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Cat Forum / Health and Behavior / June 2004Tooth Brushing
As stated in the past, I had great luck with my cat Gnarly who lived to be 20 and had every tooth when she finally died. I never had her teeth cleaned at all. She never had a day of sickness in her life. No, her breath was not sweet. Fast forward to now--and my little rescue Cheeks, four years old. When I pointed out that my other cat did fine without one, the vet said, "well, just because she might not need her teeth brushed doesn't mean she wouldn't like it. Put yourself in her place." This guy is good. :') Next thing I know, I'm noticing her kind of licking her chops in the morning like she has a bad taste in her mouth. So next time at the vet, I was all for a cleaning until I found out she has to be anesthetized for the it. Knowing the risks of anesthesia, I just don't want to put her through that for a teeth cleaning. So I got a little fingertip soft rubber cat tooth brush and some chicken flavored cat toothpaste. Cheeks lets me sit her on a towel and open her mouth, and brush. She actually seems to like her front and little side teeth done. But when I go for the back teeth it gags her. Anyone else out there who brushes their cat's teeth use a brush that is better at the back teeth? I guess I need something on a stick? I'm a bit worried because anything on a stick might be easier to brush too hard with. >As stated in the past, I had great luck with my cat Gnarly who lived to be >20 and had every tooth when she finally died. I never had her teeth cleaned [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] >stick might be easier to brush too hard with. >I have not had much luck with toothbrushing my cat. I bought a cat toothbrush and some cat toothpaste. She is fascinated watching me brush my teeth but when I go to brush hers, she like to eat the paste but draws the line on the brush. As she is a big cat and I am not able to hold her, I don't press my luck. > >I have not had much luck with toothbrushing my cat. I bought a cat toothbrush and some cat toothpaste. She is fascinated watching me brush my teeth but when I go to brush hers, she like to eat the paste but draws the line on the brush. As she is a big cat and I am not able to hold her, I don't press my luck. This little 7.5-lb tabby is so polite and intelligent. (I know, everyone's kids are geniuses!) She will not scratch or bite, although she is a champion wriggler, and very wiry and strong. She has figured out that I am not going to hurt her, no matter what I do. I guess I ought to just go ahead and put her name on the house as she owns me and I own it so she must own it too. :) When my vet gave me the toothpaste and brush he said "good luck with that!" and rolled his eyes, but honestly I think she would sit patiently while I brushed the back teeth if I had a smaller, long-handles brush. Afterward she seems to be happy, and I notice a difference in her breath. circa Sun, 13 Jun 2004 02:41:36 GMT, in rec.pets.cats.health+behav, Mary (rosefan@email.com) said, > I guess I ought to just go ahead > and put her name on the house as she owns me and I own it so she must own it > too. :) Cats have a plan. ;-) Laura  SignatureExperience is the name every one gives to their mistakes. -Oscar Wilde circa Sat, 12 Jun 2004 20:32:33 -0600, in rec.pets.cats.health+behav, m. L. Briggs (mlbriggs@nospam.net) said, > >Fast forward to now--and my little rescue Cheeks, four years old. When I > >pointed out that my other cat did fine without one, the vet said, "well, [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > but draws the line on the brush. As she is a big cat and I am not > able to hold her, I don't press my luck. I've also had no luck with it, and my cats sulk for eons whenever I try. I just have the vet clean their teefs, and periodically yank out the little fingerbrushes and that godawful CET toothpaste to piss 'em off. ;-) Laura SignatureExperience is the name every one gives to their mistakes. -Oscar Wilde In the fine newsgroup "rec.pets.cats.health+behav", Laura R. <UseFirstInitialPlusRobinson@technologist.com> artfully composed this message within <news:MPG.1b358df2a9d27a5e98a987@news.verizon.net> on 12 Jun 2004: > I've also had no luck with it, and my cats sulk for eons > whenever I try. I just have the vet clean their teefs, and > periodically yank out the little fingerbrushes and that godawful > CET toothpaste to piss 'em off. ;-) http://www.petfooddirect.com/store/dept.asp?dept_id=472 I bought the tiny one at the top (not from this site; I can't remember off hand where I got it) and it is easy to use on Shamrock. The vet doesn't carry it, and the stores don't either. I was skeptical that I could manage it since it is so small, but it works well. I don't think I can let Shamrocks teefies go since at age 2 he already had gingavitis and had to have a cleaning. SignatureCheryl circa Sat, 12 Jun 2004 22:31:43 -0500, in rec.pets.cats.health+behav, Cheryl (jlhshadow@nospamhotmail.com) said, > > I've also had no luck with it, and my cats sulk for eons > > whenever I try. I just have the vet clean their teefs, and [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > well. I don't think I can let Shamrocks teefies go since at age 2 he > already had gingavitis and had to have a cleaning. Hey, that looks like it might