Here’s why even daily brushings aren’t cutting it. Your cat needs an annual dental cleaning.
When I noticed an angry red line above Misha and Tippy’s gums, I immediately knew.
Gingivitis.
I called my vet and set up an appointment, which resulted in me scheduling an annual dental cleaning for both of them. I felt horrible! How could I have let this happen?
What Is Gingivitis?
Pretty much everyone knows what gingivitis is, but did you know that 4 out of 5 cats will develop gingivitis in their lifetime?
Gingivitis in cats can be caused by many different factors, including autoimmune diseases, lack of proper dental care, and diet. What was unusual about Misha’s case is that she was only one year old when she developed chronic gingivitis. Most cats are 3 to 10 years old when they develop the disease.
Signs of Gingivitis
Indications of gingivitis can include, but are not limited to:
- Redness/irritation of the gums
- Bad breath
- Plaque buildup
Chronic gingivitis usually involves medium to severe redness of the gums (in some cases bleeding will occur). If you notice these signs in your cat, take them into the vet ASAP!
Periodontal Disease
Left untreated, gingivitis can develop into periodontal disease. If you thought gingivitis was bad, periodontal disease is ten times worse. It can lead to tissue damage of the gums, as well as your cat’s internal organs, and many cats have to have their teeth removed if it becomes too advanced.
In severe cases, the disease can spread an infection to your cat’s bones. It is very painful for your cat, but proper oral care along with annual dental cleanings can help to prevent the disease before it ever starts.
How Annual Dental Cleanings Can Help
Here’s the secret that nobody tells you: even with daily oral care, your cat can still develop gingivitis. No amount of crunchy dental treats or water additives is going to stop it either.
Your best defense is to get a professional dental cleaning once a year while using one or all of the above methods for daily oral care.
(Edit 2/1/17: If you go in for a dental visit and your vet determines a cleaning is not necessary, feel free to skip it! Keep an eye on their teeth until their next vet visit.)
What Does An Annual Dental Cleaning Involve?
Professional dental cleanings don’t just involve scraping and polishing the surface area of the tooth. Your vet will also clean underneath the gum line where additional plaque and bacteria may have accumulated.
If it’s your cat’s first time getting a dental cleaning, your vet may also want to do a dental x-ray to make sure it hasn’t spread past the gums.
Since the cleaning procedure requires anesthesia, talk with your vet beforehand about possible side effects and potential reactions to anesthesia. When Misha and Tippy had their cleanings, we had the vet do a blood test to determine if anesthesia was safe for them. Thankfully, they passed with flying colors!
How Much Does It Cost?
It’s not cheap, but it’s highly affordable compared to other treatments.
Since I have Misha and Tippy’s vet files handy, I’m going to quickly run through each service we received and its cost.
Both cats had:
- Full mouth x-rays ($95 each)
- IV catheter placement + IV set/parts ($32.30 each)
- Fluid IV placement + IV set/parts ($54.51 each)
- Cleaning procedure ($139.00 each)
Misha had just received a blood test for lily poisoning, so Tippy was the only one that had to have that done on the actual day of the cleaning.
Tippy’s additional costs for bloodwork were around $100 (we had every possible safety test in the book done). I have no idea how my vet’s prices compare to others’, but most vets will have the same list of things done, both prior to and during the cleaning.
The total? Without pet insurance, you’re looking at an average of $300-350 if you get the works ($450 if it’s their first cleaning). As hefty a price as that may seem, the average cost for treating periodontal disease can climb upwards of $1,200 in severe cases.
Are Annual Dental Cleanings Worth It?
In my opinion… YES.
As adorable as Misha would be gumming her food, it would break my heart to see her lose her teeth. Those cute little canines (er, felines?) that we love so much belong in a cat’s mouth, not in the trash.
My advice to pet owners is to start cleaning your cat’s teeth as early as possible. That means day one after they’ve settled into their new home. It’s best to start when they’re kittens so that they get accustomed to teeth cleanings. Older cats shy away from the weird sensation, much like they do with baths if they aren’t exposed early enough.
Where To Get Dental Cleaning Supplies
Just about any pet store sells toothbrushes for cats, but you can always use a soft bristle infant toothbrush instead. DO NOT use human toothpaste on cats; rather, you should use only cat-safe toothpastes like this enzymatic toothpaste.
Misha and Tippy are too fidgety for toothbrushes, so we use dental wipes and a water additive for daily oral care. Dental treats help keep your cat’s teeth strong, but they don’t clean their teeth! Just an FYI.
Have you taken your cat in for their annual dental cleaning? What methods do you use for daily oral care? Let us know in the comments!
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Excellent post. I have 13 cats so I can’t afford yearly cleanings, I do so many each year in a rotation and based on need.
Well, as long as they aren’t showing signs of gingivitis or gum disease, I think it’s okay! Cats with autoimmune diseases or those adverse to brushing and daily oral care are more at risk of gum disease. I’m happy you’re doing what you can for your kitties!
Sorry, I have to disagree with you on this. Annual dentals are not necessary. Now I agree, pet owners should practice good dental hygiene with their cats, including brushing the cat’s teeth if they can. And every cat should have his/her teeth checked at least once or twice a year to determine whether a dental is needed, and if it is, then a dental should be done. But just doing an annual dental, whether needed or not, is not necessary. The cost and the risk of putting a cat under general anesthesia does not justify it. ~Island Cat Mom
I can see your point. As far as anesthesia goes, the vet will take blood tests beforehand to determine whether there’s a pronounced risk or not. You also have the option to have an IV for fluids fed into your cat in case something goes wrong during the procedure, allowing them to act more quickly to save your cat’s life.
I totally agree with you that if the dental is determined by your vet to not be necessary, then you can skip it. I suppose I should have clarified that I didn’t mean doing unnecessary dental work just for the sake of doing it. Thank you for your input! <3
Cats’ dental health is so often overlooked. It is so important too! Some cats are very prone to having stomatitis and other dental problems that are easily fixed with routine dental treatments. I’m glad to hear that your kitties got their dental treatments and are doing well! My kitties are due in within the next couple of months.
Yes, it is! I think a lot of cat parents just assume that cats’ mouths are clean because they’re so meticulous about their hygiene, but that’s not true. Whereas dogs’ mouths are cleaner than a human’s, cats’ mouths are worse! It’s important for both dogs and cats to get regular dental checkups and cleanings, just as it is for humans. Thanks for stopping by and commenting!