i think ill be fine but when a cat bites u and lets say they have a disease u should get an infection right? who knows any signs to anything bad. I feel fine and im just paranoid i think its my neighbors cat cause ive seen it around their a lot and ive pet it before. the cat seems fine i saw it today just laying down. yesterday i cleaned the area scratched by the cats teeth. i was petting it it was purring but when it turned over i was going to pet its belly but that when it tried to bite me.
Yesterday a cat(i dont know) scratched me with its teeth no skin broken u cant see anything no mark...?
If you have no cut and no mark from the bite, you have nothing to worry about. If the skin was broken and the wound became red and you developed pain and swelling, then you have an infection.
Reply:Oh darling you have nothing to worry about! My parents cats bite me and scratch me even all of the time and I am completely healthy as are the cats! lol.
But it's always good to be precautious. haha
Reply:ask ur neighbor if the cat had all the injections it needed. if it is, ur fine...
when petting a cat, watch out for twiches on their tail and when they wag their tail... it means they want to hunt. and your moving hands are the closest target. =) my cat does that to me. =)
Reply:relaaxxxx tripper! if there isnt even broken skin then how would you get a desease or an infection?? If there is no place for the infection to enter your blood stream then there is no need to trip.
Monday, April 27, 2009
My cat needs to have his teeth cleaned but im afraid....?
My cat has to have his teeth cleaned. He is 3 almost 4 years old and his breath has started to smell bad and his gums look alittle red so i know its time to have his teeth cleaned. The only thing is im sooo afraid that he's going to die whenever they have put him to sleep( or whatever it is called,maybe anestesia?) to clean his teeth. I need people's advice who have had to get their cats teeth cleaned, Should i be so worried? what all goes on when they clean their teeth? is their a high risk he migt no wake up? i dont know what i would do if he never woke up...thanks for your answers
My cat needs to have his teeth cleaned but im afraid....?
Anesthesia is always a risk, but it is a very remote one. The best precaution you can take is to have a thorough exam and bloodwork done before the anesthesia, so any potential problems can be identified and dealt with. Most vets have anesthesia monitoring equipment as well to keep an eye on vital signs such as heart rate. The health risk of those mouth bacteria affecting other organs (heart, kidneys and liver commonly) is greater than the anesthesia risk. I anesthetize on average 3 animals a day, but when it comes to my own babies I have to let someone else do it. Nervous pet parents are common : ) You can ask the vet's office to call as soon as it's done, we do that all the time.
As far as what is done: we do a full scaling and polishing, exactly like what you'd get at the dentist's office, which is why anesthesia is needed. Animals don't sit still for that. We can do dental x-rays of any suspicious teeth and remove any that are causing a problem. Most vets don't do fillings or root canals because of the expense, but a specialty practice would do that. Our dentals go home the same day, whether or not they stay overnight depends on the vet and what drugs are used.
Reply:My cats have had their teeth cleaned a few times, and they woke up from the anesthesia fine. He will be a little loopy afterwards, he'll be very calm, and he might have some difficulty walking, but he'll be back to normal as soon as it all wears off!
Reply:I work at a vets office, and your afraid you need to talk to your vet, and make him make you feel comfy about the process, ask for a tour talk to the people who will be doing the dental for your cat, ask qestions like what kind of stuff they use to montor the cats heart rate, sidations, are the staff knowning what they are doing, if you dont trust them, get out, simple!
ask them to do blood work to see if everything is alright. yes it may cost you more for the blood work, but its worth it :)
hope everything goes alright
Cheers!
Matt
Reply:awwe, well I got to take in Nibblet too.. but, really, the kitty will be fine. they run blood tests beforehand, to make sure your kitty is up for the procedure, and then when they do the work, kitty will be sleeping soundly... then they keep the kitty overnight, so it will be all rested and ready to go home... it is well worth it honey. If you don't have it done, the kitty could get ill and die. I had a kitty that I took every year for his teeth cleaning, and he lived to the ripe old age of 24!!! get the baby's teeth cleaned, they will thank you....
Reply:It is always a risk when a cat is "put out" under G.A., but for a young cat it's pretty safe, providing they're healthy and necessary blood wk.'s been done.
I've had cats who didn't need to be under general anesthesia, a couple of the good old-time vets I'd used would just scale the tartar off teeth with the help of an assistant,.. no need to put any stress on cat.
Others,.. and I'm finding lots of nowaday vets find it a "cash cow" and want to "clean teeth" with every checkup visit.
Which I really must see the cat in distress or the badly affected teeth/tooth before I will allow the procedure under general.
Usually in elderly cats, the good vets will weigh out the risks and benefits beforehand.