be doable! I've never been able to find a little brush like that- as you said, vets don't seem to carry 'em. Laura SignatureExperience is the name every one gives to their mistakes. -Oscar Wilde > As stated in the past, I had great luck with my cat Gnarly who lived to be > 20 and had every tooth when she finally died. I never had her teeth cleaned [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > I guess I need something on a stick? I'm a bit worried because anything on a > stick might be easier to brush too hard with. My husband and I never brush their teeth, but one time several years ago we did have to pull a tooth..We found that there was one brand of toothbrush that had a plastic handle that could be bent without snapping it. We used that brush as a bar to keep kitties mouth open. First my husband shortened the handle. Then he bent the handle to a small arch shape big enough to keep kitties mouth wide open while we worked on the bad tooth. For anesthesia we used rubber cement in a paper bag (works like ether). circa Sun, 13 Jun 2004 03:35:51 GMT, in rec.pets.cats.health+behav, gertrude (nobody@nowhere.net) said, > My husband and I never brush their teeth, but one time several years ago we > did have to pull a tooth..We found that there was one brand of toothbrush [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > kitties mouth wide open while we worked on the bad tooth. For anesthesia we > used rubber cement in a paper bag (works like ether). Okay, you MUST be a troll. Laura SignatureExperience is the name every one gives to their mistakes. -Oscar Wilde > circa Sun, 13 Jun 2004 03:35:51 GMT, in rec.pets.cats.health+behav, > gertrude (nobody@nowhere.net) said, [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > > Okay, you MUST be a troll. Ha :-) OK, you got me, Laura. I'm a good-natured cat owner like you; just having some fun with a little absurd humor. It seems to bring out the worst in some people though-- but you're not one of those. My girlfriend, another cat owner, has been amused by all this too. Some people take these NGs wayyy too seriously. I think *they're* the ones without a life. This is a wake up call for them. Have a nice evening :-) In the fine newsgroup "rec.pets.cats.health+behav", "gertrude" <nobody@nowhere.net> artfully composed this message within <news:GKQyc.11798$uX2.4343@newsread2.news.pas.earthlink.net> on 13 Jun 2004: > I'm a good-natured cat owner like you; just > having some fun with a little absurd humor. It seems to bring [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > Some people take these NGs wayyy too seriously. I think > *they're* the ones without a life. Hey dumbass. This is a group comprised of people who have health issues with loved ones. If this was rec.children.health, would you pull the same stunt? Laugh away. I'm so glad you had a good laugh. Where is your next one coming from? SignatureCheryl > > circa Sun, 13 Jun 2004 03:35:51 GMT, in rec.pets.cats.health+behav, > > gertrude (nobody@nowhere.net) said, [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] > > Have a nice evening :-) Uhhh... your "humor" is misplaced. This ng is for the discussion of the health & behavior of cats: it's for real, usable info. You are trolling (trying to stir people up on purpose, just for funsies), & trolls aren't appreciated in any ng. The only thing you're liable to reap w/ your behavior is being put into people's filters/killfiles, so that they don't have to see your posts. Cathy "Laura R." <UseFirstInitialPlusRobinson@technologist.com> wrote: in message > Okay, you MUST be a troll. Um. Yeth. :') >circa Sun, 13 Jun 2004 03:35:51 GMT, in rec.pets.cats.health+behav, >gertrude (nobody@nowhere.net) said, [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > >Laura my god, she seems to emjoy torturing cats! she really shouldn't be allowed to have them. unless you are stuck on a deserted island, or totally broke, there's no reason to perform any surgical procedures on an animal. -L > As stated in the past, I had great luck with my cat Gnarly who lived to be > 20 and had every tooth when she finally died. I never had her teeth cleaned [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > I guess I need something on a stick? I'm a bit worried because anything on a > stick might be easier to brush too hard with. When I first started brushing my cats teeth, I tried the CET brush. The bristles on that thing were really stiff so I discarded it because, I too, was concerned about brushing to hard. Since them I've been using a different one - a tiny tot version of a human one (with a longer stick and softer bristles than the CET) and there have been no problems. I never did try the finger brush as I thought it was to big for her mouth and that the gag reflex would come into play. The brush I use seems to be working fine. Matilda is very tolerant of her every other day brushings and the vet hasn't suggested a cleaning. Here's the brush I use. http://www.asapet.com/Cat%20pages/cat%20-%20frameset.htm >> When I first started brushing my cats teeth, I tried the CET brush. The bristles on that thing were really stiff so I discarded it because, I too, was concerned about brushing to hard. Since them I've been using a different one - a tiny tot version of a human one (with a longer stick and softer bristles than the CET) and there have been no