How did your cat do after a teeth cleaning?

My 2 year old cat with long history of never ending allergies bad ears every 48hrs, swollen lips and issues has really bad teeth already, god awful breath and needs a cleaning. I cant help but remember my first cat how she came back shaved so hard she had red front paws and was completely out of it for two weeks. This is a different place that will not shave but apparently put them under through the mouth. I would like to hear others feedback and stories as this is big deal for me I cant deal with even more cat issues it has to go smoothly.

Jamie has had his teeth cleaned six times (he's 11, and has now been diagnosed with HCM) and has been just fine, but very hungry! Our vets don't shave for anesthesia, and keep him at the office until they're sure he's fully awake and doing well, which is usually about five or six hours after the cleaning.

He thinks he's being tortured because he doesn't get any breakfast, but once he's home and has been fed everything is hunky-dory.

His predecessor (former feral) had horrible teeth and had to have half of them extracted and be treated for an abscess, and had no trouble whatsoever with the anesthesia or OP.

I have had Callie's teeth cleaned many times. The last vet we went to did shave her front leg a little bit and her neck. One was for a blood draw and one was for a catheter or something like that. She came back HUNGRY! She didn't want her wet food, just crunchies, which I thought was odd. She was tired from the anesthesia for the rest of the day, but other than that, she was fine.

Two of my girls, Katie and Claire, have needed dental cleanings and come through them just fine. Katie, who's 17, just had her teeth cleaned in Aug. Because her of her age, vet took some extra precautions, including extra IV fluids. She was a little tired afterward, but fine the next day. She's needed several dental cleanings and extractions over the years, and had no issues. Claire is prone to gingivitis and, at 6, has needed her teeth cleaned twice. No problems with her either.

Linus post-surgery was soooooooooooo drunk he couldn't figure out how to purr. He'd "p p p p " but couldn't get the uuurrrrrrr out. Then the next day I took off work to be with him, and he wanted mommy mommy mommy so bad that whenever his brother would come near to check on us, wanting to curl up with us tooo, then Linus would hiss and snarl at Mandarin, his beloved brother!

It was an amazing and almost instantaneous difference in how he felt. I'm glad I did the first one for him.

Zimmie was a little weird when she returned from her 5 teeth extractions yesterday. She spread a little more kitty litter on the floor than she usually does and she must have banged into her water dish as there was a big puddle on the floor. She's never done this before. She seems okay today.

If its reassuring- my 7 year old Himalayan boy wasn't shaved at all for the IV when he needed teeth removed and cleaned.
He seemed a bit miserable the next day- but bounced back quickly.
Hope things go much better at the new place

I also had a cat get multiple cleanings with extractions and she was jsut fine. Because of the extractions it was suggested not to give her dry food for a few days, but other than that all was normal.

I took my Pushy boy in I think a year or so ago, and he was fine. He has terrible teeth and really bad breath. They only took one out though, which suprised us as I figured they should go ahead and extract any other bad ones while he's under. He recovered well. He was so cutely dopey when we got him home though! But he just slept it off and Wiggies didn't bother him.
He didn't get shaved at all.

My two have only had cleanings - it turned out my girl also had a slight anal gland infection - I don't think the cleaning or the sedative really bothered her much, but the clavamox upset her tummy.

My boy was my first experience with a cleaning - they told me he'd be groggy - well, instead, he walked like a drunken sailer (of course I called the vet wailing he was falling over - was reassured and 30 minutes later he was walking fine). Now, he wasn't his usual sweet self that afternoon or evening- hissed at me, his sister, and never really slept it off - just kept walking around and around. By 3:00 am the next morning, he had returned to being sweet, but he was so hungry!!! I wasn't supposed to feed him til morning, but I got up and hand fed him a few kibbles and stayed awake with him - he was perfect the next day.

Good luck with the procedures - I think it's actually worse for us than for them. If only cats would agree to keep their mouths open for a good cleaning.

My 8 yr old girl was really sick after her cleaning, but she also had bilateral ear infections and CRF. Knowing her state of health now, I would not get her teeth cleaned again, nor will I in the future.