Anyways, if your young kitty is troubled by his oral health (not eating well, showing discomfort, etc.) and vet recommends, then best to get done, he will be fine.
Gd. luck.
Reply:My cat is about the same age as yours. I took her to the vet in October, and he showed me her teeth and gums. He told me that she could use a cleaning, and he also suggested that I start brushing her teeth with CET toothpaste. Instead of doing either of those things, I bought PetzLife gel and tried that on her. It has worked really well. I didn't love the idea of anesthetizing my cat, buy I was honestly just as concerned with saving money. Her teeth and gums look better now, and I think I can avoid scaling for now.
Reply:The anesthesia used in veterinary hospitals for any surgery and/or dentals has gotten much safer than it was in the past. Many hospitals take precautions to ensure there are no problems with the pet. However, there is always a risk ANYTIME anesthesia is used. I wouldn't worry though. Unless your cat has some problem, it is very safe to have the dental done. In fact, the chances of your cat having problems from the teeth going bad is a greater risk than the anesthesia used for the dental.
If you have concerns about your regular vet, have him give you a referral to a vet who specializes in dentistry.
I am actually trying to get my 10 y.o. cat in for a dental, but she is having issues with her bloodwork. Until I can get it straightened out, I have to wait on the dental. Vets will usually do dentals on young animals with only limited bloodwork on the day of the dentistry. Pets older than 7 years should have complete bloodwork done within 30 days of the dental, to make sure the pet is in good health to come out of anesthesia ok.
Reply:Don't worry, when they clean your cat's teeth, they only sedate them. They don't put them to sleep. My cat was sedated, and she came out all big eyed and weird acting, but she was fine after half an hour.
Reply:my mom is a vet tech and so i spent a lot of time in vet offices behind the scenes. i also worked at a vet clinic for awhile. dentals aren't much to be afraid of. think of going to the dentist for a tooth cleaning yourself. i'm not going to lie, they do use a dremel, but the same thing is accomplished. also any extractions will be performed during this time. anesthesia does hold a risk of death, but a small one. we had only one cat die in over 3 years from it. we put about 3 animals a day put under so that adds up to a lot. there will be pre-work done like blood samples, and a history. the vet will talk to you about any concerns. the kitty will go to slumberland and not feel anything! (in my opinion very lucky as i do not like going to the dentist and we have no way of communicating what we are doing to an animal so they are not scared). dentals will actually improve his quality of health and therefore should be done. do realize that this is not a $50 procedure though....ask your vet also, my clinic allowed animals who had minor surgical work done in the morning to be picked up at night. they will be groggy until the next day. but nothing to be scared of.
Reply:There is always a slight risk when a cat has an anaesthetic, but a dental cleaning is a fairly minor operation and they aren't under for long. My cat had his teeth cleaned (and a couple of extractions) under anaesthetic 2 years ago aged 8. He was fine and when I got him home he acted like nothing had happened. Discuss your fears with your vet and I'm sure s/he'll be able to set your mind at rest. You can have some blood tests done beforehand to make sure his organs can cope with the anaesthetic.
My cat needs to have his teeth cleaned but im afraid....?
Anesthesia is always a risk, but it is a very remote one. The best precaution you can take is to have a thorough exam and bloodwork done before the anesthesia, so any potential problems can be identified and dealt with. Most vets have anesthesia monitoring equipment as well to keep an eye on vital signs such as heart rate. The health risk of those mouth bacteria affecting other organs (heart, kidneys and liver commonly) is greater than the anesthesia risk. I anesthetize on average 3 animals a day, but when it comes to my own babies I have to let someone else do it. Nervous pet parents are common : ) You can ask the vet's office to call as soon as it's done, we do that all the time.
As far as what is done: we do a full scaling and polishing, exactly like what you'd get at the dentist's office, which is why anesthesia is needed. Animals don't sit still for that. We can do dental x-rays of any suspicious teeth and remove any that are causing a problem. Most vets don't do fillings or root canals because of the expense, but a specialty practice would do that. Our dentals go home the same day, whether or not they stay overnight depends on the vet and what drugs are used.
Reply:My cats have had their teeth cleaned a few times, and they woke up from the anesthesia fine. He will be a little loopy afterwards, he'll be very calm, and he might have some difficulty walking, but he'll be back to normal as soon as it all wears off!
Reply:I work at a vets office, and your afraid you need to talk to your vet, and make him make you feel comfy about the process, ask for a tour talk to the people who will be doing the dental for your cat, ask qestions like what kind of stuff they use to montor the cats heart rate, sidations, are the staff knowning what they are doing, if you dont trust them, get out, simple!
ask them to do blood work to see if everything is alright. yes it may cost you more for the blood work, but its worth it :)
hope everything goes alright
Cheers!