problems. > I never did try the finger brush as I thought it was to big for her mouth and that the gag reflex would come into play. > The brush I use seems to be working fine. Matilda is very tolerant of her every other day brushings and the vet hasn't suggested a cleaning. > Here's the brush I use. > http://www.asapet.com/Cat%20pages/cat%20-%20frameset.htm This link took me to dishes and beds, but when I clicked on "hygiene and dishes" on the menu at the left I found two toothbrushes. Is the one you like the C-180? It looks like what I had in mind. > >> When I first started brushing my cats teeth, I tried the CET brush. The > bristles on that thing were really stiff so I discarded it because, I too, [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > dishes" on the menu at the left I found two toothbrushes. Is the one you > like the C-180? It looks like what I had in mind. Yes! C-180 is the one I use. > Yes! C-180 is the one I use. Super. I'll order it this week. Thank you. > > Yes! C-180 is the one I use. > > > Super. I'll order it this week. Thank you. You're very welcome! Happy brushing! :c) > > > Yes! C-180 is the one I use. > > > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Happy brushing! :c) Oh and by the way Mary, PetsMart sells them too. One is included in the Petrodex Dental Kit. I've never seen just a single brush at the PetsMart near me, so I get those from the little pet supply store across the street. That tube of toothpaste that comes in the kit seems to last forever! The brush lasts as well, but I like to replace it from time to time. >From: "Mary" rosefan@email.com >Anyone else out there >who brushes their cat's teeth use a brush that is better at the back teeth? Back teeth are harder, but I've had good luck with the little toothbrush made especially for cats. I hope someone else knows the name of it because I can't remember. It's small and it's white. Lauren ________ See my cats: http://community.webshots.com/album/56955940rWhxAe Raw Diet Info: http://www.holisticat.com/drjletter.html http://www.geocities.com/rawfeeders/ForCatsOnly.html Declawing Info: http://www.wholecat.com/articles/claws.htm I couldn't figure out why she would be gagging until I read the rest of the posts and realized you were also brushing the inside of the teeth as well. I was told that is not necessary as the cats tongue is rough enough to get the insides.. its just the outside that you need to be concerned with. My eldest, who recently had to have a dental, has nasty tarter outside, but none on the inside. If your kitty is four years of age, and you haven't been brushing, you might want to consider getting a dental or tacking one on if she ever needs to be sedated. Or at least see if they can hand scale the teeth next time your in. > As stated in the past, I had great luck with my cat Gnarly who lived to be > 20 and had every tooth when she finally died. I never had her teeth cleaned [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > I guess I need something on a stick? I'm a bit worried because anything on a > stick might be easier to brush too hard with. > I couldn't figure out why she would be gagging until I read the rest of the > posts and realized you were also brushing the inside of the teeth as well. I was told that is not necessary as the cats tongue is rough enough to get the insides.. its just the outside that you need to be concerned with. My eldest, who recently had to have a dental, has nasty tarter outside, but none on the inside. Connie, thank you, it certainly would have been nice if my vet had told me! Poor little Cheeks! If your kitty is four years of age, and you haven't > been brushing, you might want to consider getting a dental or tacking one on if she ever needs to be sedated. Now this is a great idea, though I hope she never needs to be sedated. I will take your advice, thanks. I have seen a suggestion to simply use Q Tips, as they are slightly rough. And my vet said to use a piece of nylon stocking. Have I tried either one yet? Not yet!!!!! Paulette (procrastinator at large) > So next time at the vet, I was all for a cleaning until I found out she has > to be anesthetized for the it. Knowing the risks of anesthesia, I just don't > want to put her through that for a teeth cleaning. FWIW-I recently took Kona, who's 12, to have his teeth cleaned at the vet. They have a preanesthetic protocol they put the cats through to assess the risk of anesthesia to them, but additionally they use a relatively new inhalant anesthetic called Isofluorane which as I understand it is less risky than other anesthetics that used to be used by vets when doing dentals. I believe it doesn't put the cat under as deeply or for as long a period of time as the older anesthetics and is a lot safer for things like dental work. They told me that lots of vets still don't use it and they didn't understand why. They also use a kind of electric blanket made to regulate the tempreture of the cat while he/she is under. They specialize in geriatric cats and told me that the risk of putting a cat under anesthesia, even older ones, is a lot less now than it was just a few years ago. However, if it's possible to avoid having to have your cat's teeth cleaned by brushing them regularly, I think that's great. I'm going to have to look into that. |
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