Gingivitis In Cats

Frequently Asked Questions

1. QUESTION:
   How can you heal gingivitis in cats?
   Some of my cats have mild gingivitis and I want to fix it now before it gets worse. I’ve tried brushing their teeth but I find it very hard to do. Is there anything I can add to their food? I’m not sure why they have it as they eat biscuits every day which I always thought prevented this illness. Thank you
   I have been to my vet and he told me it’s very hard to treat. I was just looking for any home remedies or relief for my cats from other people with the same problem

   • ANSWER:
     You can prevent inflammatory dental disease and tooth extraction in cats. Start by adding fresh pureed or finely chopped vegetables to your cat’s diet. Good choices include asparagus, avocado, carrot, cilantro, broccoli, dill, spinach, wheat grass, yam and zucchini. A simple home diet for cats consists of 50% chopped meat, fish, poultry, dairy, nuts, seeds or legumes and 50% vegetables. Add 1/2 teaspoon raw oil daily (olive, safflower, sunflower, walnut, sesame, primrose, fish oil, etc.), and 1/2 teaspoon oat bran, wheat bran, psyllium, flax seed, sesame seed, etc. for fiber. The teeth can be cleaned by offering a fresh or frozen chicken wing or chicken neck. The keys to a good home diet are to use fresh, whole ingredients in wide variety. Vegetables and fruits provide bioflavanoids, vitamin C, manganese, zinc, boron, and organic silica to keep collagen, teeth, bone and connective tissues healthy.

2. QUESTION:
   What is the Best Way to Treat Gingivitis in Cats?
   I have two 2yo cats with gingivitis. Other than brushing their teeth, there are hundreds of products available for feline dental care: gels, sprays, drinking water additives,etc. Which ones work for gingivitis? What is the best way to treat and get rid of this disease in cats?
   Thanks.

   • ANSWER:
     Cleaning done at the vets.

     I use Petzlife oral gel for my kitty’s teeth and brush every other day to prevent gingivitis.
     His teeth used to look like this in Dec: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3338/3513644578_c0411578f2.jpg
     Progress: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3313/3552493307_eb51fbdb90_o.jpg
     I don’t have a current picture.

     My cat lets me use a dental pick to remove the calculus before it hardens/ get worst like in the before pictures.

     You have to keep up with the brushing and gel because if you stop the calculus starts build up once you stop. In 2007 I started using the gel then I stopped once his teeth were clean. One year later his teeth went bad again. So now I have a calendar and I write bushed on the day I brushed to help me keep track on his bushings.

     My cat went to the vet in May and the vet says he has great teeth for a 6 year old.

3. QUESTION:
   the effects of gingivitis in cats if left untreated?
   my cat’s six years old.
   he has symptoms for gingivitis. (bad breath, drooling, bleeding from the gums)
   i can’t take him to the vet, because i can’t drive yet.
   and my parents don’t have the money.
   what will happen to my cat if his disease is left untreated?
   and if i find the money to get him to the vet, what will they do?

   • ANSWER:
     Yes he will be in pain, very much so. His gums will be like chopped meat, sore, infected with puss oozing out, he will not want to eat much and be hungry. His health will slowly go down hill. If not treated and teeth removed the infection will spread and yes it can kill him. He will get sinus infections and that will rot away any membrane that there is in the sinus cavity. The infection can spread to other parts of the body as well.

     The teeth will have to be removed and he will have to be placed on an antibiotic for about 2 weeks or more to help clear up the infection and a shot of steroids to help with swelling. This is a serious problem your cat has. The sooner you can have it take care of the better for the cat.

     R P CAT

4. QUESTION:
   Does gingivitis in cats never completely go away?
   My cat was diagnosed with gingivitis 6 months ago and 3 teeth were removed. The vet also scaled and cleaned her teeth. Even if her teeth receive regular cleaning by the vet (e.g. annually) can gingivitis still come back?

   • ANSWER:
     Hi there…chronic gingivitis/stomatitis can be thwarted if regular teeth brushing is done to stop plaque from returning. Additionally, a specialized diet such as Science Diet t/d (tooth diet), a chlorhexidine rinse that your vet can prescribe, etc. all can be extra helpful as well.

     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

     More website links on chronic gingivitis/stomatitis:

     http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?articleid=368

     http://www.petplace.com/cats/gingivitis-in-cats/page1.aspx

5. QUESTION:
   Gingivitis in cats…?
   My cat has gingivitis but we caught it really late and we don’t know if we’ll be able to save any of his teeth. Will we have to bottle feed him or will he be able to eat soft food without teeth?