Matt
Reply:awwe, well I got to take in Nibblet too.. but, really, the kitty will be fine. they run blood tests beforehand, to make sure your kitty is up for the procedure, and then when they do the work, kitty will be sleeping soundly... then they keep the kitty overnight, so it will be all rested and ready to go home... it is well worth it honey. If you don't have it done, the kitty could get ill and die. I had a kitty that I took every year for his teeth cleaning, and he lived to the ripe old age of 24!!! get the baby's teeth cleaned, they will thank you....
Reply:It is always a risk when a cat is "put out" under G.A., but for a young cat it's pretty safe, providing they're healthy and necessary blood wk.'s been done.
I've had cats who didn't need to be under general anesthesia, a couple of the good old-time vets I'd used would just scale the tartar off teeth with the help of an assistant,.. no need to put any stress on cat.
Others,.. and I'm finding lots of nowaday vets find it a "cash cow" and want to "clean teeth" with every checkup visit.
Which I really must see the cat in distress or the badly affected teeth/tooth before I will allow the procedure under general.
Usually in elderly cats, the good vets will weigh out the risks and benefits beforehand.
Anyways, if your young kitty is troubled by his oral health (not eating well, showing discomfort, etc.) and vet recommends, then best to get done, he will be fine.
Gd. luck.
Reply:My cat is about the same age as yours. I took her to the vet in October, and he showed me her teeth and gums. He told me that she could use a cleaning, and he also suggested that I start brushing her teeth with CET toothpaste. Instead of doing either of those things, I bought PetzLife gel and tried that on her. It has worked really well. I didn't love the idea of anesthetizing my cat, buy I was honestly just as concerned with saving money. Her teeth and gums look better now, and I think I can avoid scaling for now.
Reply:The anesthesia used in veterinary hospitals for any surgery and/or dentals has gotten much safer than it was in the past. Many hospitals take precautions to ensure there are no problems with the pet. However, there is always a risk ANYTIME anesthesia is used. I wouldn't worry though. Unless your cat has some problem, it is very safe to have the dental done. In fact, the chances of your cat having problems from the teeth going bad is a greater risk than the anesthesia used for the dental.
If you have concerns about your regular vet, have him give you a referral to a vet who specializes in dentistry.
I am actually trying to get my 10 y.o. cat in for a dental, but she is having issues with her bloodwork. Until I can get it straightened out, I have to wait on the dental. Vets will usually do dentals on young animals with only limited bloodwork on the day of the dentistry. Pets older than 7 years should have complete bloodwork done within 30 days of the dental, to make sure the pet is in good health to come out of anesthesia ok.
Reply:Don't worry, when they clean your cat's teeth, they only sedate them. They don't put them to sleep. My cat was sedated, and she came out all big eyed and weird acting, but she was fine after half an hour.
Reply:my mom is a vet tech and so i spent a lot of time in vet offices behind the scenes. i also worked at a vet clinic for awhile. dentals aren't much to be afraid of. think of going to the dentist for a tooth cleaning yourself. i'm not going to lie, they do use a dremel, but the same thing is accomplished. also any extractions will be performed during this time. anesthesia does hold a risk of death, but a small one. we had only one cat die in over 3 years from it. we put about 3 animals a day put under so that adds up to a lot. there will be pre-work done like blood samples, and a history. the vet will talk to you about any concerns. the kitty will go to slumberland and not feel anything! (in my opinion very lucky as i do not like going to the dentist and we have no way of communicating what we are doing to an animal so they are not scared). dentals will actually improve his quality of health and therefore should be done. do realize that this is not a $50 procedure though....ask your vet also, my clinic allowed animals who had minor surgical work done in the morning to be picked up at night. they will be groggy until the next day. but nothing to be scared of.
Reply:There is always a slight risk when a cat has an anaesthetic, but a dental cleaning is a fairly minor operation and they aren't under for long. My cat had his teeth cleaned (and a couple of extractions) under anaesthetic 2 years ago aged 8. He was fine and when I got him home he acted like nothing had happened. Discuss your fears with your vet and I'm sure s/he'll be able to set your mind at rest. You can have some blood tests done beforehand to make sure his organs can cope with the anaesthetic.
Cat teeth cleaning/pulling?
My cat needs his teeth cleaned and possibly pulled (Last year the vet said to try to feed him chicken necks, but he wont eat them). Our vet wants $250 for having them cleaned, and then $500 if any need to be pulled. Another vet we've asked wants $385 regardless of if any teeth are pulled or not.
