R.M.C., Fort Collins, CO
Tags: cat Fort Collins CO
Mar 17, 2007
Question:
I''d like your opinion on cleaning cats'' teeth. For the past few years, our vet has been telling us that our 7-year-old tabby cat has severe dental disease. She showed us the plaque on his teeth and pointed out little white lesions on his gums. She suggested that pain from the dental disease was what may have caused him to howl at night and urinate outside of his litter box. Last week, we scheduled the teeth cleaning, expecting the worst -- multiple extractions.The vet said he didn''t really need the procedure after all. X-rays showed no sign of decay. It turned out that he had only minor gingivitis, which could have been cured through crunchy treats and a supplement in his drinking water. From the vet''s perspective, this was a good thing, and we thought so, too. Our cat hadn''t been suffering from mouth pain. But, at the same time, I was upset.Our tabby is an anxious cat, and the procedure was an ordeal for him. Not only that, but while he was under anesthesia, his blood pressure dropped and he had to be given
R.M.C., Fort Collins, CO Mar 18, 2007
Answer:
Your letter is important to all people with cats. Cats are prone to dental diseases and very often must be anesthetized to determine the severity of the problem.Crunchy treats may help prevent plaque buildup, but once plaque has developed (and must be removed), few cats will tolerate dental work to clean the teeth without heavy sedation or a general anesthetic. Dental problems are common in cats with impaired immune systems, kidney disease, diabetes and chronic viral diseases.
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