Questions about Filou

[kb2yjx]

Filou is so lucky to have a mom that is as caring as you!!! We have a kidney kitty that probably had her teeth cleaned for the last time, because she, like your boy, would not survive the anesthesia. I wonder if the struggle would be worth upseting Filou(and you, too). Would he let you rub his gums with a cotten ball soak in chicken broth?? I am a bit jealous that he gets fluids only weekly!! I give the girls fluids three times a week!!! And Molly, like your boy, loves the renal diet from Royal Canin!! GOOD LUCK!

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

Oh gosh, Barbara, Tubby's teeth were always good so I never had to deal with anything like this! Like Jen says, you'd have to weigh the "costs" and benefits of each before making a decision. Are his teeth really really really bad where it's almost an absolute necessity to get them cleaned? On the other hand, will the anesthesia do severe irreparable damage to his kidneys? All I do know is that from the day I found out Tubby's kidneys were failing, he got 1/4 of a Pepcid (antacid) a day, then he got a UTI so he got antibiotics for 10 days and towards the end he got potassium pills. All of these had to be filtered through the kidneys, possibly damaging them more, but the benefits far outweighed the costs for all of them.

I don't have any advice about cleaning his teeth yourself while he's awake because that is also something I've never done. Too bad he's not like a dog where you can give him a chew toy to clean his teeth.

The only thing I can think of is to wait and see how things go before getting too worried. Hopefully Filou will continue to do well and you'll have to deal with this in about 6 months time.

{{{hugs}}}

[Randi]

Barbara, I'm glad to hear that Filou is doing reasonable well, hopefully he'll have many good years left with you.

I'm afraid I haven't got any good advice on teethcleaning - Fister could do with one too. His gums are getting a bit red again, so I'll go and get the antibiotics he has had a few times before - don't remember the name of them, but will find out. Perhaps this could be an option for Filou too, to avoid the sedation.

Give Filou - and also Tigris some kisses and scritchies from me, and headbumpies from Fister.

[moosmom]

I agree with Jen Luck. Ya gotta weigh the tartar problem over the dangers of anesthesia.

I'm lucky I can clip my cats nails let alone brush their teeth!