Allergies, Trauma, and Dental Care

[SheegwaCephira]

Hi! Im nee and joined for this purpose! My cat(7yrs F Domestic Shorthair Lilac Colourpoint Tabby) has allergies, likely to the steroids used while raising animals, and we are operating under the assumption that has Feline Hyperesthesia. She has fear aggression associated with be chased, trapped, or restrained(her claws get clipped 2 paws at a time, and that's progress lol). She has some tartar build up and I need to improve her dental health. But she wont let me brush her teeth! Im hoping for recipes for dental treats or other advise.
Thanx!!!

 

[FriendofFerals]

I have one like this....Severely abused and starved, thrown out of a moving vehicle in a carrier and rescued on the side of the road. He has mild allergies but also fear aggression like you said, to being restrained in any way (vet visits, claw clipping etc). He had to have 14 teeth extracted due to stomatitis and a maloccusion of his jaw (from birth) where he has a severe overbite. Just getting him to the vet and sedated was a miracle. What they were able to do in removing those teeth and aftercare for a cat like this is just another miracle.

The dental vet said, "This cat has fought a human being for his life more than once." That, in itself, is a horrible thing to imagine.

The best thing you can do is get a professional dental cleaning for your cat (not at a regular vet but at a pet dentist where they have specialists). Give them a heads up to the situation with the fear aggression and tell them to have the special gloves and net ready because this one will need sedation. Once she has a professional cleaning and all the tartar is removed, then you can use preventative tactics to keep her teeth healthy.

Dental "treats" are straight-up BS and don't work. Believe me. What cleans a feral cat's teeth is hair, and find bones from mice and birds. No commercial treats are that hard, but their marketing would make you believe they are.

Once the tartar is gone you can get a cat toothbrush and slowly (very slowly) introduce it like a gentle massaging thing for their face, then their chin, maybe a little around the mouth....if they have irritated gums they will like the feeling of the soft brush and sometimes enjoy it.

As far as cats that cannot tolerate being held or restrained in any way (like mine, where tooth brushing is not possible otherwise) there is a swaddle-type wrap that you can get which disables a cat's legs and limits their head motion. It's expensive and I don't have one yet but my cat dentist recommended it for the future. My cat still has some teeth left and it's only a matter of time before those need to come out also.

Easier Vet Visits | Calm & Cozy Cat Wrap

 

[SheegwaCephira]

I have one like this....Severely abused and starved, thrown out of a moving vehicle in a carrier and rescued on the side of the road. He has mild allergies but also fear aggression like you said, to being restrained in any way (vet visits, claw clipping etc). He had to have 14 teeth extracted due to stomatitis and a maloccusion of his jaw (from birth) where he has a severe overbite. Just getting him to the vet and sedated was a miracle. What they were able to do in removing those teeth and aftercare for a cat like this is just another miracle.

The dental vet said, "This cat has fought a human being for his life more than once." That, in itself, is a horrible thing to imagine.

The best thing you can do is get a professional dental cleaning for your cat (not at a regular vet but at a pet dentist where they have specialists). Give them a heads up to the situation with the fear aggression and tell them to have the special gloves and net ready because this one will need sedation. Once she has a professional cleaning and all the tartar is removed, then you can use preventative tactics to keep her teeth healthy.

Dental "treats" are straight-up BS and don't work. Believe me. What cleans a feral cat's teeth is hair, and find bones from mice and birds. No commercial treats are that hard, but their marketing would make you believe they are.

Once the tartar is gone you can get a cat toothbrush and slowly (very slowly) introduce it like a gentle massaging thing for their face, then their chin, maybe a little around the mouth....if they have irritated gums they will like the feeling of the soft brush and sometimes enjoy it.

As far as cats that cannot tolerate being held or restrained in any way (like mine, where tooth brushing is not possible otherwise) there is a swaddle-type wrap that you can get which disables a cat's legs and limits their head motion. It's expensive and I don't have one yet but my cat dentist recommended it for the future. My cat still has some teeth left and it's only a matter of time before those need to come out also.

Easier Vet Visits | Calm & Cozy Cat Wrap

Oh, she was from the hoarding situation in California. I got her on her 2 month birthday. She only has episodes with me/at home because her guard is down. Once she's in the carrier she's so scared she kinda shuts down. She just wants to hide. Vet says she's an angel lol I can't afford a dental cleaning.

 

[iPappy]

I have no direct experience with such things, but, some people have had luck with water additives in breaking down tartar.
Water dental additives
This thread might be helpful, though in the end if all depends on what your cat will accept.

 

[Alldara]

Oh, she was from the hoarding situation in California. I got her on her 2 month birthday. She only has episodes with me/at home because her guard is down. Once she's in the carrier she's so scared she kinda shuts down. She just wants to hide. Vet says she's an angel lol I can't afford a dental cleaning.

There's tons of dental things that will help prevent further buildup. But in order to help the gingivitis and stomachitis you will need to save for a dental cleaning. There's no way around that as the bacteria causing the issue is eating the build up under the gums.

Look up anything certified by the veterinary dental counsel. There are water and food additives. But ONLY use the ones certified or you are wasting your money.


For teeth cleaning, I started with a q-tip and would rub their teeth when they were sleeping. Worked up to putting some enzymatic toothpaste for cats on the q-tip. Then I would also use a human infant toothbrush and play with them encourage them to bite it during play. Move up to teeth rubbing with the toothbrush. Dampen the toothbrush and groom them with it on their head and face. Then add toothpaste and only do the teeth. It took over a year even for our young cats. Now, just this year when our oldest is 4 and we have only our new generation of cats left....all of our cats are using a human child electric toothbrush (same brush different heads for all cats). Had to get them used to the sound, then the feeling by petting them with just the back of the thing.