Dental Treatment for Cats ... Really?!

Took Minx for her annual booster vaccinations and check-up yesterday. Everything was fine but at the end of the appointment the vet suddenly slipped in a comment that her teeth aren't as white as they once were and that in the future she would "have to have dental treatment". He advised I start brushing her teeth with cat toothpaste to get her used to it so when she "has to have dental treatment" it won't be such a big thing.

Must admit I was giving him an old-fashioned look during this particular bit of advice. I've had cats all my life and not one has required dental treatment. I also objected to the fact he was telling me she'd have to have it before there's even a problem. Fair enough if she had a bad tooth that needs taking out or something, but for the first time it's made me question the practice and whether I can trust them.

 

When our cat Symba was a kitten he was really ill with a hereditary liver problem and had to have lactulose for quite a while till he had a big operation, he has a build up of tartar on his teeth from the sugary lactulose the vet never seems too bothered when I mention it and after nine years its never caused him any problems, luckily he loves his biscuits which I think helps to stop them getting any worse, as you say if they had a bad tooth it'd be different, after months of wrapping our Symba in a towel to give him medication wouldn't fancy trying to brush a cats teeth!!!!!

 

It's not just your vet. Mine LOVES to remove their teeth for some reason.

 

This is a very American 'thing'. My Magic Sam aged 17 has been under the care of the UK vets for 6 years and now 11 here. Must say in the UK it was mentioned that his teeth needed cleaning ... but it has never been said here and the owner of our surgery is Dutch and she has all Portuguese vets ... all girlies by the way ...

Fortunately for us they are all 'cat people' including the nurse who is English and been there since she left school here in Portugal and we have known her for some 11 years.

I couldn't even imagine brushing my cat's teeth ... and some of them are really pussycats ...

 

Thanks for the replies When the vet first said about her teeth I thought he was going to tell me they offer a laser whitening treatment for cats

I'm sure my expression was just saying "You want me to brush my cat's teeth? Are you insane?"

Then again, Minx does perch on my shoulder when I'm brushing my teeth so maybe she's trying to tell me something...!

 

No, I am sure she is NOT telling you to brush her teeth ...

 

all my cats eat dry crunchy food that helps with teeth tarter. the last visit to the vets my more scared stiff I am not moving one, was seen to have some tarter on his teeth. Because he is so scared to move, she just scraped it off and he was done. Poor fellow.

 

Minx has this too, but I also give her wet food.

Good description - Minx gets like that too, which is amazing as she's such a bossy boots at home.

Bless.

 

I would say 'bin this money spinner of a vet' ... give your babe a mix of wet and crunchie food .. does the trick ... from she who has had cats for 45 years in the US and UK with no dental treatment with any of the 12 who have all died from natural causes and nothing to do with bad teeth ...

 

I think so too - I've always had cats and not once have they needed dental treatment (I'm just tempting fate now aren't I?!). I think it's unfortunate that the original vet retired and the new people in charge are obviously, as you say, into money spinning.

 

Glad my sister isn`t reading this ,she will have her two booked in by tomorrow, she`s going to the vets tomorrow because one has a scratch on his leg and he`s limping !!!,.

 

Just a thought: is your cat insured? If it is, you may want to go over the small print in the policy.

Got mine through yesterday (for Echo the cat and Ozzy the dog: joint pet policy) and noticed that they will only be covered for any dental issues *if* they have had regular dental checks by the vet. The moment I read that I thought of this thread. Check your pet policies

 

Glad she's not MY sister Pam ... but mine would be 100% with me as she is a cat person. Scratch on the leg ... for goodness sake you take a cotton pad and a dab of witch hazel and off we go ... xx

 

"Oh he wo`nt let me touch him"
told her, get some antiseptic spray and shoot ,should have tried looking after 2 Donkeys,3 goats, 30+ dogs ,and held down a full time job,..and my husbands business Looking back do not know how we did it.