Cat dental cleaning?

[snoopy5386]

So we took our kitty to the vet last week for her yearly exam and the vet tried to sell us on getting her teeth cleaned to the tune of $350. He said she had minimal tartar but still recommended it. We have chosen not to do it. Has anyone had this done? My first thought was "Are they for real?" Owned several cats growing up and none of them ever had their teeth cleaned.
Advice?

 

[Big Kahuna]

Advice ?

Time to get a new Vet.... We have never heard of it, and our Cats have lived over 18 years with no teeth problems. In fact we give them Cat treats that have tartar control, and our Vet always is amazed at the condition of their teeth and gums... Our two newest additions "Pixar and Disney" will get the same treats for their teeth.

 

[Teacher510]

Cats can have teeth problems but ours have eaten Dental Diet for years and the vet was very impressed by the improvement in our now 16 year old cat and our 12 yr old who has always eaten it has never had a problem with her teeth. It's way cheaper than a cleaning!

 

[ilovedale3]

The reason for dental cleaning in cats and dogs is not just for purely cosmetic reasons. Tartar buildup can lead to gum disease which leads to tooth loss. Gum disease can also lead to heart problems, especially with cats (it has to do with the bacteria).

With that being said, if the tartar is minimal now, I would wait about the cleaning, and try some tartar control food or treats.

My cat has had her teeth cleaned by the vet at age 4. She had bad tartar buildup because she barely chews her crunchy food or treats... she just sucks it down like a vacuum cleaner! If your cat is not a hoover, you may not have an issue.

 

[wdwpluto]

I paid less than $300 total for our 2 cats.

 

[wdwmom2]

I had it done several times to my dearly departed yellow tabby. He had serious tartar buildup. I don't remember what it cost, but I do know it was no more than $75, that was about 12 years ago. Also, he was a good boy, no anesthesia required. If you check with your vet, this may be where a good portion of the cost is coming from. But this is just a guess!!

ETA: I surely wouldn't get rid of your vet because he/she suggested a dental cleaning, especially if you like/trust your vet. Cats need proper dental care just like humans, even though a lot cats can get through life not needing it. You could discuss with you vet whether kitty needs it now or can it wait a little. He probably wants to start cleaning before problems start from NOT cleaning the teeth. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!! Google cat dental problems and see what can happen when cat dental hygiene is not taken care of.

 

[Imzadi]

You didn't mentione the age of your kitty. If it really needs to be done, do it while the cat is young, healthy and strong enough to go through the process & recover successfully.

I asked my own vet last year if my cat (at 6yrs) needs it. Right now, she has healthy teeth & gums.

But, many years ago, my college roomate at the time was urged to have it done on her 19 year old cat. She, herself was too young at the time, to oppose the vet, even though she really didn't want to do it. The very next day after it was done and my roommate brought the cat home, the cat died. The stress, trauma and especially being put under the anesthesia (at that age) killed the cat. It should never have been done on a cat that age. Anesthesia at any time always carries some risk.

My roomate blamed herself, because she knew she didn't want to have it done. The cat wasn't originally brought in for that problem. The cat had something else, very minor. The cat never exhibited any signs or pain or problems regarding her teeth. She might have had another year or 2 with my ex-roommate.

I blame the Vet. He had no problem keeping the $500 he made off of the operation.

I am extremely careful now who I take my cat to and what I am willing to have done.


For my own teeth problems, recently I went to a highly recommended oral surgeon to see if I needed my wisdom teeth out because my upper teeth have started to shift & crowd. While there was absolutely nothing wrong with my bottom wisdom teeth, he urged me to have them taken out for preventative reasons. He couldn't even touch the top ones as one was so embedded into the existing roots of other teeth. So what he recommended would not even correct the reason I went in for.

I had noticed when I was sitting in his waiting room, it was completely empty. The phone was hardly ringing. I really felt, in these hard economic times, people are cutting down on services they can do without. I felt his urging for the beneficial "preventative dentisty" was more to help him though his own economic hard times and to pay his rent than for my benefit.

