How can I get rid of my cats gingivitis without spendin hundreds of dollars at the vet?

Question

I took my cat to the vet yesterday and his gumline on the top is red. The vet said it was gingivitis. He said it would be $150-$200 to clean it up. I can't afford that but want to help my kitty. What can I do for him at home to get rid of the gingivitis? Do they have kitty listerine or something? Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks!

Answer 1

Take the cat to the PDSA or RSPCA They will treat the cat and you can make a donation that you can afford.

Answer 2

Removing teeth isn't necessary unless there is decay. Removing an extra tooth will not cure gingivitis, nor is the cause of gingivitis. I recommend getting a second opinion from another vet. Some of them have really started pushing the idea of doing "professional" cleanings twice a year and are making a bigger deal about the dental stuff than they used to. Personally, I don't recommend having any "professional" cleanings unless it's determined that the cat has a dental problem the necessitates it. A cleaning in the vet's office requires anesthesia. Just as with people, the risks associated with anesthesia increase when it's used too frequently, and I don't like the idea of putting them under twice a year. If a second vet recommends a cleaning to help with the gingivitis, I would have it done the one time an follow up by regular cleaning at home. This should keep the condition from recurring unless there's a chronic condition... and the vet should be able to tell you if it is.

Answer 3

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Get yourself to a DIFFERENT vet! $900??? Removing every tooth in the cat's mouth would be $600. Gingivitis can be light or heavy, if you're seeing bleeding on the gums in your cat then yes, it's stomatitis and the teeth should be evaluated and the bad ones pulled. If there's a rotten tooth, broken tooth, a tooth with a fracture down to the root, those need to be pulled. But not at the cost of what you were quoted. Take your cat to a different clinic, have the vet there do a standard exam on the cat with attention paid to the mouth, and see what they say. An extra tooth would not be an issue if it's not pushing the others out of alignment. Removal of a tooth won't cost over $100 at most (pre-op care, post-op, pain killer, etc.). You really need a second opinion on this. If the second vet says it's stomatitis (which is a disease where the cat's mouth is thinking the teeth are foreign objects and trying to destroy them, have the vet do a blood test for bartonella, which is very similar to stomatitis. The upside is that if it turns out to be bartonella, that's treatable with an antibiotic and that'll clear up the problem. If it is stomatitis, then the teeth would need to be pulled to give the cat comfort.

Answer 4

Cat Gingivitis Treatment

Answer 5

Sorry but it's true. All cats need to have their teeth cleaned from time to time. If you don't do it, your cat will end up with painful dental problems and extractions that will cost even more money in the long run. Dental care is part of the cost of having a cat.

After cleaning, switch to a high quality dry kibble food - which is perfectly OK nutritionally. Their teeth will require fewer cleanings if you do this. But once gingivitis has already formed, the only way to solve is to get the cat's teeth cleaned.

Answer 6

Call around different vet clinics in your area... teeth cleaning prices vary greatly. I found this out when I had to have my cat's teeth cleaned. The lowest quote I found was $68.00. But I chose to have the teeth cleaning done by my regular vet even though it was higher with them becuase of the surgery protocol that they have (my cat was 8 years old at the time).

Am sorry to say that at some point, your kitty really needs to have his teeth cleaned professionally otherwise the gingivitis will develop into periodontal disease. So my advice is for you to save up for the procedure say over 2 or 3 months. Meantime, you should brush your cat's teeth EVERY DAY with an enzyme-based cat toothpaste that you can buy at the vets ot at the pet store ... the brushing will at least slow down the plaque and bacteria build-up. BUT save for the teeth cleaning. and yes, call around for prices and teeth-cleaning protocol - you'll want a vet who always monitors pet vitals when they are under anesthesia.

Good luck. :)

Answer 7

Hi there...the problem with gingitivitis is the plaque has already hardened in to calculus on the teeth and underneath the gum line, which cannot be scraped away with foods or treated with rinses. An ultrasonic scale needs to be used to remove the calculus in order to eliminate the gum inflammation. Gingival disorders will later lead to painful periodontal diseases because of tissue and bone loss. Surgery will be required to remove teeth and necrotic tissues which have decayed as a result. Gingivitis and periodontal disorders later lead to other health problems because of the bacteria entering the blood stream. ONLY after a dental cleaning you can then use rinses and special treats in addition to regular brushing to minimize the recurrences of gingivitis and periodontal disorders.

More on gingivitis and how it's treated:
http://www.petplace.com/cats/gingivitis-in-cats/page1.aspx
http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=223&S=2

Instructional video on how to brush cats teeth by Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine for Feline Health:
http://www.felinevideos.vet.cornell.edu/brushing_teeth/full_movie.shtml

[edit] Silvia N who answered right above me just gave you a link to my other answer about gingivitis treatment. This only applies AFTER a dental cleaning is done NOT before.

Answer 8

There's a liquid called C.E.T. that you can get from your vet that is exactly like kitty listerine. You squirt it into their mouth every day and it tastes horrible so they swish it around in their mouth while they're trying to get it out. It kills germs. But I have to say, there could be other factors at play here. How old is your cat? Does he have plaque already present on his teeth? Has he ever been tested for feline AIDS and Leukemia? Has he been tested for Feline Calici Virus? All of these factors are incredibly important when trying to treat gingivitis. I'd say you're getting a break in price considering what it costs for lab tests and full dental procedures these days. Good luck

Answer 9

I had the same problem with my cats. My vet sold me a product, a gel for about $20. Took care of the problem. I can't remember the exact name, but the active ingredient is chlorhexidine.

Answer 10

All the ideas listd above are great for preventing your cat from getting gingivitis but if he already has it you need to just spend the money.

Answer 11

Part with the money and get your cats teeth cleaned. When you adopted your pet you should have been prepared for medical issues like this. After the cats teeth have been cleaned switch to a premium brand dry food. It keeps their teeth much cleaner.