Vets/ Vet techs

[dakcp2001]

Please help! My cat had a dental visit last year (over 500 bucks) and had teeth pulled and was on antibiotics. His teeth were good for a few weeks, then his bad breath started again and clearly he is having more tooth issues. Now my other cat has the stinky breath and is drooling! I feed them Friskies dry food and wet food. Is there something better for their teeth? They have that room clearing bad breath again, and stinky drool. Last time my cat had an absess, none apparent now. I can NOT afford to take them both in for 1000 worth of dental care!! Heelllppp!

1. how often should a cat need a dental?
2. Is there anything I can do to help them now w/o more teeth pulling?
3. They are only 5 years old, is this normal?

I cannot get anywhere near their mouth without getting bit. They do not appear to be in pain, but well I imagine it MUST HURT. They re 5 years old and brothers from the same litter.


Can I just mention that I have had cats all my life and never had a dental issue before, and now with these two it is constant. But I love their stinky little faces, so I do not want them to be in pain.

 

[NonScents]

I'm not a vet but have worked in Feline exclusive vets for >6 years, so here are my comments:

You don't mention the breed of cats you have, some breeds such as Persians/Himys with pushed in faces can be more prone to dental problems.

Just like people, some cats need more dental care than others. But you say, "they are only 5 years old, is this normal?" How many times have you brushed/flossed, and had dental cleanings, in the past 5 years? I'll bet it is WAY more than the cats did! LOL. It is unusual for a cat to drool, so if you are seeing that, you are right, there is something going on in there and the cat is probably in pain.

There are some dry diets such as Hill's t/d (Purina and Royal Canin have comparable formulas) which HELP control plaque buildup, but it will not prevent dental problems, or cure them.

I'm sorry to say that I don't think you have any alternative except to consult the vet, and yes they will probably need treatment. $500, btw, is not unreasonable if the cat needed extractions, etc.

Money is tight for everyone now; ask if your vet accepts CareCredit payment plans (like a medical credit card), you can apply online.

Good job at being so observant and taking such good care of your furry boys!

 

[dakcp2001]

Thanks for your response! Is it unusual for a cat to need MORE extractions within a year? Have you ever seen that before? It seems excessive to me. My vet told me not to bother with the cat brushing stuff, do you recommend it? He also said the t/d food was not much help.I got some of the T/D dental food and my cats didn't like it, they just played with it. My moms cat, that has great teeth, loved it.

I cannot put another 1000 on my credit card, I am not working right now. I am totally stressed about this. If I bring them in and they both need it,I am in big trouble.

 

[NonScents]

Is it unusual for a cat to need MORE extractions within a year?

Not really unusual -- do you know if your vet took dental xrays? some vets don't have it, but those that do, find problems you may not see, like severe bone loss or cavities under the gums.

Brushing; it is almost impossible to do anything more than annoy the cat you just can't get to the real problem areas. and t/d helps for some cats (I think dogs like it more, but they eat anything) and some won't eat it.

I hear ya, on the finances thing.
Depending on where you live, some humane societies provide dental services at reduced rates, but this is not common, so you would have to do some calling around. There could be some "budget care vet clinics" too, so start calling. Look in the yellow pages and online.

If you want to PM me for any details, I don't mind.

 

[mla1977]

One thing my vet recommended was Greenies. They are oddly shaped treats that are meant to force the cat to chew them. My cat that has tarter swallows her other treats whole. She isn't too fond of the Greenies though, so they haven't really helped her. The other cat chews everything so she doesn't have problems. We also brush their teeth. Have you looked into that? There are many websites that show you how to do it. My friend also suggested a solution that you can add to water that is supposed to control tarter. I'll see if I can find the email with the info and share it here later.

 

[lisajl]

Don't feed canned food. That stuff sticks to their teeth. My cats only get hard food.

 

[pppiglet]

Allergies can also cause red gums and stinky breath. Two of my cats are allergic to fish. I buy only canned food with no fish products. I use Greenies also to help keep teeth cleaner.

Wet food does not stick to their teeth or cause tartar any more than dry food. Cats that are fed strictly dry food will usually end up with kidney failure, diabetes, urinary tract infections, etc.....because dry food has no moisture in it and cats do not drink enough water on their own to keep their sytems healthy.

I found a place that will do cleanings for $250. They use gas instead of anesthesia, so it's a little cheaper and better for the cat.

 

[lisajl]

Allergies can also cause red gums and stinky breath. Two of my cats are allergic to fish. I buy only canned food with no fish products. I use Greenies also to help keep teeth cleaner.

Wet food does not stick to their teeth or cause tartar any more than dry food. Cats that are fed strictly dry food will usually end up with kidney failure, diabetes, urinary tract infections, etc.....because dry food has no moisture in it and cats do not drink enough water on their own to keep their sytems healthy.

I found a place that will do cleanings for $250. They use gas instead of anesthesia, so it's a little cheaper and better for the cat.

Actually, it does stick to their teeth. I work for a vet and have seen what canned food can do. Yes, with dry food they have issues, too. Those are the cats that don't drink water very well. That is also why some vets rec. wet food. If your cat does not drink, there is plenty of liquid in the canned food.
Genetics cause problems, too. I adopted a cat that had terrible teeth.
The first vet I took her to said she must have been an inbred cat due to how bad her teeth looked.

 

[TimandTanya]

Canned food for pets is a no no. Although they love it, it sticks to their teeth, bad for digestion, etc. The hard food scrapes the teeth as they eat it and promotes good dental care for your pet. The hard food also breaks down slower in the digestion system, which could be a reason for the odor. What you could be smelling is gas from the wet food, not dental odor. I suggest a lamb and rice mixture from Iams or Science Diet. No fillers, great for the cat, and promotes good dental care. Treats such as Greenies for dental care, like the other poster suggested, is also a nice healthy treat.

We tend to forget that our furry friends are just a few steps away from their wild cousins. In the wild they would not eat processed food additives. They eat tough meat, with bones that scrape the teeth.

No matter what suggestions you get on here, nothing beats the recommendations of your vet.

Good Luck