Cat Dentistry

[Jason McCullough]

Ok, after the second round of expensive tooth removal on the white long-haired monster I inherited, I guess I should learn how to do this. What's the deal? Is it even possible? What should I use for toothpaste?

[Rywill]

Will you post pictures of your shredded, destroyed arms and face after?

[Bull]

Are you saying you want to yank your cat's remaining teeth out yourself or you want to brush the one's that are left yourself? If it's brush, I always thought you cleaned a pet's teeth by giving them a specially designed snack (scooby dooby do!) that cleans the teeth as they eat it. If you're thinking about yanking, then post the jpgs of your arms like Rywill says.

[XtienMurawski]

Jason, I know absolutely nothing about this, but I'd say be cautious. A friend of mine lost her cat after a dental cleaning, and it devastated her. Seems some bacteria from the cat's mouth got into the cat's system as a result of the cleaning and caused a fatal infection. Be very careful.

-Amanpour

[RichardC]

What should I use for toothpaste?

Your vet's arm.

Seriously. Cats look small and cute, but if you're going to try and force them to do anything they don't want to, you need at least chainmail armour, and preferably plate.

[Anders Hallin]

So what have you tried in the last year since
http://www.quartertothree.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=11117
?

[beecubed]

i just feed my ferrets tartar control snacks and their teeth are pearly white, even after 4 years of no cleaning. i adopted a few ferrets last year and when it didn't work out, the woman at the adoption agency cleaned their teeth with a dentist's pick. she just scruffed them, put a little bit of numbing gel on their gums and scraped each tooth down. the plaque basically came off in one big chunk. their gums bled a little bit, but the ferrets didn't seem to mind that much.

i realize you are talking about cats, but ferrets are a pretty similar situation, except without the razor-sharp claws flailing around.

[Dean]

I feed my cat tartar control treats and she still has gingivitus.

The vet has talked about a cleaning, but it's iffy whether or not she'd survive the anesthesia (she's 19).

On the other hand, bacteria from the teeth could get into her system and give her a kidney infection, and considering she's already got feline chronic renal failure, that's a possible death sentence too.

In the end, she's doing okay, she's walking a little kitty tightrope across chasms of death and destruction, so why push her one way or the other?

Oh, and the tartar control treats are bad for her too-- too much protein, which her half-assed kidney function has trouble processing. But she loves 'em, so she gets exactly four a night.

[Jamie Madigan]

Holy cow, you have a 19-year old CAT?

[DeepT]

I had a cat for 23 years. Asside from just a pet dying, its a pet that had been with me for most of my life.

[JMR]

My dobbie was with me for almost 14 years and that's long for that breed of dog (what I heard). It's been 6 years since I had to put him down and it's only until recently that I've been considering getting a new pet but it's tough. It hurts so damn much losing them =\

[Preachy Preach]

The girlfriend's cat recently had to have some teeth out (£300! Bloody hellfire) - we currently have some toothpaste kind of affair that you can put on his paw and he licks it off - apparently this works wonders.

[Jason McCullough]

$800. Maybe I should hire her out as a dock worker.

I kind of forget about the cat teeth thing after last year, I guess; oops. Vet recommended letting them chew on a toothbrush if they're interested (I'm sure the young one would go for this), otherwise there's special dental hard food/treats you can give 'em.

Oh, and apparently the severity varies per cat - some don't have mouth bacteria as bad.

[Dean]

When we were considering a cleaning, I asked how much. It starts at $250, and they don't really know what they'll find until they get in there, they might have to do a tooth extraction or two and that adds to the cost ($100 a tooth or something). They said it could go as high as $600.

Which made me wonder how she'd chew anything. Kitty dentures?

And yeah, she's 19.

[Jojo]

When we were considering a cleaning, I asked how much. It starts at $250, and they don't really know what they'll find until they get in there, they might have to do a tooth extraction or two and that adds to the cost ($100 a tooth or something). They said it could go as high as $600.

Which made me wonder how she'd chew anything. Kitty dentures?

And yeah, she's 19.

Wet food only, and they just gum it to death instead of chewing :) I'm looking after a friend's 17 year old cat right now, and I think she has about 2 teeth left, poor thing. She just eats wet food, but occasionally will bravely attempt to eat a bit of the dry food that the other cat gets.