I was wondering (well, my mum, who's paying, was) if there is a way of being able to estimate if he will probably need to have them pulled or just cleaned? One of his canines is really browny/yellowy, with brown striped and chipped at the bottom, and most of his top teeth (not incisors or bottom teeth) are yellowy, with pink/reddish/some brownish blotched gums.
Or is there another teeth option that we haven't considered yet?
*He was a stray cat by the way. We are not horrible owners or anything.*
Cat teeth cleaning/pulling?
Wow, your cat's teeth looks better then mine (minus that one front canine).
The vet really should have been able to tell you weather at least that one tooth would need to be pulled. Mean yeah my cat's teeth looks like your cats (we can't afford getting his teeth cleaned) but its not hurting him any and we have the dental food as well. and I try to brush them (you should try that too if you can).
but really I still think a vet should be able to tell you if a tooth needs to be pulled BEFORE hand. So you can look at how much money you will be spending. But that depends on the vet. Some care about the animals, some just want the money.
Good luck to your kitty.
Reply:Wow. It sounds like his teeth are in pretty bad shape, and this could either be because he's a stray or just because of his genetic makeup. In my experience, when the teeth are chipped and brown, they usually need to be removed, and the gums should be pink...It sounds really painful.
Reply:Of course you're not terrible owners. Forget the judgment call on that one.
Me thinks your vet is not giving you all the information you require. S/he is either not fully informed or is of the breed of vet who is in the profession for the $$ and not the hipocratic oath. I have a cat with similar problems. My vet knows I'm in no financial position to have the "necessary" work done with my boy but advised me to switch over to a dental diet cat food. That has saved me a great deal. Harley still needs the dental work to some extent but he's okay for the time being.
Note: dental disease among cats is one of the leading causes of premature death. Poor dental care can lead to unforeseen infections that can affect the digestive, circulatory and cardiovascular. It's no different than with humans. Do your research.
Reply:Thats an awful lot of money isn't it? I think some vets out there are unscrupulous and in it for the cash to be charging this amount of money just to clean or pull teeth. I know they have to be put out for it and the gas costs but the amount stated is ridiculous! Of course you're not bad owners - you took him in off the streets and gave him a good home! Older cats will lose their teeth over the years and i'll give you a piece of advice. If he isn't in dire agony with his teeth, let them fall out on their own, it happens in the wild and they cope just fine with it. From your picture it seems as if he has a gum infection ( the red bits ) so i'd just ask your vet for some antibiotics to clear that up and some pain killers as it probably hurts a bit ( infection does especially in the mouth ) then let them come out on their own. My old cat lost her teeth over the years and was virtually gummy when she died but she never showed us any signs that her mouth was troubling her and she got on just fine with her dinner and her tit bits although she was on wet cat food towards the end of her life and she lived until she was 23! If you're concerned that she really needs them pulling then i'd look around for a cheaper vet! Good luck.
Reply:You did a good thing rescuing your kitty. Any cat can have dental problems. I have a 4 year old sphynx with terrible teeth/gums. He has already had 6 teeth pulled, which cost $180. That was in May and he already has had another round of antibiotics and 2 steroid shots for inflammation. He will probably need to have more removed. I have done some research and some cats will actually eat better and feel better without the teeth. Their gums are hard and they can still eat whatever food they want. I know my cat's teeth cause him pain because he has a bad attitude when his gums start getting red. He also gets really bad breath when they get bad.
The vet should be able to tell you approximately how many teeth may need to go. The difference should NOT be so great. My vet estimated $250-300 for a total extraction. You might want to check with some other vets in your area. Make sure they have lots of experience with cats teeth. You want only the best for your furry friend.
For a quick fix, the steroid shots have done wonders for Max. They last 1-2 months. I tried brushing his teeth, but he wouldn't have it!
Good luck with your kitty and his teeth. I hope he feels better soon!
I was wondering (well, my mum, who's paying, was) if there is a way of being able to estimate if he will probably need to have them pulled or just cleaned? One of his canines is really browny/yellowy, with brown striped and chipped at the bottom, and most of his top teeth (not incisors or bottom teeth) are yellowy, with pink/reddish/some brownish blotched gums.
Or is there another teeth option that we haven't considered yet?
*He was a stray cat by the way. We are not horrible owners or anything.*
Cat teeth cleaning/pulling?
Wow, your cat's teeth looks better then mine (minus that one front canine).
The vet really should have been able to tell you weather at least that one tooth would need to be pulled. Mean yeah my cat's teeth looks like your cats (we can't afford getting his teeth cleaned) but its not hurting him any and we have the dental food as well. and I try to brush them (you should try that too if you can).
but really I still think a vet should be able to tell you if a tooth needs to be pulled BEFORE hand. So you can look at how much money you will be spending. But that depends on the vet. Some care about the animals, some just want the money.
