Dental Every Year?

[ashekitty]

Hey guys!
I just got back from my cat's dental. This is her third in three years. I have been told by multiple vets that she has genetically bad teeth and probably will need a dental every year to clean and remove more teeth. I'm worried that a dental that often will be too hard on her, considering that she is turning 9 this year. Going under, getting X-rays, and getting painkillers every year must cause issues.
Any thoughts? Am I being too anxious?

 

[kristenann]

I think leaving bad teeth in her mouth and allowing dental disease to progress would be worse than the risk posed by dental procedures.

However, maybe there are things you can do at home to slow ride progression of dental disease so she needs them less frequently? Maybe some T/D kibble as a treat, tooth brushing, dental treats?

 

[1 bruce 1]

If her teeth are genetically bad, this may be (probably) is true.
I don't think you're being overly anxious. I worry too when we have to put ours under for any reason.
As kristenann said, you can maybe extend this to keep from having to put her under so often by offering dental treats or brushing. (Bad teeth means bad news, if not now, later. Bad teeth dump bacteria into the blood stream and can mess with some major organs; the heart, the kidneys, the liver, and if bad teeth make those organs weak, putting her under for a dental will be more dangerous because she might not be strong enough to withstand it.)
This guy feeds these meat chunks for a jaw work out and dental health. Gizzards are also a good choice for cats.
This doesn't fix anything that's genetic (if only it were that easy.) But it might help keep the dental cleanings on a 2-3 year schedule vs. a yearly.
Did the vet say if she had any kind of disease of the mouth or if she just had bad teeth, period?

 

[Aieko]

You aren't being overly anxious, we all worry about our fur babies. I personally hate putting my kitties under for any reason at all. Going to the vet almost always puts stress on your cat, I understand that. I would ask the vet if there was any way to slow down the disease so you wouldn't have to go as often as every year. There are more than a few dental treats that prevent or slow down dental problems, but low-quality dental treats that say stuff like "fresher breath" and "cleaner mouth" don't exactly work that way. Cats don't chew dry food that much, they normally swallow it whole while giving it a few chomps here and there causing the kibble to shatter and only interact with the tips of their teeth. The best dental treats for cats are foods that rub against their teeth and gums, foods that force them to chew, chicken works great, as well as gizzards. It probably will help to slow down and keep the cleanings to a minimum of 2-3 years.
Also, does she have a specific disease or does she just have bad teeth?

 

[kittyluv387]

Yeah my regular cat needs a dental every 1.5 years without teeth brushing so every year for a cat with bad genes sound about right. Dental care is pretty important. An infection in the gums is carried to major organs by the blood vessels.

 

[daftcat75]

I will never hesitate to get Krista a dental if she needs it having gone through 3 episodes of her not eating due to mouth pain already this year. Having to give her pain meds and feed her only tuna (because her only her love of tuna exceeds her mouth pain during these episodes) until we can get the dental work done is rougher on her than the procedure and recovery. From now on, I'm booking her regular dentals twice a year until she has no teeth left. She will turn 15 next month.

 

[ashekitty]

Wow thank you everyone for the support and good information! I will definitely check out gizzards. I will digest this information and get back to you guys!!

 

[1 bruce 1]

Yeah my regular cat needs a dental every 1.5 years without teeth brushing so every year for a cat with bad genes sound about right. Dental care is pretty important. An infection in the gums is carried to major organs by the blood vessels.

We had a dog that got yearly dental cleanings back in the older days, no matter what this dog ate their teeth were bad. They didn't align properly at all and the vet said this can contribute to tartar.

 

[neely]

Here is a TCS Article about what to use for dental health care that may be helpful for you: What Tcs Members Use: Cat Dental Health Care

And, no, you are most definitely not too anxious. Our cat just had his dental last week and needed 3 teeth extractions. I was worried sick all day.

 

[kittyluv387]

We had a dog that got yearly dental cleanings back in the older days, no matter what this dog ate their teeth were bad. They didn't align properly at all and the vet said this can contribute to tartar.

I know some animals and humans have it bad. My little sister had more teeth issues even though she didn't really eat much sweets.

 

[1 bruce 1]

I know some animals and humans have it bad. My little sister had more teeth issues even though she didn't really eat much sweets.

We all knew or know that person who has perfect teeth with minimal care and that person who had a thousand teeth pulled by the time they were 4 and have had braces and retainers and all that stuff. Lots of factors go into play here.
Baby Girl has the best bite/mouth structure I've seen on a cat and she doesn't have any dental problems.

 

[ashekitty]

So if for some reason the raw meat and dental food doesn't work well enough and she still needs one every year, it won't be too detrimental long term?

 

[daftcat75]

She should have one every year even if she learns to brush and floss. Some conditions, like resorptive lesions, aren't related to hygeine and may happen regardless of food, bones, brushing, and yearly dentals.

 

[daftcat75]

February is pet dental health awareness month. You can plan to do her dental every February. But that may also be the busiest month to schedule a dental.

 

[muffy]

I had 8 cats that were all related to each other and they had genetically bad teeth. I had to get their teeth cleaned every year. They did fine. Two of them lived to be 17 and 18 years old. But by the time they were that old they did not have any teeth left.

 

[kittyluv387]

So if for some reason the raw meat and dental food doesn't work well enough and she still needs one every year, it won't be too detrimental long term?

I think the answer is cautious no. Of course there are risks with anesthesia every time. There's a certain type of anesthesia you can do where the risks are lowered and I think it might be beneficial for your cat since he needs a dental so often. I'll have to wait until after work and look at my notes in the laptop though.

 

[daftcat75]

I think the answer is cautious no. Of course there are risks with anesthesia every time. There's a certain type of anesthesia you can do where the risks are lowered and I think it might be beneficial for your cat since he needs a dental so often. I'll have to wait until after work and look at my notes in the laptop though.

I think that’s the isoflurane gas. That’s what they keep giving my almost 15 year old while always telling me how it’s a lighter anesthesia since she’s getting older.

 

[neely]

I think that’s the isoflurane gas. That’s what they keep giving my almost 15 year old while always telling me how it’s a lighter anesthesia since she’s getting older.

Our vet knows I insist on them using isoflurane for Carleton because he is a brachycephalic breed. Although not absolutely necessary if there is a veterinary dental specialist at your vet that would help alleviate some of your worry too.
AVDC Position Statements | AVDC - American Veterinary Dental College

 

[ashekitty]

Thanks again everyone! I'm moving to Washington this summer so I'll be finding a new vet anyway. I'll make sure to ask about isoflurane gas for the next dental and see what they think!

 

[neely]

Good luck on your move and finding a new vet this summer. Please keep in touch and let us know how everything goes after you have settled in.