I did more research, ended up going to an orthodontist who made me a retainer instead to solve the crowding & shifting. I went with my gut and am so much happier with my choice.

 

[luvmy3]

I've owned cats my entire life, and they all lived long healthy lives without dental cleanings. I have 2 cats now and I don't plan on ever doing that unless plaque build-up becomes a serious health issue, but I highly doubt it will since its never happened to any of my cats before, or to any other cats that I know (family and friends pets). While I do believe plaque build-up can happen and cause health problems in some cats, I'm pretty sure that the majority of cats have survived in the wild and in homes just fine without $300 teeth cleanings since, I don't know, forever

 

[jackemail]

Wow--my cats have dental cleaning/scraping done because 2 of them have recurring teeth problems, but it costs MUCH less than $350!

 

[snoopy5386]

thanks everyone. It was our first time at this vet and I wasn't impressed. He also deteced what he called a slight heart murmur and suggested all these tests we could do and how he could refer us to a cardiologist to "get to the bottom of it".
uhh no thanks. And half the cost is for pre-op bloodwork.

 

[Rafiki31]

Our 4 year old kitty had really bad breath, and then started to drool the most foul smelling drool ever. He had to have a "dental" which was getting put under anastesia and had to have a few rotten teeth pulled and the rest cleaned. It was almost 600 bucks. My cat had an obvious problem, but now, less then a year later, he's got bad breath again. We are keeping a close eye on him, but I honestly cannot afford to keep having this done should it continue. I just don't know what to do.


I would have been thrilled with just 350 to keep it from happening, but I have heard so much about people having cat dental visits lately i wonder if something has changed with cat food recently to cause tooth decay? Or is this just a new way for vets to make a lot of money?

My cat def needed it, but well, you will have to get a second opinon I think for your kitty. If a second vet tells you he needs it, it will be worth the "check up" fee at another vet just to be sure in case he does not.

 

[MouseketeerOvaHere]

Wow, perhaps shop around for a different vet. I would ask friends whom have cats who they are using and if they are happy. As for the cat's teeth, use the dental treats as suggested and also you can buy toothpaste for cats at 1-800petmeds or at petsmart. Just wrap some gauze around you finger and hold kitty in your lap while you use a circular motion to clean the teeth. My cats fought a little bit at first but now they are fine. They know they get catnip and treats afterwards.

 

[PaulaSB12]

I have a cat who had to have 3 teeth taken out, the vet said this was due to bad diet before I got her. The operation went ok but something in the Anesthesia made her forget the other two cats (her offspring) its taken nearly 2 years to intergrate her back with the others. As for heart murmers my vet said that my tom cat had a murmer but when he went back it was normal but then again he is the most neurotic moggie I have ever known.

 

[flying_babyb]

I believe in good dental health. I brush my cats teeth weekly with a toddler toothbrush and salmon flavored cat toothpaste. They love it
"He also deteced what he called a slight heart murmur and suggested all these tests we could do and how he could refer us to a cardiologist to "get to the bottom of it"."
My cat has a slight heart mumur and is 5 years old. Hes doing just fine, no facny tests!

 

[Pigeon]

thanks everyone. It was our first time at this vet and I wasn't impressed. He also deteced what he called a slight heart murmur and suggested all these tests we could do and how he could refer us to a cardiologist to "get to the bottom of it".
uhh no thanks. And half the cost is for pre-op bloodwork.

We had the same thing happen re the heart murmur. Unfortunately, dh took the cat in for that vet appointment, not me. He adored that cat. Now, I like cats a great deal, but I draw the line, and a slight heart murmur would have left me unmoved.

He ended up taking the cat to a vet school facility where they had all sorts of high tech equipment, and it cost well over $500 for the testing, in addition to taking a day off from work.

The diagnosis... The cat didn't like going to the vet and it stressed her out. I could have told them that for a whole lot less money.

Last time I brought the cat to the vet for a well cat visit, they wanted me to schedule our next appointment in six months instead of a year. When asked about it, they told me it was the new recommendation that all pets see teh vet at least every six months. I told them that when my children's pediatrician wants to have a well child visit every six months, we'll talk about it.