Good luck to your kitty.
Reply:Wow. It sounds like his teeth are in pretty bad shape, and this could either be because he's a stray or just because of his genetic makeup. In my experience, when the teeth are chipped and brown, they usually need to be removed, and the gums should be pink...It sounds really painful.
Reply:Of course you're not terrible owners. Forget the judgment call on that one.
Me thinks your vet is not giving you all the information you require. S/he is either not fully informed or is of the breed of vet who is in the profession for the $$ and not the hipocratic oath. I have a cat with similar problems. My vet knows I'm in no financial position to have the "necessary" work done with my boy but advised me to switch over to a dental diet cat food. That has saved me a great deal. Harley still needs the dental work to some extent but he's okay for the time being.
Note: dental disease among cats is one of the leading causes of premature death. Poor dental care can lead to unforeseen infections that can affect the digestive, circulatory and cardiovascular. It's no different than with humans. Do your research.
Reply:Thats an awful lot of money isn't it? I think some vets out there are unscrupulous and in it for the cash to be charging this amount of money just to clean or pull teeth. I know they have to be put out for it and the gas costs but the amount stated is ridiculous! Of course you're not bad owners - you took him in off the streets and gave him a good home! Older cats will lose their teeth over the years and i'll give you a piece of advice. If he isn't in dire agony with his teeth, let them fall out on their own, it happens in the wild and they cope just fine with it. From your picture it seems as if he has a gum infection ( the red bits ) so i'd just ask your vet for some antibiotics to clear that up and some pain killers as it probably hurts a bit ( infection does especially in the mouth ) then let them come out on their own. My old cat lost her teeth over the years and was virtually gummy when she died but she never showed us any signs that her mouth was troubling her and she got on just fine with her dinner and her tit bits although she was on wet cat food towards the end of her life and she lived until she was 23! If you're concerned that she really needs them pulling then i'd look around for a cheaper vet! Good luck.
Reply:You did a good thing rescuing your kitty. Any cat can have dental problems. I have a 4 year old sphynx with terrible teeth/gums. He has already had 6 teeth pulled, which cost $180. That was in May and he already has had another round of antibiotics and 2 steroid shots for inflammation. He will probably need to have more removed. I have done some research and some cats will actually eat better and feel better without the teeth. Their gums are hard and they can still eat whatever food they want. I know my cat's teeth cause him pain because he has a bad attitude when his gums start getting red. He also gets really bad breath when they get bad.
The vet should be able to tell you approximately how many teeth may need to go. The difference should NOT be so great. My vet estimated $250-300 for a total extraction. You might want to check with some other vets in your area. Make sure they have lots of experience with cats teeth. You want only the best for your furry friend.
For a quick fix, the steroid shots have done wonders for Max. They last 1-2 months. I tried brushing his teeth, but he wouldn't have it!
Good luck with your kitty and his teeth. I hope he feels better soon!
Brushing your CAT's Teeth?
I had a cat that died a few years back, due to an infection in his GUM's, the Vet gave him vacinations, but it was too late, he was not able to fight the bacteria that had attacked his body. The Doctor had told me that if I had brushed my Cat's Teeth regularly, this situation might not have occured. I LOVED that cat, but I had never heard of brushing your Cat's Teeth, to me that is just plain crazy! I mean what did feline's do before the kitty toothbrush was invented? Seriously, how many people reading this actually take the time to brush their Cats teeth? Funny thing is, the cat I have now BRUSHES HIS OWN TEETH! He waits until I am done and replace my toothbrush in the holder, and starts chewing on the bristols to clean his own teeth! He is so cute, Too bad my other cat did not do that!
Brushing your CAT's Teeth?
Dental disease is often a silent killer, just like with people the infection in the gums gets into the blood stream and can infect the heart and other organs. To be honest a lot of cats did not used to live long enough to develop dental disease and few people ever look in their pets mouths. I brush my dogs teeth but have been unable to convince my cats to allow it. If you train them as kittens it is much easier than trying later in life. I do give the cats tartar control treats with the cat toothpaste on it, it helps. and all my pets have had dental cleanings and regular checkups to avoid problems.
Cats like dogs and us can vary in their dental health and some need frequent cleaning whereas others need very little. Genetics and diet are both factors. Also, in the wild cats would have eaten a variety of things and chewed frequently on bones which most domestic cats don't do. (Although I have a cat who does chew on the dog bones, he has very clean teeth!)