   Thanks.

   • ANSWER:
     he will be able to eat soft food with out teeth.

     he’ll be able to eat dry food with out teeth too (as many cats don’t even chew dry food anyway) but soft is much better for your kitty’s health in the long run

     http://www.catinfo.org is a good website about feline nutrition run by a vet who actually studies it unlike most vets who do not.

6. QUESTION:
   gingivitis in cats?
   1. what caused it?

   2. what can i do to help besides taking my cat to the vet?

   • ANSWER:
     1. The most common cause is a lack of dental care (from plaque build-up). It’s also genetic, and an ill cat with a lower immune system can be more susceptible to it.

     2. You can try cleaning his/her teeth often, but you do need to get him/her to the vet. Brushing will not reverse the damage that’s already done. It can and will lead to infection if left untreated – which can spread and in some cases cause organ failure. Not to mention that it makes it painful for your cat to eat.

7. QUESTION:
   is the black spots on my cats gum gingivitis?
   The rest of his gums are pink, but there are a couple of black spots, and he hates for me to brush his teeth. Also are there any products that are designed to help disabled people groom their pets easier? I have only one good arm and arthritis in my lower back and hips as well as facet joint pain. It worsens these problems when I struggle with my cat during bathing time. He is a big cat and he struggles and sometimes tries to scratch and bite me when he feels he has had enough. I want to keep him as I raised him from a kitten, but I want it to be less stressful for the both of us .

   • ANSWER:
     First, take your cat to the vet to discuss the dental care and bathing/grooming.

     Second, the black spots are likely melanin, a pigment that makes skin (and gums) dark.

8. QUESTION:
   Does my cat have gingivitis?
   His gums are black, but I don’t know if that is because he is a black kitten. His gums have been that way for as long as I can remember. I tried brushing his teeth in the past with CET toothpaste for cats but the only thing he does is eat the toothpaste and he won’t let me brush his teeth without a fight. A few minutes ago I tried putting him on leash to get him to let me brush his teeth but he hates anything in his mouth.

   Does my cat have gingivitis?

   If he does, how to you get rid of it?
   I need help fast. I am really worried about my little cat.
   He is almost 2 years old.

   • ANSWER:
     How old is he?

     If you wanna brush his teeth and he won’t let you… wrap him tightly in a towel like a baby… That might work…
     If it doesn’t. Most vets perform dentals work on cats and dogs…. I am a vet tech and we do two or three every day!
     They have dramatic results. I wish i had pictures of the animals we have done to show you.
     If you cat is under 4 you should have to worry about gettin a dental too soon. Brushing should be fine for now. (unless of course you really can’t do it!)

     But dentals are almost manditory on all older cats.

     You can also switch to a cat food that is healthy for thier teeth. We sell science diet in our clinic. You can only get this at a vet clinic not a pet store.. it is call Science Diet T/D… (for cats of course) it is a perscription diet… no pet store is allowed to sell the perscription diets…. only vets!
     Food has alot to do with the condition of teeth as the cat gets older.

     But my guess is he doesn’t have gingivities because his gums are black. Take him to the vet and have him checked out though.. it can’t hurt!
     Good Luck and i hope i was of some assitance….

     (P.S. the Cet toothpaste and tooth brush work really well… believe it or not they have a CET mouth wash for cats and dogs… that helps for bad breath and such. But we sell that at our clinic… we’ve had sucess with it!)

9. QUESTION:
   Old cat has Gingivitis. Mum can’t afford to pay for treatment. What can i do?
   She is quite old but I don’t want her to be in pain. However if dental treatment is expensive we can’ afford to have her put under anesthetic, and being quite old she already responds hossibllt to anesthetic.

   What are some ways I can help my cat?

   • ANSWER:
     Firstly,brush her teeth regularly. There are some animal charities which may be able to help you,Cats Protection,/Shelter ;etc;look on the net or `phone directory. Never give your cat any medication meant for humans,it can be fatal to cats. you could try going to a few vets and explain your position to them,if they can`t actually help you I`m sure they will be able to put you in touch with an animal charity that can. I`m sure you will be able to find some way to help her.