Sho was sick after his. Like darlili's boy kitty he was much more affected by the anesthesia than the average cat usually is. He was "drunk" like until mid day the next day. I actually had to walk him to the litter box, hold him up, help him drink (so he wouldn't fall face first into the bowl), etc. He is overdue for another cleaning and I dread going through that again with him.

The others I either haven't had long enough for them to need cleanings yet, or it's just because I brush. Their teeth look good.

If you don't like the idea of needing regular cleanings for a cat, brush, use dental treats, and even a water additive (ask vet first). It doesn't completely prevent the need, but can help reduce how many are needed.

The vet keeps wanting to clean Muffins teeth. I can't find the nerve to do it. Speedboat lived 14 yrs., Max 12. Neither of them ever had a tooth cleaning. I just can't seem to get the nerve to put Muffin through it. One thing is, he has a high liver enzyme which is unexplained. He was treated with Denamarin for that and the numbers were coming down. Then he got so it made him sick with vomiting so we quit it. I am trying to brush his teeth some, but no cleaning.

Originally Posted by blueyedgirl5946

The vet keeps wanting to clean Muffins teeth. I can't find the nerve to do it. Speedboat lived 14 yrs., Max 12. Neither of them ever had a tooth cleaning. I just can't seem to get the nerve to put Muffin through it. One thing is, he has a high liver enzyme which is unexplained. He was treated with Denamarin for that and the numbers were coming down. Then he got so it made him sick with vomiting so we quit it. I am trying to brush his teeth some, but no cleaning.

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With the liver issues, it's understandable you'd be worried.
How does he take to the brush? Are you using a finger brush? If he's fussy that may be easier. Ask your vet about other things you can use to help. There are water additives but you'd have to check if he could have them.

The unfortunate problem is that if his teeth get bad enough, you could be facing kidney issues, too.

Sold some collectibles to fund this and biting the bullet this thursday! He cant eat after 10 and will not be available for pick up until 5pm. Long time without food, in a place he shakes and cowers at its going be alot of stress. They told me he will not be near dogs or too close to cats.

Am I right to expect he will not be like my first cat after a cleaning? He will not pace and be restless for 48hrs? Limp or walk funny for a week or two? Have red shaved front legs? I really hope it does not mess with his digestion, he has not vomited in about 3 weeks and I actually started giving him better sized portions without the ten mins breaks between. I'm so nervous he has enough issues with the ears. I will make it know if anything remotely showns up preblood work I want to know before proceeding.

Well it was canceled, after selling off some of the items to afford a cleaning instead it seems we are doing liver function test that will drain the money instead after four hours there they called with the pre-panel. He has 245 for liver when he was only 45 for neuter as kitten. Vet thought it was too high. I just picked him up. He is still shaking and will not come near me yet. I am suppose to feed him and bring him back in 2hours for the final part of test. What nightmare that will be for both of us. Me getting him anywhere near a carrier if he eats at all.
Any feedback on liver count? If it never goes down did anyone still do the cleaning?

Originally Posted by madara

Well it was canceled, after selling off some of the items to afford a cleaning instead it seems we are doing liver function test that will drain the money instead after four hours there they called with the pre-panel. He has 245 for liver when he was only 45 for neuter as kitten. Vet thought it was too high. I just picked him up. He is still shaking and will not come near me yet. I am suppose to feed him and bring him back in 2hours for the final part of test. What nightmare that will be for both of us. Me getting him anywhere near a carrier if he eats at all.
Any feedback on liver count? If it never goes down did anyone still do the cleaning?

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First off ..... As for liver counts IMHO and experience they seem to rise after a dental cleaning... but realize I have more personal experience with dogs and dental s and livers...

Two hours home after cleaning. He is barely tipsy now. My only concern is his right eyes he squints alot and is pink. They said they have to put in some goop as eyelids dont naturally blink when put under and it should dissipate. Gosh I hope so.
He is very hungry but I am not sure how much to feed him so very tiny amounts so far.