraid of getting your cat's teeth cleaned - anesthesia is safer now more than ever, and if your kitty has a painful cavity you don't know about (as cats are masters of hiding pain and discomfort), they will feel so much better after! >^..^<

 

[mary poppins]

Thank you for the helpful information, ecf!

How often (frequency) do you recommend taking our cats for professional cleaning and x-rays?

Also, what kind of at-home maintenance do you recommend to promote healthy teeth?

 

[CJ2008]

ETA: Oh, I see your cat in question is more than 2 years old now. Is the bad breath a recent development or ongoing since you got him?

From the beginning...I'm pretty sure...

ECF - thanks for the helpful info. and reassurance! I don't recall if with my first cat (who is now gone ) they did XRays...is that something that not every vet will do?

 

[NOYFB]

I think EQ (who passed last month) had her teeth cleaned once in her 16 years, but I can't remember how old she was. She never had any dental issues.

Peanut, who will be 8 next month, is developing some tartar so it was recommended last month that we get his cleaned in the spring. It will be his first cleaning.

Our cats visit the vet at least annually and are fully examined for any potential problems. If it's something that the vet recommends, we will do it, but we've been pretty lucky so far that it hasn't been a real issue.

 

[Cind11]

Yes I do get my cats' teeth cleaned. Not every year, but I take them for checkups every year. If the vet says their teeth need to be cleaner we do it.

 

[ecf8503]

Thank you for the helpful information, ecf!

How often (frequency) do you recommend taking our cats for professional cleaning and x-rays?

Also, what kind of at-home maintenance do you recommend to promote healthy teeth?

As often as they need it - he he he. Some cats are predisposed to cavities, tartar, and gingivitis and need more frequent cleanings. Some are very lucky and seem to have "healthier" mouths and don't need as much.

Tooth brushing is helpful to keep gingivitis and tartar down, but not necessarily at preventing cavities unfortunately. There is evidence that some cavities are caused by a virus some cats are exposed to as kittens / in shelters. And there isn't much to do to prevent that. I used to brush my own cats' teeth, but after they got older, had most of their problem teeth extracted, and the gingivitis seemed to abate some, I haven't needed to do it as often.

 

[ecf8503]

I don't recall if with my first cat (who is now gone ) they did XRays...is that something that not every vet will do?

Not necessarily. Some vets are more "with it" than others. There are still a lot of "old school" vets out there unfortunately.

 

[CJ2008]

Wanted to quickly say thanks for your response and advice, ecf.

I took him last week...my vet said they only do xrays if they see lots of potential problems...but not when they see only a mild case of gingivitis (which is what he had). I hope this was the right choice...and I will keep being vigilant about his teeth/breath.