sad time - dental problems and possible removal

hi folks,

I am hoping to get some suggestions.

I am being told by the vet that the cat requires dental cleaning which will probably result in removal of rear teeth.

I don't know what to do.

Should I do the cleaning and say no to removal?

Should I not do the cleaning at all?

Any natural solutions to this problem?

Thanks!

This is a relatively common issue, particularly in older cats. I say just go ahead with it. Your cat will be in pain if you do nothing, and will eventually stop eating because of the pain - not to mention the risks of infections, abscesses etc. Cats can manage very well with fewer teeth - even toothless cats manage just fine.

I understand your anxiety about this, but it really isn't that big of a deal.

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Hope your vet does intra oral Xrays.  I'd never ever allow anyone doing any dental work w/o proper xray equipment...

If kitty is going under anesthesia it is best to get it all done properly. (That includes having the proper Xray equipment which most dentists do not have) If removals are needed, why are you against it??  Rotten teeth, or teeth with FORL's can cause tremendous pain and suffering... Imagine having a BAD tooth ache for years and years...

One of mine had a dental about a year ago. We went with a vet who had been training to become certified as a dental veterinarian.  While her teeth looked really good, she needed 9 teeth extracted!!  The vet actually showed me the Xrays before he did anything...  Wowsa!!  Had we gone to a vet with a regular old Xray machine, 8 of those teeth would have been missed!!

I applaud you for caring about your cat's dental health

Other things to consider is the pre anesthesia cocktail and the anesthesia itself... How is kitty monitored while under? Is a vet tech or the Vet doing the procedure??  Will there be antibiotic and anti inflammatory injections given?  (Say NO!!)

A long lasting injectable drug that kitty has a reaction to an be a BIG problem... better dosing abx yourself.

Research homeopathic remedies that can GREATLY help with pain, swelling, bruising and bleeding. (Arnica, Ruta, Hypericum,,,)

After my cat's extraction of 9 teeth, she was on Buprenex for pain for several days. I took off from work to be order to dose at appropriate times. Really important after dental surgery... We also used Homeopathic remedies and declined the anti inflammatory, and she had NO swelling, NO bruising....was eating as soon as she got home... Impressive!!

She's SO much better off w/o those 9 teeth.

Good luck to you and kitty!

There is nothing wrong with giving anti inflammatories OR antibiotics after dental work - depending on the situation, one or both may well be needed. I would far rather give antibiotics than have an infection, and I would far rather give anti inflammatories than have a cat in pain. The drugs aren't always necessary, but when they are, they're a godsend. Whether or not the extra drugs are needed depends on the exact situation - and no two cats are the same. Just because F furmummy 's cat didn't need them, it doesn't mean that yours won't.

Just wanted to clarify that I did not say to not do antibiotics. I did say to not do an injectable antibiotic.

There are alternatives to risky anti inflammatories...

Furmummy said:

Just wanted to clarify that I did not say to not do antibiotics. I did say to not do an injectable antibiotic.
There are alternatives to risky anti inflammatories...

Click to expand...

It wasn't clear that you were making that distinction.

I absolutely respect your opinion about anti inflammatories and injected antibiotics - I'm just presenting another (equally valid) view.