10. QUESTION:
    What is wrong with my cat? Gingivitis? Feline Infectious Peritonitis ( FIP )?
    My cat is currently at the vet.
    Symptoms:
    Anemic
    Bad Breath
    Fever
    Jaundice
    Not Eating
    Tooth Loss
    Weight Loss

    I’ve always fed with crunchy food, but once he stopped eating it so I gave him the canned food. He seemed to like it better, so I just continued to do a combination of the two.

    We noticed a week ago that he stopped eating again so we took him to a vet, who did a blood panel and a feline leukemia test. He checked out good on the tests. The vet said that he had gingivitis, caused by eating the Friskies (crunchy) and Nine Lives (canned) cat food that we were feeding him.
    He prescribed antibiotics, and said that the goal was to kill all the bacteria in his mouth. If this didn’t work after some time, he may have to remove his teeth.

    Not wanting to have his teeth removed, I have taken him to a different vet for a second opinion yesterday. This vet currently has him on an IV and is administering antibiotics and Prednisone. She sent a test to a lab to check him some more illnesses, one being FIP.

    I will find out the result tomorrow.

    I researched FIP and I am extremely worried because he has most of the symptoms.

    Do you think he really has it?

    I really don’t want to think that he is going to die. He is only 18 mo. old.

    What do you think?
    Yesterday, she pulled his mouth open and made the statement that his gums were really red.
    Thanks for your answers. They made me feel better and gave me hope last night. I was able to sleep really good. Today, his temp went up so high, so fast that he went into a seizure and the doctor lost him.
    Test result for FIP hadn’t came in. We took him home and buried him. The dr. sent samples to the state hospital and I will know in 1 – 2 weeks on what the actual cause was. I’m still waiting on the FIP test.

    • ANSWER:
      Are the gums around the teeth red and inflammed?

      This sounds VERY familiar to what my cat had. My cat presented with red gums, bad breath, anorexia, weight loss, and fever. I took her to one vet, who did the blood work, the fluids, the antibiotics. She got better. Two weeks later back to where she was. After the 3rd time this happened I switched vets. This vet opened her mouth, took a look and said she had something called Plasmacytic Lymphocytic Stomatitis. Basically her body is trying to break down her gums and teeth. There is no cure and it must be diagnosed by biopsy of the mouth. I dont know if this is what you kitty has, hopefully the FIP comes back negative. If so, consider switching to a different vet. I had to go to three different vets til i found one that was able to treat her once she had been diagnosed.

11. QUESTION:
    Cat gingivitis/stomatitis?
    My cat seems to have major problems with her gums and teeth: before she had them cleaned by a vet but the last time was 3 months ago and now her mouth already looks (and smells) scary. The vet is suggesting to remove almost all of her teeth. Is that like a common practice? Aren’t there less… invasive ways of treatment?

    It’s also impossible to clean her teeth, because she is in pain and she won’t even let me touch her on the outside near the mouth.

    • ANSWER:
      If your vet recommends pulling the teeth and you’re unsure about this, you could always get a second opinion.
      Otherwise, cats do fine without their teeth.
      They don’t really chew their food much anyway.

12. QUESTION:
    My cat has gingivitis and a foul ear odor- possibly a polyp or infection. Please provide helpful information.?
    I got a one yr. old tabby female from the SPCA a few months ago. Took her to the vet for a checkup. She has very foul breath and also a horrible smell in her infected ear. The vet told me to get lysine for the ginigivitis…(he didn’t mention cleaning). Also, he said I could give her antibiotics if the ear was bothering her. He thought the ear problem could be an infection or a polyp. She seems perfectly healthy otherwise. She doesn’t seem to have ear pain…but the odor is awful. Also, I have been doing the lysine but have not noticed a difference. My vet didn’t seem too concerned about this. What should be done for her? She’s a young cat now..but it could get worse as she ages. I feed her only dry food and sometimes tuna juice when we open a can. She also sometimes scoots across the rug. Should I get her worm treatment? How do you know whether it’s worms or just anal glands? Thanks for your help…I have had other cats, but this is the first one I’ve had with these problems. Thanks!
    I think I will get a second opinion from another vet. I don’t think the first was intentionally overlooking concerns. He is older and not sure if he does dental work. Appreciate all the great advice.

    • ANSWER:
      Shame on your vet for not giving a darn about oral and ear infection, simple antibiotics and supplements will do nothing to solve the problem. The infection from her mouth will spread to her heart and kidneys, and she will scratch the heck out of that ear until it blows up into a hematoma.

