Cat teeth

[Athenian]

Hi Friends

I took my 13 yr old cat who is very healthy to the vet on Monday, just for shots and an antibiotic shot before the cleaning, brought her home and she is in a bad mood and depressed. She has some major tartar on her teeth that needs to be cleaned. I am taking her in on Friday for the cleaning. Do cats remain in a bad mood after the cleaning, or do you think her depressive state now is due to the tartar that is affecting her ?

[kittykay]

Dear Athenian: Sounds more like the antibiotic might be stressing her a little. Antibiotics can do that, not only to cats but people too. Or maybe she's just ticked about the vet visit and needs to get over that. I'd put my money on the antibiotic though! She'll be fine again when the course of medicine is over if that's the case. Good luck!

[Freedom]

One of my cats had such extensive gum disease and at least one tooth abcessed. She was not mine at the time, prior owner was an elderly lady. So it IS important to keep up with dental care, as a preventative just as humans do. Ruffles' gums and teath were cleaned, several teeth removed, and she was on antibiotics for a time. She was miserable and unhappy. Vet said it was because the elderly woman fed her canned food at least once a day all her life. This happened when Ruffles was 13, and about 3 months before she came to live with me.

I give them half a can of food once a week up to age 7 or 8, then twice a week to increase their fluid intake. So most of the time, they are on dry food, and no treats, which are soft.

I have had cats in for dental visits several times, always worry about the anesthesia. For older cats, my vet does more extensive blood work prior to the teeth cleaning, and also insists on fluids and . . . something else.

Hope this helps.
Freedom

[labmomma]

I just had one of my cats to the vet last week for teeth cleaning. He has always had bad breath and now that is gone. The cleaning cost me $120.00 but was worth it. I'm now giving tartar control treats to all three several times a day.

[Jess's_mum]

Hello everyone, this is my first post. I've just brought my cat back from the vets. I took her this morning as her eye has been weeping a lot lately. The vet looked in her mouth and showed me the state of her teeth and I was horrified. So, he kept her in to clean them and ended up removing one. She also has a slight ear infection and the vet thinks this, combined with her bad tooth have caused her eye to be sore. She is 9 and has always prefered wet food. I always thought she was in good health, but she was probably in pain with her tooth and her ear. I'm definitely going to get her mouth and ears checked regularly from now on!


I doubt very much she will let me brush her teeth. Does anyone know if the dental chews you can buy are effective?

thanks
Louise