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Cat Forum / Health and Behavior / August 2005Gingivitis problem
Hello all, My 4 y.o. cat Buddha has a very slight case of gingivitis on his 2 back molars. Vet says he'll need his teeth cleaned within the next 6 months to the tune of $150-200 with general anesthesia. Would love to avoid the danger of putting a small animal under (and wouldn't mind a cheaper alternative either!). Any suggestion for an alternative treatment? I already feed him tartar control treats. He won't let me brush his teeth although he loves to lick the toothpaste off my finger ;-) Treatment Treatment of gingivitis and periodontal disease begins with thorough cleaning of the teeth by your veterinarian. The animal is put under general anesthesia, because a dog or cat will not allow adequate examination of its mouth and teeth when it is awake. Complete cleaning of all tooth surfaces and thorough examination of the mouth enables the veterinarian to determine if extractions or other treatments are necessary. Regular, at-home and professional dental care are necessary to keep gingivitis and periodontal disease under control. "Untreated gingivitis frequently progresses to periodontal disease, which is the breakdown of the structures that hold the teeth firmly in the jaw. If periodontal disease continues unchecked, the teeth eventually loosen and fall out." "Untreated gingivitis may develop into a severe form of gingivitis called lymphocytic plasmacytic gingivitis. Affected animals have bright red gums that are severely painful and may bleed. Difficulty eating is characteristic of this condition. There is no cure, but there are treatment alternatives which may help to control the disease." > Hello all, > [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > control treats. He won't let me brush his teeth although he loves to > lick the toothpaste off my finger ;-) > "Untreated gingivitis frequently progresses to periodontal disease, which is > the breakdown of the structures that hold the teeth firmly in the jaw. If [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > of this condition. There is no cure, but there are treatment alternatives > which may help to control the disease." What about some of the effects that are seen in humans, like heart infections? (Gingivitis is basically an infection, and it can spread to the heart muscle in humans.) Is this true in cats, dogs, etc.? My impression is that good dental health is really critical for overall health.  SignatureWeb site: http://www.slywy.com/ Message board: http://www.slywy.com/phpBB2/ Journal: http://slywy.diaryland.com/ Thank you but I've already read all the textbook stuff. What I want to know is if this procedure is avoidable. Since gingivitis is caused by bacteria, isn't an antibiotic a possible solution? I really don't want to risk putting my cat under general anesthesia. > Treatment > [quoted text clipped - 29 lines] >>control treats. He won't let me brush his teeth although he loves to >>lick the toothpaste off my finger ;-) > Thank you but I've already read all the textbook stuff. What I want to > know is if this procedure is avoidable. Since gingivitis is caused by > bacteria, isn't an antibiotic a possible solution? I really don't want > to risk putting my cat under general anesthesia. FWIW, I had my cat Dudley's dental done this summer. He had TERRIBLE gum disease and had to have 4 teeth extracted. I was terribly nervous about the anesthesia, but even at 13 years old, he pulled thru like a champ. It is very true that the mouth disease stuff can cause myriad problems for kitty...so take care of it! Dudley had been on antibiotics for other issues and while it killed the bad breath smell, it clearly did not cure the gum disease because as soon as he came off it, his mouth smelled like hell once again. It seems that antibiotics are only a temporary solution. Good luck! Pam >> Thank you but I've already read all the textbook stuff. What I want >> to know is if this procedure is avoidable. Since gingivitis is caused [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > Good luck! > Pam Thank you. That makes me feel a whole lot better about having this procedure done. And the animal center where I take the cats is well-known for its professionalism. Maybe that's why it ain't cheap ;-) Speaking of... I have VIP pet insurance and am wondering if this kind of thing is covered. Hmmmm... > Hello all, > [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > control treats. He won't let me brush his teeth although he loves to lick > the toothpaste off my finger ;-) No, there is no alternative. |
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