      My first suggestion is to find a vet with the time and concern to address your cat’s medical needs. My second suggestion is to get proper medication and treatment for the cause of the ear infection, and to have her put under anesthesia to clean the teeth thoroughly before they abscess or kill her.

      As for the scooting, it never hurts to deworm a cat with unknown history. FIRST make sure she’s treated and flea free before deworming. Then deworm with pyrantel pamoate for roundworms, and praziquantel for tapeworms. The p-pam will need to be repeated in 2-3 weeks, but the praziquantel usually takes care of the tapes in one dose. Both of these medications are now available over the counter (at least in the US). And when you have her looked at by your new vet, just make sure they check her glands and empty them if necessary. Tapeworms, fleas, allergies, and inflammatory conditions can all cause occlusion of the gland ducts, making them fill up. Make sure you don’t just treat the full glands, but also resolve the cause.

      And I don’t know why anyone would try to argue that canned cat food is better for dry. Elderly cats with no teeth maybe, but canned food is TERRIBLE for teeth, the syrup contains concentrated sugars that stick to the outside of the teeth where they cannot lick them clean. Chewing dry food keeps the teeth and gums in good health with proper stimulation, and less buildup.

13. QUESTION:
    what’s the name of the product added to the drinking water to prevent?
    gingivitis in cats/dogs? also, what company produces this product? it containes Xylitol and Chlorhexidine, i believe. have you tried it for your cat? thanks!

    • ANSWER:
      The vet has something called C.E.T. which is a mouth rinse for dogs and cats that reduces bacteria. I use it on one of ours and noticed a huge improvement with him.

      The home version I’ve heard about is Georges Aloe Vera Juice (use ONLY George’s not the other ones, they have benzoate in them which is toxic to cats), which is clear and tasteless and can be added to their water, but at a gallon, it’s too expensive. The C.E.T. was a soda can size for and it’s lasted almost a full year.

14. QUESTION:
    Gingivitis!!!?
    Does my cat have gingivitis?
    His gums are black, but I don’t know if that is because he is a black kitten. His gums have been that way for as long as I can remember. I tried brushing his teeth in the past with CET toothpaste for cats but the only thing he does is eat the toothpaste and he won’t let me brush his teeth without a fight. A few minutes ago I tried putting him on leash to get him to let me brush his teeth but he hates anything in his mouth.

    Does my cat have gingivitis?

    If he does, how to you get rid of it?

    • ANSWER:
      Give him chicken necks to chew. That will keep his teeth clean.

15. QUESTION:
    Was I responsible for my cat’s death?
    I’ve been so depressed for the past couple of weeks and I know it’s silly to turn to strangers for answers but I need all the help I can get. Last week, my cat and best friend for three years passed away and I am still trying to figure out why. A week before she died, she was healthy and playful and was even playing her favorite game with me. It was her son (my other cat) who was refusing to eat for several days. Naturally, I took her son to the vet. I live in the Philippines and i had to go to three vets just to figure out that he had gingivitis and he had his teeth cleaned (he’s fine now).

    But then his mommy cat started to lose her appetite and refused to eat. She did this on several occasions before and would always start eating again so it really didn’t bother me. But after a couple of days I found her one night sitting in her own urine without even appearing to notice it. This is when i knew something was wrong. She also had a fever and was passing watery stool. The next morning, I took her straight to the best vet I knew (the one who figured out the gingivitis in my other cat). I told them all the symptoms then they just injected her with some vitamins and antibiotics then told me to go home and spoon-feed her. When we got home, i fed her a bit with the dietary cat food the vet game me. An hour later I noticed that she keeps drinking excessive amounts of water and a few minutes after that she collapsed.

    I did not know what to do, she was trying to get up but can’t. I feel like this image will haunt me for the rest of my life. I called the vet and told him my cat cannot move and he told me to just put her in a cooler place and it could be the heat. I went back to my cat to monitor her. But an hour later she started hyperventilating and eventually stopped breathing. I rushed her to the nearest vet which was just a block from our house. They were able to resuscitate her after a minute, then she was put on IV. This was the first vet that I went to for my gingivitis cat so I didn’t really have confidence in him but I had no choice since it was the nearest clinic. Until closing time that night we stayed in the clinic with her until her breathing became stable. The vet said she was dehydrated and that’s why she collapsed and why didn’t the earlier vet notice that. I left the vet that night thinking i was going to see her in the morning. But when I came back early the next day the vet told me she “expired”. Shock is an understatement for what i felt. I tried to speak and say I don’t understand, she was stable last night. And the vet said she had a heart attack at 4am in the morning and didn’t regain consciousness. I wasn’t even there when she died.

