Conference misery::feline_v1

    
    My siamese is 8 years old and the vet just mentioned for the 1st
    time at her last checkup that she was starting to exhibit tartar
    build-up. He then went on to explain the risk of gum disease etc.
    
    He did ask, over her growls (she doesn't like Dr's,) if I thought
    I could brush her teeth every day but answered his own question
    based on the shocked look on my face.
    
    Anyway, I only started feeding her canned food about a year ago
    so I don't know if there is a correlation or not.
    
    As far as price, Because Sasha is over 7 years old, he said she
    would need a geriatric exam before administering the anesthesia
    $38 + $48 for the anesthesia + $42 for the cleaning.
                           
    So, you may want to clarify if the $55.00 includes anesthesia.

    OK,
    
    $55 is not out of line for a cleaning.  In fact, it's less than I've
    ever paid. Sad but true.  My cats are anaethetised during the procedure
    because they won't willing hold their jaws apart while someone picks
    and scrapes at their teeth. I am assuming that this accounts for the
    larger cost. 
    
    I asked about the wet vs. dry food and was told that dry food will
    do the trick for dogs because their back teeth are grinding teeth,
    but will not significantly lessen the calculus on cats' teeth as
    all of their teeth are built for tearing.
    
    As for 'brushing' -- every other day, I give the kids a squirt of
    Nolvadent and massage their little furry cheeks.  If I start to
    see build-up, I put on old ski-clothes and get out the cheesecloth.
    
    
      Ann

    ah,Michael, and now there are two babies???  I only have a picture
    of a beautiful black & white boy on my photo wall - where is the
    other baby???  
    
    Tatar, yes, most cats seem to have it, so say my vet.  Each time
    I bring them in for their yearly, he scrapes it off - my other
    vet did that also.  $55.00 for doing it under "A" is probably
    about the usual - I would have it done only if there were a
    huge amount and the vet couldn't pick it off.
    
    E.T.

    What's Nolvadent?
    
    The vet's assistant also told me that dry food is not helpful in
    keeping tartar off cat's teeth, contrary to popular myth.  With
    enough tartar, gums can get inflamed, which I imagine would be
    uncomfortable, not to mention leading to tooth loss or abscess.
                   
    Sweetie gets the equivalent of the cheesecloth treatment, only I
    use little precut gizmos called Cat-o-dontics, for which it occurs
    to me I am probably paying thru the nose, compared to cheesecloth.
                                      

    
    GERIATRIC exam?  What on earth is that?.
    
    I have a 9 year old cat who has a small cyst on her lower jaw. 
    (It could be inverted hair follicle) I will probably have to have
    it removed and I am terrified of having her undergo anaesthesia
    as she hasn't been "under" since she has been spayed and she
    has slight asthma(?).  Someone tell me not to panic.  The cyst
    is the size of a pea, but does occasionally burst and regrow and
    it may run the risk of getting infected at some point.   She is
    dear to take an uncalculated risk.
    
    

    Probably it means misc. special checks because of her age.  (7 is
    old?)  I sweat blood when Sweetie has to be anesthesized to have
    his teeth cleaned, but his vet told me in all his years of practice,
    although some cats have had reactions to anesthesia, he has never
    had a cat die from it.  (I assume he may have had to do some swift
    stuff to save the ones that had reactions.)  Perhaps you should
    discuss your concerns about the asthma, etc. with your vet.
    

    re. Nolvadent
    
    Nolvadent is a wonderful pink liquid canine/feline dental cleansing
    solution that smells minty.
    
    Two of my 3 will lick the bottle unless they think it's tooth-brushing
    time, so it must taste good to them.  When it's time to do the
    squirt-and-massage routine, all three start with the
    cats-about-to-become-lute-strings act ..."NO! nooooo! Mother...not
    the poison agaiiiiin..."
    
    I've never tasted the stuff myself.
    
      Ann

    .. Pookie's vet bill reads geriatric care as well.. tee-hee..one
    time when I had her "after hours" the vet referred to her as
    a senior citizen.. she turned around looked at him with one of
    her withering glances and just glared at him.. so he said to her
    "well madame Pookie... I am sorry I offended you in the future
    I refer to you as that beautiful mature pussycat who always
    has the cutest little bow on.. she then started to purrrrrrrrrrr..
    we both laughed.. 
    regards
    kate

    I might be able to get some of this in Holly's mouth, but massaging
    her gums or somesuch would be Something Else.  I wasn't sure from
    your message if this stuff did some good just being squirted in
    the mouth, or if it's really like toothpaste, i.e. gum massage etc.
    is necessary?
    

    re .7
    My two run when I take the bottle of Nolvadent out!  Can't imagine
    them licking the bottle!  When I do succeed in getting a aquirt
    or two into their mouths and massage - they like to let it foam
    up and drool out so they resemble Cujo - what fun -
    
    The alternative tho is infected gums and tooth loss - since my two
    are getting on in years, I like to protect their teeth.  My sister's
    18 year old Siamese is down to two teeth and has to eat baby food!

    I guess that Onyx must be one of the few who doesn't mind having
    her teeth cleaned. The vet sold me some doggy toothpaste, I bought
    her a pink child's toothbrush and I probably end up doing more laughing
    than cleaning.
    
    My general method is to lie Onyx (belly up) in my lap. I stick the
    fingers of my left hand in her mouth as if I were pilling her. Then
    in goes the brush. The funny part is she tries to push the brush
    out with her tongue and manages to get toothpaste all over her face,
    but she seems to like the taste and it's really only a half hearted
    effort.
    
    She does let me know that it's not exactly her favorite activity
    by smacking me after I let her go.
    
    It does help if someone is around to keep her occupied while her
    teeth are getting brushed, then she's more interested in the other
    person than what I'm doing to her mouth.