How important is it to get a cat's teeth cleaned?

Question

I have never heard of this until recently...of course it's $250/cat (anethsesia, mostly) which I don't mind paying if it's needed, but it's going to be $1000 for all four of them. Will this cause problems if I don't do it? How often does it need to be done? Are there things I can do that will help their teeth, other than dry cat food?

I really don't mind paying...I try to get them everything they need...I was just worried it was some new California thing made up to suck money out of loving pet owners pockets...I will take the older ones in first and let the younger two wait a bit... Thanks!!

Answer 1

it is important to keep your cats oral health good. teeth probs can cause the animal to become ill and stop eating. plaque build up from foods will turn into tartar and eventually cake the animals teeth causing gum disease and this is very sore.
a dental is a good idea if the vet thinks necessary. this will remove all tartar and any rotten teeth will be removed.
brushing cats teeth is a good idea but usually something you have to do from an early age to get them used to it. if you have a tolerant cat this is also helpful.
we recommend to brush them at least once a week and work on the outside of the teeth we can see - its usually impossible to go into the inner side without getting bitten accidentally. use a veterinary toothpaste from the vets (doesn't contain fluoride) and either a finger brush or small tooth brush. sold at most vets. a cheaper option is a baby soft tooth brush from you local store. but smaller the better!
food is a very useful preventative to teeth problems.
these contain both a mechanical action and enzymatic ingredient to prevent plaque turning into tartar. the best food is the dry for teeth issues as the animal has to bite into the nugget. most wet food is useless.
teeth treats are available but can be fattening. each animal varies with teeth problems - some are fine but others do seem prone to teeth worries.

qualified veterinary nurse UK

Answer 2

It is just as important as getting your own teeth cleaned...they will get worse if you don't clean them and then the cats will be in pain and have a terrible time eating after a while. Besides hard food to help keep teeth clean, I know I brush my dog's teeth myself....not sure how a cat will react. But it is worth a shot...just make sure you use special toothpaste and brush. Start slowly...it might just work. Depends on how easygoing your cats are. But short term...they really need to get them cleaned by the vet. Consider one cat at a time over a few months. It is better than avoiding it completely.

Answer 3

The "natural" way for a cat to have healthy teeth is to chew on the bones of their prey and strip the meat from bones. Since our domestic cats eat an inappropriate diet of dry and canned commercial food they get build up of tartar and plaque just as humans with poor dental hygiene do.

The condition of teeth also has a genetic component so some cats and some humans are luckier in this respect than others.

Since you obviously take good care of your cats and they are going in for annual exams the vet would tell you if they needed to have their teeth cleaned. He should examine their mouths for red-lining at the gums or lots of tartar and plaque on the teeth.

Cats over ten years of age frequently have compromised kidneys and shedding of plaque and bacteria from the mouth can be particularly harmful to their overall health.

Answer 4

Hi there...cats generally require to have teeth cleanings if and when there's a history of periodontal problems (e.g. drooling, illnesses, etc). Most cats can benefit from regular tooth brushings using a feline-formulated toothpaste and toothbrush which minimizes the need to have surgical teeth cleanings. However, a vet would the be the best to advise which cats would benefit from the cleanings and if it's necessary.

Here's an instructional video by Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine for Feline Health on how to brush a cats teeth: http://www.felinevideos.vet.cornell.edu/brushing_teeth/

Another great answer about why brushing teeth for cats is important: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20061126082050AAa5mg7

Answer 5

Believe it or not oral hygiene is very important to a cats overall health, depending on what they eat ( if they eat wet foods especially) particles can cause bacteria, and just like us they get inflammation in their gums, severe pain that stops them from eating, teeth loss that also stops them from eating food overall. There are more health related issues caused by certain bacteria so getting oral hygiene by a professional is a good thing. You can also do your part by buying a toothbrush and toothpaste and cleaning their teeth every day. It can become tedious but will save you some money in the long run.
You can also consider pet insurance from places like petsmart stores and vets where it covers oral cleanings etc. Hope this helps. Good luck...

Answer 6

It is not necessary to clean their teeth unless you're keeping them on a wet cat food only diet. Mixing wet and dry on alternate days is a great idea, as it keeps their teeth clean (with the dry) and keeps them from getting urinary tract infections (with the wet). There are also lots of tartar control treats on the market.

Answer 7

Well, only if you're annoyed with it's bad breath (cat's breath is probably the worst out there :) ) Also, if you have hard cat food, then it really isn't a problem, but if you have wet cat food, you should probably clean it's teeth every other day.

Answer 8

It is, actually, pretty important because the accumulation of tartar can affect their gums and cause infections, and then they can swallow the bacteria and have bigger problems. Also, the dry food doesn't work like in dogs, it doesn't clean a cat's teeth.

Answer 9

Usually if you feed your kitties the hard cat treats regularly cleaning isn't necessary. Your vet can tell you if they need it done. My mother in law's vet throws in a cleaning for $10 if you have another surgical procedure done which requires anesthesia. Consider having them spayed or neutered (if they're not already)and have the teeth cleaned then. Good luck!

Answer 10

it is important if the have plaque build up. Best way to combat that? Dry food and tartar control treats.