    This happened more than a week ago and I still cannot accept it. Was I responsible for the death of my baby? I give her vitamins everyday and feed them raw chicken and wet cat food. They are indoors at all times. I just don’t understand. I blame myself everyday for not taking her to the vet sooner and for not going to a better vet even though I’m starting to feel like all vets in this country are incompetent. I don’t understand why she died when she was already stable? Did the vet do something to kill her? I’m not trying to purge guilt, just want to understand what happened so I can have some answers. All my questions in this website are mostly about cat care and now I let her die and Im just having difficulty living with myself.

    • ANSWER:
      It might help you to call one of the following grief support hotlines:

      Pet Loss Support Hotlines (grief counseling)
      630-325-1600—Staffed by Chicago VMA
      607-253-3932—Staffed by Cornell University veterinary students
      217-244-2273(CARE) or 877-394-2273(CARE)—Staffed by University of Illinois veterinary students
      888-ISU-PLSH (888-478-7574)—Staffed by Iowa State University veterinary students and volunteers
      517-432-2696—Staffed by Michigan State University veterinary students
      614-292-1823; e-mail, petloss@osu.edu—Staffed by The Ohio State University veterinary students
      508-839-7966—Staffed by Tufts University veterinary students
      540-231-8038—Staffed by Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine
      509-335-5704—Staffed by Washington State University veterinary students

      As far as your feelings of guilt, I’m sure right now you are thinking of a million things you could have done differently. And like in most tragedies, there probably are some things you could have done that may have resulted in a different outcome for your cat. But that’s not the same thing as being at fault. You made the best decisions you could with the information you had, and you followed the advice of a vet you trusted. This means IT’S NOT YOUR FAULT. You had no way of knowing that the first vet’s advice was bad. And when she stopped eating and you waited to bring her in, you had no way of knowing this time would be different than any other time she’d lost her appetite. I think you did a fine job of caring for her.

      As far as her dying in the middle of the night, I can tell you from my experience working at an emergency hospital that any pet that needs to be resuscitated is in very bad shape – the second vet probably should have warned you more clearly that she could still die. And “stable” isn’t the same thing as “doing well” – it just means that her condition does not need constant changes in the vet’s care plan to keep her alive and that there aren’t any obvious signs that she could pass away at any moment. A better description of her condition probably would have been “critical but at least temporarily stable.” I doubt vet #2 did anything to kill her. Just hearing you describe the state she was in I’m not surprised she passed away. It’s practically a miracle the vet was able to revive her the first time – most resuscitations aren’t successful. And a lot of pets (and people) that need to be resuscitated once will have further events.

      You probably won’t ever know what exactly made her sick unless you had an autopsy done by a pathologist. It could have been cancer, kidney disease, or even some bacteria that was contaminating the raw chicken and shouldn’t have been there. It’s unlikely you could have prevented it.

      As for your vets, I think that the problem is vet #2 doesn’t communicate very well and isn’t skilled in treating dental disease but it sounds like he’s very good at critical care. Vet #1 sounds good at dentistry, but not very good at much else. I think I’d stop going to vet #1, and either stick with vet #2 or find a third vet you are comfortable with. In fact, I don’t think vet #1 handled your cat’s illness very well at all from what you describe. And vet #2′s statement about “why didn’t vet #1 notice she was dehydrated” is also telling – most vets won’t criticize their professional colleagues unless they think their conduct is pretty outrageous. Now, I don’t know all the facts of course, but it might be worth reporting vet #1 to your state veterinary examining board for not providing proper care or concern for your sick cat – the board would look into the case and determine if the vet acted appropriately or not. But it’s ultimately up to you.

16. QUESTION:
    What is the cause of death in my cat?
    I’ve been so depressed for the past couple of weeks and I know it’s silly to turn to strangers for answers but I need all the help I can get. Last week, my cat and best friend for three years passed away and I am still trying to figure out why. A week before she died, she was healthy and playful and was even playing her favorite game with me. It was her son (my other cat) who was refusing to eat for several days. Naturally, I took her son to the vet. I live in the Philippines and i had to go to three vets just to figure out that he had gingivitis and he had his teeth cleaned (he’s fine now).

