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Are there any preventive methods that can forestall these expensive dental procedures?
One vet used her fingernail to scrape off plaque during an exam - she had tough nails. It was amazing how much crap should could remove with a couple flicks of a nail. Gross, but quite effective.
One vet used her fingernail to scrape off plaque during an exam - she had tough nails. It was amazing how much crap should could remove with a couple flicks of a nail. Gross, but quite effective.
My vet does that too, if she sees a bit of tartar, but doesn't think the kitty really needs a dental cleaning yet. She's shown me how to do it, but I've never tried it.
This whole dental thing is such a weird concept for me. Since when is it such a trend that it needs a whole month dedicated to it? What are you all feeding your cats, that they have such lousy teeth? I've had four cats total, my sister has had 7 total, my parents have had two total, and between us, we've only needed two of our cats to have any dental work at all. One of mine had an abcess in her gum because she tried to chew on a rosebush and got a thorn stuck and infected it. One of my sister's had really bad breath and it turned out the cat had some gum irritation and a chipped tooth that was getting infected at the gumline.
None of our cats, combined, have ever needed a cleaning. Must be some kind of miracle I guess.
As I said when this thread first started I've never had a cat's teeth cleaned in the almost 50 years I've been owned by them. Maybe because they've all been rescues and are basically from hardy stock genetically? I've known a few people over the years who've had what I call "designer cats" which cost hundreds of $$s from the get-go and they seem to be very prone to everything under the sun and cost a huge amount to support!
As I said when this thread first started I've never had a cat's teeth cleaned in the almost 50 years I've been owned by them. Maybe because they've all been rescues and are basically from hardy stock genetically? I've known a few people over the years who've had what I call "designer cats" which cost hundreds of $$s from the get-go and they seem to be very prone to everything under the sun and cost a huge amount to support!
Actually what it comes down to is awareness, and advances in the veterinary field. 50 years ago, even 30 years ago, cats didn't get dentals, because the field had not been really advanced yet. Cats suffered in silence or died of related diseases (for instance dental disease causes kidney failure)
Most cats do begin to have dental decay, plaque and tartar by the time they are three years old. While, as carnivores, their saliva is enzymatic, still with the commercial diets available full of inappropriate things, there's bound to be tartar, deterioration and decay, leading to gum disease, abscesses and so on.
Cats, being the ultimate stoics, until they are suffering so badly they can no longer eat at all, no one would know if they were having mouth problems. And because a diseased mouth can cause many other problems, such as kidney disease (and heart disease), the kidney disease might even be noticed before the dental problems.
I am glad that feline dentistry is now available. Cats no longer have to suffer so much mouth pain in their senior years.
Cats with stomatitis and resorptive lesions (FORL) no longer have to starve to death and be euthanized when they are in so much pain they can't eat any more.
Cats have always needed dental care. It's just that now they can get it.
Actually, to be honest , id it isnt too serious id wait, not for financial reasons but simply because risk of death due to cleanings happen. its a fact. if you google internet you wil lhear how some owners regret thier decision. As for the person wh osaid how fast it was so there isnt risk ,thats plain bull. Anethesia death isnt predictable. In alot of cases it can be reactio nt othe anethesia and cat die quickly .Also in my humble opionion it be better t owait and eve nspend more m0oney going to a 24 hospital to do it. Rrason you may ask? because no offense to local vets but they dont do surgury ofte nand do not have usually the best latest equipment. The expensive hospitals not only have the best equipment and more experience but they actually wil lhave a licensed tech assisting who was trained in anetesia as oppose t olocal office that often uses front desk , un licensed techs to assist.
Cats have always needed dental care. It's just that now they can get it.
Well, on that we're just going to have to agree to disagree. All my cats (barring accidents and a few whose illnesses had nothing to do with dental care or lack of it)) have lived normal life spans. One old guy who lived to be 24 did have a bad tooth removed when he was 18 or 19. Guess I'm just lucky - and the cats are too as there's no way on earth that I could afford $500 for a feline dental cleaning.
Please state which Animal Hospital and in what state charges $500 for a dental cleaning for a cat. This I have to check on myself.
After all the astronomical figures being posted here I just called my vet. His basic charge is $150 but of course all the add-ons if necessary jack up the charges so I can see that such as blood work, anesthesia for an extraction, antibiotics etc. could easily end up with a total bill of $500 plus. Good grief and I'll continue keeping my fingers and toes crossed ...
So, has anybody used that plaque spray they are advertising on TV, and if so, did it work or is it just a dumb gimmick?
I don't have any personal experience with the plaque spray. A vet tech specialist in dentistry at a conference I went to a few months back was definitely not impressed with it.
Please state which Animal Hospital and in what state charges $500 for a dental cleaning for a cat. This I have to check on myself.
VCA in Las Vegas, NV. Cost me $600 for Beau's dental work. They quoted me 350, the total bill was $600. Blood work, anesthesia, follow up anti-biotics.
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