I can just see a bunch of vets sitting around at a convention talking about what they can do to maximize cash flow. "I know, how about we make them come in twice as often!"

 

[SharpMomOfTwo]

Years ago my parents had to do this with our cat. I don't know if she had anything severly wrong or what, all I remember is that she had a really tough time coming out of the anistishia (yeah, can't spell that at all) and we almost lost her. She lived though, and made it to 19 years old!!

 

[GottaGetToDisney!]

I'm really torn about this, too. My oldest cat is 12 and has never had a teeth cleaning. He has lost a fang and one of his molars.

The last time I had him at the vet's I was told that I really should bring him in for a cleaning (I don't know how much my vet charges for that service). The vet remarked that his teeth are really bad (she did say it's probably not his diet, but most likely a genetic thing), but I am terrified to have him put under anesthesia. I've heard too many horror stories about older cats being unable to tolerate anesthesia. On the other hand, I don't want his gums to become infected & possibly lead to other complications.

I have considered *attempting* to brush his teeth myself. I can't see him being cooperative with that, though! Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Gotta Get To Disney!

 

[Imzadi]

I'm really torn about this, too. My oldest cat is 12 and has never had a teeth cleaning. He has lost a fang and one of his molars.

The last time I had him at the vet's I was told that I really should bring him in for a cleaning (I don't know how much my vet charges for that service). The vet remarked that his teeth are really bad (she did say it's probably not his diet, but most likely a genetic thing), but I am terrified to have him put under anesthesia. I've heard too many horror stories about older cats being unable to tolerate anesthesia. On the other hand, I don't want his gums to become infected & possibly lead to other complications.

I have considered *attempting* to brush his teeth myself. I can't see him being cooperative with that, though! Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Gotta Get To Disney!

You and Kitty are in a tough spot because he's had obvious signs of a real problem in the past. So this is not one of those "It would benefit the cat," type scenarios but really done to line the Vet's pocket, but really may make a difference.

Maybe get a second opinion to see how bad it is? Also, the vet should be able to show you the teeth so you can see for yourself the tarter & gum problems.

When I asked 2 years ago if my cat needed her teeth cleaned, she was able to grab the cat's head, lift up the gums and show me my kitty had no problems.

When I realized I forgot to ask this year at her check up, I tried to lift up her gums myself to take a look. She was having none of that. I really don't know how people brush their cats' gums. I can't even get in there for a look. Now, I try to take a quick look when she meows at me.

 

[dizluvah]

just yesterday our cat was at the vet for a recurring intestinal problem and the vet mentioned the tartar and asked if we ever brushed his teeth. We don't and never have (our cat is 10). I did not ask how much it would be but the vet simply suggested it was something to think about. Not a service we will be paying for anytime soon.

 

[Imzadi]

There is a difference in simply brushing a cat's teeth versus having the tartar removed. If you've ever gone for your own teeth cleaning you know they take dental instruments and scrape around the teeth, especially around the gums and between the teeth and on the insides of teeth. That's why vets would need to anesthetise a cat. It's not a simple brushing.


I also want to point out their was a cat grooming thread here about a week ago where the OP found out later they had sedated her cat in TWO different ways: intubating her (sticking a tube down her throat) and a general gas anesthesia. She was worried because her cat has problems afterwards that luckily turned out to be temporary.

It would never occur to me, if I brought my cat in for grooming, that they'd have to use ONE risky anesthesia, let alone TWO for a grooming. I guess I just thought they put on long cat proof type oven mitts that go up the arms and a cat proof apron or overcoat so they don't get all scratched up while they hold down the cat.

It just drives the point home: you really have to be proactive in asking what procedures they will be doing on your pet and what the real benefits will be. The days of simply accepting an authority figure's word as God or the final judgement is over. I don't care what fancy title or bunch of letters come after someone's name. We need to be discerning. Not everyone is here for our (or our pets') best interest. Some people make mistakes, are careless and thoughtless, make bad judgement calls and may be out to pad their wallet.