Dental cleaning - need some reassurance

rone

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Our 2 yr old cats are scheduled for a cleaning next Wed. Their gums were red w/ some tartar when we adopt them from the shelter. I've been brushing their teeth every 3 days at the very minimum. It didn't improve much & that's when I decide a dental cleaning may be necessary.

Doctor prescribed Clavamox to be given 2 days prior to the procedure. I'm nervous 1) not sure if they'll be okay and 2) what if the dental cleaning doesn't help them?

Anyone who has cat w/red gums & tartar? I really need some reassurance to know my babies are going to be okay.
 

stephanietx

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They'll be fine! I've had my kitties' teeth cleaned every year for the past 10 years and never had a problem. It's one of the best things you can do for your cat.

Stephanie
 

sharky

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I would ask what the cat is eating as yes alot of dental issues are genetic in cats a 2 yr old is awfully young to need a cleaning IMHO
 

maxcat08

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My late cat, Wayne, needed his teeth cleaned at about 5 yrs of age. He lost half his teeth due to poor gums. At the time, he was eating 9Lives canned food, and Tender Vittles or Iams kibbles. That was what we fed them back then. I think his teeth and gum problems were genetic.

Phoebe had her teeth cleaned last year at age 11. She lost no teeth, and to this day, they are very clean. She spent a year on Hill's T/D at the recommendation of the Vet...but is now on mainly premium quality wet food.

Both times, the cats came through with flying colours. No after-effects. I was careful to give them their pre-surgery antibiotics (I think it was Clavamox, too)...then was very careful afterwards to continue with the anti-biotics.
Tartar and gingivitus can be so harmful to the cats. If the infection gets into the bloodstream, it can kill them.

Your kitties will be fine. They will be so glad to get home...and you'll be so impressed with how wonderful their teeth look.

Good Luck!!
 

jellybella

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Stan had his teeth cleaned earlier this year. It was overall a good experience. His teeth are much cleaner, his breath is better and he has stopped some of the behaviors that made me think his teeth were hurting him.

He was a little woozy when he first came home, but he was running around and eating like a champ not long after (the vet office had me drop him off early and pick him up pretty late so he had a lot of time under their supervision).

So, in summary
for the dental cleaning (although not so great for my wallet
)
 

natalie_ca

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I think you are doing the right thing


My Chynna is 16 years old and she had her first dental in April this year, which resulted in a large percentage of her teeth having to be pulled. She has all of her little front ones, one incisor and a few small back ones left.

She's fine now, but I nearly lost her: not because of the procedure itself, but because of the cost of such an extensive one as she needed. It was only thanks to her Guardian Angel
that she is with me today.

I should be back at my job and getting paid in 2 or 3 months, and the first thing I'm going to do is take my other cat, Abby, to the vet and have her checked out and a dental done on her.
I don't want her to have to go through what her sister went through. And I sure don't want to have to go through all of that again either.
 

baloneysmom

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I donâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t have any experience with cat teeth cleaning but I do with my dog back home at my parents place.

She is an old girl, totally broken dog, her teeth were almost rotting out. You could literally smell her breath from 5 feet away (No joke) it was nasty.

My big old girl was able to be put under (after some blood tests) had her teeth cleaned and now it is amazing. Her teeth look great, she doesnâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t smell like 50 dead things died in her mouth ten years ago AND sheâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s doing just fine.

So if my very old, and very broken dog can do it, it must be safe.
 
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rone

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Thank you everyone, for the kind words & reassurance. It means a lot to me.

Originally Posted by sharky

I would ask what the cat is eating as yes alot of dental issues are genetic in cats a 2 yr old is awfully young to need a cleaning IMHO
Sharky, I agree w/ you. When we adopt them from a shelter @ 10 months old, both already have gingivitis. I've been wiping their teeth w/ toothpaste using a piece of gauze, at the minimum every 3 days, hoping to reduce tartar. When I see little improvement after a year, I decide to take them in.

Dr did mention it maybe genetic. Both kitties are on a raw diet + grainless canned shortly after we got them from shelter.
 

sharky

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Please run this by the vet ... My Zoey has Allergic Gigivitis ... in her case NO plague just gum issue... We have narrowed it down to some foods ( on of which is a Meat ) and some enviornmental ...
 
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