    But then his mommy cat started to lose her appetite and refused to eat. She did this on several occasions before and would always start eating again so it really didn’t bother me. But after a couple of days I found her one night sitting in her own urine without even appearing to notice it. This is when i knew something was wrong. She also had a fever and was passing watery stool. The next morning, I took her straight to the best vet I knew (the one who figured out the gingivitis in my other cat). I told them all the symptoms then they just injected her with some vitamins and antibiotics then told me to go home and spoon-feed her. When we got home, i fed her a bit with the dietary cat food the vet game me. An hour later I noticed that she keeps drinking excessive amounts of water and a few minutes after that she collapsed.

    I did not know what to do, she was trying to get up but can’t. I feel like this image will haunt me for the rest of my life. I called the vet and told him my cat cannot move and he told me to just put her in a cooler place and it could be the heat. I went back to my cat to monitor her. But an hour later she started hyperventilating and eventually stopped breathing. I rushed her to the nearest vet which was just a block from our house. They were able to resuscitate her after a minute, then she was put on IV. This was the first vet that I went to for my gingivitis cat so I didn’t really have confidence in him but I had no choice since it was the nearest clinic. Until closing time that night we stayed in the clinic with her until her breathing became stable. The vet said she was dehydrated and that’s why she collapsed and why didn’t the earlier vet notice that. I left the vet that night thinking i was going to see her in the morning. But when I came back early the next day the vet told me she “expired”. Shock is an understatement for what i felt. I tried to speak and say I don’t understand, she was stable last night. And the vet said she had a heart attack at 4am in the morning and didn’t regain consciousness.

    This happened more than a week ago and I still cannot accept it. Was I responsible for the death of my baby? I give her vitamins everyday and feed them raw chicken and wet cat food. I just don’t understand. I blame myself everyday for not taking her to the vet sooner and for not going to a better vet even though I’m starting to feel like all vets in this country are incompetent. I don’t understand why she died when she was already stable? Did the vet do something to kill her? I’m not trying to purge guilt, just want to understand what happened so I can have some answers. All my questions in this website are mostly about cat care and now I let her die and Im just having difficulty living with myself.
    By the way both my cats are fully indoor cats and never go out. I am so at a loss, I just dont’ understand.

    • ANSWER:
      PLEASE don’t blame yourself for your cat’s death. You didn’t do anything wrong. In fact, you did a lot more than some people do to take care of their pets, so you should feel proud of yourself for doing everything you possibly could. You did your best under the circumstances and your cat was very lucky to have you as her owner. As for what caused her death, I’m afraid I can’t say, since I’m not a vet and I wasn’t there to actually witness everything. But I do know that dehydration can cause organ failure and can put A LOT of stress on various organs, so maybe that’s why her heart stopped suddenly — this is just a guess, though. Somehow, I doubt that the vet did something to kill her. Sometimes animals (and even people) who are really sick seem to stabilize for a little while just before they die, and when that happens, it’s always shocking to the loved ones they leave behind.

      I’m sorry you’re feeling so awful right now. I think it’s only natural that you’d want to blame somebody for this awful experience, but please try not to put blame on yourself. You need to go through a grieving process, which means that for a while, you’re going to have feelings of sadness and even anger about your cat’s death — just remember, whatever you feel is totally normal. Something that’s always helped me a little bit whenever I’ve experienced the death of a beloved pet is writing that pet a letter. When I do that, I just pour out all my feelings on paper, talking about how much I love him/her, how much I miss him/her, etc. It might sound silly, but it’s actually very therapeutic. As time passes, you’ll start to gradually feel better and you’ll find yourself smiling instead of crying when you think of your cat.

      My thoughts are with you in this very difficult time. Just remember — there are millions of us who know how you feel and who sympathize with you. Hang in there!

17. QUESTION:
    My cat has gingivitis……?
    Hello,
    Today we took our 1 year old female cat into the vet. We found out she has tonsillitis and slight gingivitis. We got medication for the tonsillitis, but he said we don’t need any for the gingivitis.

    Her gums are just a little red in some areas. Will brushing her teeth help? Is there anything else that will help?

    Thanks in advance!