Reply:My friend not only brushes her cats teeth, she pays for the vet to do it a few times a year! I love my cats to death, but I don't brush their teeth, instead I give them Greenies for treats, they do the job of brushing for the cats...they're a little more expensive that other cat treats, but well worth it..........and the kitties LOVE them!
Reply:No many and you are not along. Brushing cat and dog teeth is something that has really recently started being pushed into the public sector. I didn't know about it until I started working in a pet store, but I have come to believe it is for the best health of your animals.
Reply:i hope you have a large stack of toothbrushes. haha.
well i do not own a cat, nor would i think about brushing a cat's teeth, but i do know that they have kitty toothbrush out there. we own a dog and she is a big part of our family. we DO have a toothbrush and toothpast for her, and it IS used, though not very often. (every week or two) there are also bones and chew toys out there thatthey can chew on to makes their gums and teeth happier.
Reply:Hi John, I have never brushed our cats teeth though I would like to. It's actually fairly common, at almost any petstore or any store that has a wide range of animal products you can find a cat tootbrush and toothpaste - do not use your own! This site shows a video on brushing your cats teeth so they get used to it step by step: http://www.felinevideos.vet.cornell.edu/... This site has a long article and shows several more video links on the bottom, but I don't know if they're different: http://www.cathealth.com/toothbrushing.h... And if you still feel like you need more information, this site talks more about it: http://www.hartz.com/Cats/ArticlePreview... Hope it works out, I hope to start with my cats soon!
Reply:I have 3 cats but i don't brush their teeth.They get one time a day wet cat food and they have all day long water and dry cat food avaliable.The dry cat food clean there teeth that's what the vet told me but if you notice stinky breath of your cat then it's time to go to the vet and they cean their teeth. That's what i would do.
Reply:I actually tried this...ONCE....thankfully I had a good supply of bandages on hand.
Reply:Personally, I am really surprised when I find out that people DON'T brush their cat's (or dog's) teeth! We have this little rubber thimble-like thing that is specifically made for brushing a cat's teeth. It is really easy to use. It takes just a few seconds every couple of weeks, so there really is no reason not to do it. Better safe than sorry!
Reply:my cat brushes her own teeth all the time but instead of letting her chew on my brush i bought her one and she would sit there all day brushing...cats are like little kids they see you do something and would want to try it too...my cat does all kinds of things but the brushing her own teeth didn't come as a surprise.
Reply:brushing a cat's teeth seems wierd and unnecessary to me. but if the vet tells you that your cat has a gum infection, then i would do it only because it is necessary.
Reply:i once had this cat, we had to brush her teeth, and she hated it, we even had chicken flavored toothpaste. she would wiggle and wiggle while we brushed her teeth and she was the nicest cat when we weren't doing that. now we get "whisker lickins" cat treats that are supposed to help with tarter control so we dont have to brush their teeth. you should try them with your cat.
Reply:Well I have never brushed my cats teeth, and they are 10 and 11 and show no sgns of infection. Most cats clean their own teath, like you mentioned. My cats chew grass, which probably helps in that department as well. I would personally not clean my cats teeth.
Reply:I don't brush my cat's teeth (I have three cats), mainly because I like my face on my head and not scratched off by them clawing at me.
I get my cat's teeth checked annually at the veterinarian's office and if needed, he will do a dentistry on them to clean and scale the teeth.
I've been lucky where they usually need dentistry every other year. But some cats (and dogs) need it sooner, depending on their chemical makeup. My vet says that the tartar buildup is more from their saliva and what's in that than what's in anything else.
Getting their teeth checked at their annual checkup is a good idea, this way if there's a problem it can be caught and taken care of quickly.
Sorry about your other cat, but it sounds like this one is on the right track brushing his own teeth....if only they all would, lol.
Reply:I'd never heard of it before when I had Martha. After an expensive cleaning I decided to check into it. Unfortunately, Martha was long past the point of accepting a toothbrush into her mouth. I vowed to start immediately with any new kittens.
Well, two kittens later I haven't done so well. I really did try....really. I got teeth cleaning pads and I would try to rub that on their teeth once a week. Turns out that was pointless.
I recently checked on Poppy's teeth and I can see that she has tartar already at 2yo. I went out and bought another tube of toothpaste, and actually managed to get it in her mouth. I think I even managed to brush a tooth or two....
I'm hoping things will get better now that they're on healthy canned food, although I know Poppy at the least is going to need a cleaning soon.
I intend to keep on with the brushing once a week. They're just going to have to deal with the fact that there are some things that Mommy must do!
