So my cat Evita has to get some dental work - anyone been through this...

[LynneSin]

..with their furball.

After postponing it one week, I finally got my cats to the Vet. Both are healthy and wonderful but Evita, as I suspected, has some nasty crap all over her teeth and needs to be cleaned.

I mean, is there any alternative or am I going to have to shell out all this money for a cat teeth cleaning. And once we get her choppers all clean is there any recommendations on how to keep em that way so I'm not spending $150 twice a year for clean cat teeth. Abbott has great teeth but he eats more dry food (Royal Canin Indoor) than Evita.

what's up!

[Thtwudbeme]

1. After you get their teeth cleaned, get the vet to apply

Oravet... (should be less than 20 bucks...I work as a receptionist now for a vet who specializes in Pets for Millionaires...and no, I am not kidding)

Oravet has a product that you can take home, (24 dollars or so) and swipe on their teeth once a week. The problem is that most kitties won't be still long enough to do that; and don't like fingers in their little mouths.

There is also a product made by Hill's Science diet called T/D. It's expensive as food goes, but I give it to Stinky the Wonder Cat either as treats, or sprinkle a couple of them on top of her Purina Cat Chow. A four pound bag (11 dollars) will last you a good while.

Greenies makes "sprinkles" that kitties can eat too---as the name implies, you sprinkle it on their food. Stinky despises it and looks at me as if to say..."I KNEW humans were stupid, but this proves it."

Hope that helps!

Stephanie

[LynneSin]

2. I'm taking advise from someone who owns a cat named "Stinky"

:eyes:

Actually, I will look into those products! I don't mind shelling out the money now for Evita, but I'd like to get her teeth clean and keep them clean. She was ferral for 3 years so she hasn't had a good diet until I adopted her, which is why her teeth are nasty and Abbott has really nice ones!

[Rhiannon12866]

6. You just answered your own question when you mentioned her

Background. I rescued a cat who I thought was feral. It was not easy and it took me almost four months to bring her inside. I finally had to resort to borrowing a have-a-heart trap from the animal hospital. When the vet examined her, he found surprisingly few problems, but her teeth were the worst, many decayed and broken. God knows what the poor thing had been forced to eat before I began feeding her. He recommended dental surgery.

I didn't do it immediately, since I had my hands full with my sick dog, and I've always regretted it. The transformation of that cat, after surgery, was amazing. Before, she would spend most of her time hiding in this little "house" I got her, or behind the couch. After surgery, she became a regular cat, sitting next to my computer monitor and would even jump up in the chair with me, if I patted it. She must have been incredibly uncomfortable and that's why she was acting so skittish.

I always recommend pet teeth cleaning because if there is build-up, it can cause decay, and pain like mine had, and also, the resulting bacteria can eventually cause heart damage, which is much more serious. Ask your vet what is best to use to keep her teeth clean. The Greenies are a great idea, as are tarter control treats. I know a 14-year-old cat with excellent teeth who's always eaten them.:-)

[demnan]

3. I just had Pad Thai's done

You won't have to have it done every year. Maybe every few years if your cat maintains good health. It is well worth doing though. I think it's really important, especially as the cat grows older, to maintain the teeth.

Get some of those Pounce tartar control treats to give her something yummy in the hard food department. The vet may give you a little rubber finger with small feelers on it that you can rub your cats teeth with. But they hate that and I've never had much luck with that.

Pad Thai is seven 1/2 years old and it was his first time and he has really good teeth so there were no extractions. He loves the tartar control Pounce treats, as does Lily. I got Lily's done when she was about the same age. Now she is nearly 14 so I'm not sure I'm going to be able to subject her to this operation. She's never had an extraction (They do blood work if your cat is 8 years or older and recommend it for cats 7 years and up. Doing the blood work assures that your cat is in good physical shape to withstand being drugged.)

Dental health often depends on the quality of weaning the cat received, in my opinion. The one cat we had whose mother was killed before he was rescued is the one who had the most trouble with his teeth.

[Thtwudbeme]

4. I didn't know Pounce made Tartar Control treats

I am betting they are just as good as the Hill's T/D, and might be tastier, and less expensive.

Hey! "Stinky" is a cute name! My little Stinky Butt!

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

5. Simba and Monty ADORE Pounce Tartar Control Treats

They know the code: "Who wants some of those things?" is enough to stir them from the deepest sleep!