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- Jul 12, 2016
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Hi all! I'm looking for some insight into dental issues in cats - by which I mean the gingivitis, resorption, and tartar build-up that is treated with a dental cleaning and extractions.
I had all three of my cats' dentals done in the past 4 years. One of them went to the vet yesterday and she is due again (it's been 3 years and one month since her last one) and I was honestly a little surprised. She didn't have her first dental until she was 11 years old and the vet didn't seem to think she really needed one before that point - or at least, she didn't really push it - and now three years on, she seems already well overdue.
I've had vets not bring up dentals at all, I've had vets mentioned it offhand, and vets treat it like it's causing immense suffering and she needs it done immediately.
I also know many people who have never had their cats undergo dental cleanings, and their cats seem perfectly fine. If their cats have sore mouths, they don't appear to be very sore (not that I want them to be sore at all.) One of my cats' pain meds wore off too soon after her dental extractions and you could really tell - she looked miserable and refused to eat until I brought her back to the vet and they gave her another shot.
I'm not looking for permission to not address my cats' oral health, I guess I'm just looking for some clarity on how others feel about this and how they think their cats feel about it.
Getting all three of my cats done every three years probably isn't financial feasible for me longterm, as it works out to about $1,500 per cat per dental with pre-testing and x-rays. Also, my cats are getting up in years, and there's a point at which I'll not want to put them through surgery and dental extraction, general anesthetic risk, or put myself through the financial toll. But I don't know where that point is. My older cats are 15+ and could live another 5 years - or another 6 months.
And yes I do try to brush their teeth, but I fail at doing it often enough to make much of a difference. The one with the worst mouth also needs three oral medications daily and I really feel bad about getting into her face for yet another thing. One cat HATES it and will fight me on it. The third is pretty ok with it but then I'll forget for two weeks straight - but she'll chew up and eat raw bones, so I'm hoping that helps.
Anyway, sorry for long post. I guess I'm either looking for validation that doing all these dentals is well worth the money for my cats' health and comfort, OR for rationale that will let me have fewer dentals done knowing my cats aren't suffering in the interim.
I had all three of my cats' dentals done in the past 4 years. One of them went to the vet yesterday and she is due again (it's been 3 years and one month since her last one) and I was honestly a little surprised. She didn't have her first dental until she was 11 years old and the vet didn't seem to think she really needed one before that point - or at least, she didn't really push it - and now three years on, she seems already well overdue.
I've had vets not bring up dentals at all, I've had vets mentioned it offhand, and vets treat it like it's causing immense suffering and she needs it done immediately.
I also know many people who have never had their cats undergo dental cleanings, and their cats seem perfectly fine. If their cats have sore mouths, they don't appear to be very sore (not that I want them to be sore at all.) One of my cats' pain meds wore off too soon after her dental extractions and you could really tell - she looked miserable and refused to eat until I brought her back to the vet and they gave her another shot.
I'm not looking for permission to not address my cats' oral health, I guess I'm just looking for some clarity on how others feel about this and how they think their cats feel about it.
Getting all three of my cats done every three years probably isn't financial feasible for me longterm, as it works out to about $1,500 per cat per dental with pre-testing and x-rays. Also, my cats are getting up in years, and there's a point at which I'll not want to put them through surgery and dental extraction, general anesthetic risk, or put myself through the financial toll. But I don't know where that point is. My older cats are 15+ and could live another 5 years - or another 6 months.
And yes I do try to brush their teeth, but I fail at doing it often enough to make much of a difference. The one with the worst mouth also needs three oral medications daily and I really feel bad about getting into her face for yet another thing. One cat HATES it and will fight me on it. The third is pretty ok with it but then I'll forget for two weeks straight - but she'll chew up and eat raw bones, so I'm hoping that helps.
Anyway, sorry for long post. I guess I'm either looking for validation that doing all these dentals is well worth the money for my cats' health and comfort, OR for rationale that will let me have fewer dentals done knowing my cats aren't suffering in the interim.