Reply:This is a very good thing to get your cat used to doing (brushing their teeth) If they won't tolerate a tooth brush you can put some gauze on your finger, or use an old washcloth. It is also good to have your cats teeth done by a vet when needed. Just like some people , some cats develop tartar on their teeth and others don't. However their teeth should be taken care of so as not to have them develop other health problems.
Reply:My parents cat almost died at age 12 due to dirty teeth, once the vet cleaned them he started eating again and lived four more years.
Broken Teeth
Brushing your CAT's Teeth?
Dental disease is often a silent killer, just like with people the infection in the gums gets into the blood stream and can infect the heart and other organs. To be honest a lot of cats did not used to live long enough to develop dental disease and few people ever look in their pets mouths. I brush my dogs teeth but have been unable to convince my cats to allow it. If you train them as kittens it is much easier than trying later in life. I do give the cats tartar control treats with the cat toothpaste on it, it helps. and all my pets have had dental cleanings and regular checkups to avoid problems.
Cats like dogs and us can vary in their dental health and some need frequent cleaning whereas others need very little. Genetics and diet are both factors. Also, in the wild cats would have eaten a variety of things and chewed frequently on bones which most domestic cats don't do. (Although I have a cat who does chew on the dog bones, he has very clean teeth!)
Reply:My friend not only brushes her cats teeth, she pays for the vet to do it a few times a year! I love my cats to death, but I don't brush their teeth, instead I give them Greenies for treats, they do the job of brushing for the cats...they're a little more expensive that other cat treats, but well worth it..........and the kitties LOVE them!
Reply:No many and you are not along. Brushing cat and dog teeth is something that has really recently started being pushed into the public sector. I didn't know about it until I started working in a pet store, but I have come to believe it is for the best health of your animals.
Reply:i hope you have a large stack of toothbrushes. haha.
well i do not own a cat, nor would i think about brushing a cat's teeth, but i do know that they have kitty toothbrush out there. we own a dog and she is a big part of our family. we DO have a toothbrush and toothpast for her, and it IS used, though not very often. (every week or two) there are also bones and chew toys out there thatthey can chew on to makes their gums and teeth happier.
Reply:Hi John, I have never brushed our cats teeth though I would like to. It's actually fairly common, at almost any petstore or any store that has a wide range of animal products you can find a cat tootbrush and toothpaste - do not use your own! This site shows a video on brushing your cats teeth so they get used to it step by step: http://www.felinevideos.vet.cornell.edu/... This site has a long article and shows several more video links on the bottom, but I don't know if they're different: http://www.cathealth.com/toothbrushing.h... And if you still feel like you need more information, this site talks more about it: http://www.hartz.com/Cats/ArticlePreview... Hope it works out, I hope to start with my cats soon!
Reply:I have 3 cats but i don't brush their teeth.They get one time a day wet cat food and they have all day long water and dry cat food avaliable.The dry cat food clean there teeth that's what the vet told me but if you notice stinky breath of your cat then it's time to go to the vet and they cean their teeth. That's what i would do.
Reply:I actually tried this...ONCE....thankfully I had a good supply of bandages on hand.
Reply:Personally, I am really surprised when I find out that people DON'T brush their cat's (or dog's) teeth! We have this little rubber thimble-like thing that is specifically made for brushing a cat's teeth. It is really easy to use. It takes just a few seconds every couple of weeks, so there really is no reason not to do it. Better safe than sorry!
Reply:my cat brushes her own teeth all the time but instead of letting her chew on my brush i bought her one and she would sit there all day brushing...cats are like little kids they see you do something and would want to try it too...my cat does all kinds of things but the brushing her own teeth didn't come as a surprise.
Reply:brushing a cat's teeth seems wierd and unnecessary to me. but if the vet tells you that your cat has a gum infection, then i would do it only because it is necessary.
Reply:i once had this cat, we had to brush her teeth, and she hated it, we even had chicken flavored toothpaste. she would wiggle and wiggle while we brushed her teeth and she was the nicest cat when we weren't doing that. now we get "whisker lickins" cat treats that are supposed to help with tarter control so we dont have to brush their teeth. you should try them with your cat.
Reply:Well I have never brushed my cats teeth, and they are 10 and 11 and show no sgns of infection. Most cats clean their own teath, like you mentioned. My cats chew grass, which probably helps in that department as well. I would personally not clean my cats teeth.
Reply:I don't brush my cat's teeth (I have three cats), mainly because I like my face on my head and not scratched off by them clawing at me.
I get my cat's teeth checked annually at the veterinarian's office and if needed, he will do a dentistry on them to clean and scale the teeth.
I've been lucky where they usually need dentistry every other year. But some cats (and dogs) need it sooner, depending on their chemical makeup. My vet says that the tartar buildup is more from their saliva and what's in that than what's in anything else.
