Anesthesia-Free Dental Work for Cats - have you tried this?

Anne · May 13, 2012

Reading through cat blogs this afternoon, I came across this post by Dr Lorie Huston.

http://www.pet-health-care-gazette....esthesia-free-dental-work-for-your-dog-or-cat

Interesting stuff, and definitely something you need to read if you consider such a procedure for your cat.

otto · May 13, 2012

Never. I think it would be horrifying for the cat. Anesthesia is always a risk, but at least they are blissfully unaware. Not to mention the danger of injury to both cat and human, since the cat can struggle...with a sharp instrument in her mouth, no less.

I read the article. There are some good points against it that I didn't even think of.

pushylady · May 13, 2012

No way! I can't imagine either of my cats sitting still for that procedure. I find it hard enough to sit through a scaling and polishing myself, I sure don't expect my cats to be OK with it. Recipe for disaster, IMO.

ldg · May 13, 2012

We had an anesthesia-free dental done for Chumley. And he wasn't fully socialized at the time. The people who do anesthesia-free dentals are trained to handle the kitties (and dogs) and totally know what they're doing. It is not scary or painful for the animals.

It is useful for semi-annual cleaning, but it does NOT, I repeat, it does NOT replace the need for a regular dental with anesthesia. If there are problems up under the gum, they do not necessarily catch the problem.

Here is my thread on the non-anesthetic dental for Chumley: http://www.thecatsite.com/t/230826/chumley-goes-in-for-his-dental-tuesday

And here is the post I updated it with when he had is regular dental done this year: http://www.thecatsite.com/t/230826/chumley-goes-in-for-his-dental-tuesday/30#post_3190776

LDG said:
I did research on non-anesthetic dentals when Chum's holistic vet recommended it last year, when I started this thread. I saw some of the negatives, but my vet's confidence in the process - and our knowledge of how worried WE get about the anesthesia - made me feel this was a good alternative.

IT IS NOT.

THIS year, 2012, I am updated this old thread to say....

I DO NOT RECOMMEND NON-ANESTHETIC DENTALS TO ANYONE. Unless you KNOW it's just a follow-up cleaning, something done intermittently between REGULAR dentals with anesthesia.

We scheduled Chum (and Spooky) for regular dentals today. The vet just called. Chumley had to have three teeth extracted. He had lesions where the tooth had been eaten away up under the gum. Yes - a PAINFUL condition. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN TREATED LAST YEAR. And Chumley would not have had to suffer for a year. nfire: :sobbing: :sobbing:

The good news was there was only very minor gingivitis - this, at the sites of the teeth with problems. He had a shot of convenia last year to treat his gingivitis then. I know some cats have very bad reactions to convenia. But that was the 2nd time he'd had an injection, so apparently he's not a kitty that has a problem with it. (KNOCK WOOD! :cross:

). He is going to receive one today. He was given rimadal (sp?) - a 72-hour pain killer. Hopefully he won't need another shot, but if he does, we'll take him back. :heart2: :rub:

Chumley, we are SO SO SO SO SO sorry, sweet baby boy!

Oh - FYI, Carolina found this at DVM newsmagazine: "The perils of anesthesia-free dentistry in pets" http://veterinarynews.dvm360.com/dv...ntistry/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/742257

carolina · May 13, 2012

Here is a video the was on my Vet's website.... It is a bit on the dramatic side, but it has some good points..... No way I would do it.

[VIDEO][/VIDEO]

Anne · May 14, 2012

Thanks for sharing that (again), Laurie!

Anesthesia-Free Dental Work for Cats - have you tried this?

Anne

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otto

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