Getting their teeth checked at their annual checkup is a good idea, this way if there's a problem it can be caught and taken care of quickly.
Sorry about your other cat, but it sounds like this one is on the right track brushing his own teeth....if only they all would, lol.
Reply:I'd never heard of it before when I had Martha. After an expensive cleaning I decided to check into it. Unfortunately, Martha was long past the point of accepting a toothbrush into her mouth. I vowed to start immediately with any new kittens.
Well, two kittens later I haven't done so well. I really did try....really. I got teeth cleaning pads and I would try to rub that on their teeth once a week. Turns out that was pointless.
I recently checked on Poppy's teeth and I can see that she has tartar already at 2yo. I went out and bought another tube of toothpaste, and actually managed to get it in her mouth. I think I even managed to brush a tooth or two....
I'm hoping things will get better now that they're on healthy canned food, although I know Poppy at the least is going to need a cleaning soon.
I intend to keep on with the brushing once a week. They're just going to have to deal with the fact that there are some things that Mommy must do!
Reply:This is a very good thing to get your cat used to doing (brushing their teeth) If they won't tolerate a tooth brush you can put some gauze on your finger, or use an old washcloth. It is also good to have your cats teeth done by a vet when needed. Just like some people , some cats develop tartar on their teeth and others don't. However their teeth should be taken care of so as not to have them develop other health problems.
Reply:My parents cat almost died at age 12 due to dirty teeth, once the vet cleaned them he started eating again and lived four more years.
Broken Teeth
Cat teeth...?
my cat has a tooth that has somehow been pushed over his bottom lip. it's kinda like a snaggle-tooth. Because of this, the tooth has pushed another one and caused it to grow sideways. He shows no sign of pain when he eats or if he's playing. Is it going to cause future problems? Should I get them removed?
Cat teeth...?
No, they will be fine.
Reply:At your next vet visit ask the doctor.
Reply:Ask the vet to be sure, because sometimes it will cause pain. I had this happen to one of my baby cats. Good luck!
Reply:Well. I think the cat will be fine if it doesnt bother him.
Cat teeth...?
No, they will be fine.
Reply:At your next vet visit ask the doctor.
Reply:Ask the vet to be sure, because sometimes it will cause pain. I had this happen to one of my baby cats. Good luck!
Reply:Well. I think the cat will be fine if it doesnt bother him.
Cat teeth??????
my cat have 6 monthes and her cannine(teeth) is fall down is it ok????or there is a problem???
Cat teeth??????
What do you mean fall down? Fall OUT? If they are falling out, GO TO THE VET!
Reply:if her cannines have fallen out and she is only 6 months old she has a gum problem take her to the vet or she may end up losing all her teeth
Reply:That depends entirely on which set of teeth she's got. At 6 months of age, it's entirely possible she's just losing her baby teeth and her permanent set will soon follow. As always, if in doubt, please see your veterinarian.
Reply:Just happened with my cat. His tooth had to be pulled by the vets. His tooth was infected.
Reply:Please use spell check, then try again. Oh yeah, take your cat to the vet.
Cat teeth??????
What do you mean fall down? Fall OUT? If they are falling out, GO TO THE VET!
Reply:if her cannines have fallen out and she is only 6 months old she has a gum problem take her to the vet or she may end up losing all her teeth
Reply:That depends entirely on which set of teeth she's got. At 6 months of age, it's entirely possible she's just losing her baby teeth and her permanent set will soon follow. As always, if in doubt, please see your veterinarian.
Reply:Just happened with my cat. His tooth had to be pulled by the vets. His tooth was infected.
Reply:Please use spell check, then try again. Oh yeah, take your cat to the vet.
Cat teeth???
my persian cat (6monthes) her cannine has fall out...
is it serious????????or she just change it to permenant teeth
she seems ok. now ...
Cat teeth???
They are like us, their teeth fall out when they are approx 6 months, nothing to worry about. I completely freaked and took mine to the vet where I got really embarrased :-) take her to the vets just in case if you are worried x
Reply:yep, just losing the "baby" teeth. dont worry about it unless you notice other changes as well. :)
Reply:She's teething!
She'll be fine. Usually they swallow them.
is it serious????????or she just change it to permenant teeth
she seems ok. now ...
Cat teeth???
They are like us, their teeth fall out when they are approx 6 months, nothing to worry about. I completely freaked and took mine to the vet where I got really embarrased :-) take her to the vets just in case if you are worried x
Reply:yep, just losing the "baby" teeth. dont worry about it unless you notice other changes as well. :)
Reply:She's teething!
She'll be fine. Usually they swallow them.
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