    ♥A♥P♥

    • ANSWER:
      of course, listen to your vet, but know that brushing your cats teeth is an important part of her health. you can buy a toothbrush/paste in most pet stores, for about 10-15 dollars. the younger age she is that you start, the more she will get used to it. often the paste is meat flavored, which makes the experience fun for her! i would start brushing right away. if she is really not into it, try wrapping her in a towel, and doing it that way, have treats near, and assure her its not so bad.

      there are many treats on the market that can help tooth and breath quailty. greenies are a great, and pretty healthy treat that reduce tartar. catswell makes a free range chicken jerky with mint called “breathies” that are also good for teeth!

      vets will brush cats teeth too, if its something you are overwhelmed by-but this will be way more expensive!

      good luck!

18. QUESTION:
    Cat has gingivitis, he is 8 months old and is eating raw.?
    My 8 month old cat has gingivitis the vet said.
    We are doing a feline luk/aids test to rule that out ( neither of his littermates are positive for it)
    My friend said it is because I feed raw and not dry kibble.
    Several articles I read say that there is no benefit to eating dry kibble to prevent gingivitis. One vet article compared it to humans eating pretzels to keep their teeth clean!

    Also my raw food has bone in it, so he does get crunchy stuff.
    Today I bought some Feline Greenies to help with his teeth and gums. My dogs get raw marrow bones but i am not sure the cat would appreciate them:)

    What do others do for gingivitis management, especially interested to hear from those who feed raw?
    I firmly believe raw to be a safe and healthy diet.
    The bone he consumes is ground up rather finely.
    Cats don’t eat dry kibble in the wild. It’s not their natural diet, so I truly don’t think man has improved on nature with the concoction of dry kibble.

    • ANSWER:
      Here’s an article on Cat Gingivitis.
      :]

19. QUESTION:
    Cat with Gingivitis ?
    My cat has gingivitis
    Its not horrible yet – its a slight pink around gums only bad around one tooth

    i made an appointment but its not until the 18th
    he came over and i scratched his ear and he shook and like drooled all over
    which i know is also because of gingivitis

    but how do i know nothing horrible will happen to him in the next 2 weeks
    im scared becasue i didnt notice the drooling until today

    will he be ok ?
    im really worried and he still needs to wait until the 18th =(
    I cant get him an earlier appointment

    will he be affected =( will it hurt him much worse even if i make sure i feed him soft foods and everything
    i cant get an earlier appt. so hel have to wait – what can i do ? what are the risks ?

    • ANSWER:
      He should be OK til then, but it couldn’t hurt to call & see if you can get him an appointment sooner. Let them know what happened. Watch how he eats, if he’s having trouble, rolling his tongue, chewing on only one side, etc., which would indicate he’s having discomfort. You can also give him softer food until he gets his teeth cleaned & the gums heal.

20. QUESTION:
    How to take cat with gingivitis to the vet?
    Should i walk in and request just a regular check up ?

    i know that if they do in fact catch that he has gingivitis then they will tell me what to do – plus he has not had a checkup in about 5 years if not more

    he’s a very healthy cat
    he is 11 years old
    and my mom is a cheap ass

    i saw that he has gingivitis and now want to take him to a vet before many teeth need to be pulled
    he has tartar – so i want to get his teeth cleaned

    i dont want to walk in and be like
    oh he has gingivitis – go check him

    so my main question is – do i just request a full check up and hope they catch it and if not then i myself will have to point it out – or do i just request a dental checkup ?
    thank you and sorry but im 15 years old
    have 2000$ and a mom who hopes my cat dies

    i just want whats best for him

    Thank you !

    • ANSWER:
      Call the vet first, and they will book an appointment time for you to bring your cat in. Tell them the nature of the visit (including the 5-year lapse in professional care), and then you will have the answers to the health concerns when your appointment is due. From the sounds of things, this could be expensive (booster shots and who knows what else, plus the dental situation.)

21. QUESTION:
    My cat has Gingivitis?
    My cat has gingivitis
    Its not horrible yet – its a slight pink around gums only bad around one tooth

    i made an appointment but its not until the 18th
    he came over and i scratched his ear and he shook and like drooled all over
    which i know is also because of gingivitis

    but how do i know nothing horrible will happen to him in the next 2 weeks
    im scared becasue i didnt notice the drooling until today

    will he be ok ?
    im really worried and he still needs to wait until the 18th =(

    I cant get him an earlier appointment

    will he be affected =( will it hurt him much worse even if i make sure i feed him soft foods and everything
    i cant get an earlier appt. so hel have to wait – what can i do ? what are the risks ?

    • ANSWER:
      I dont quite understand how you know for sure your cat has gingivitis when you have not yet taken him to the vet. Are you guessing? It could be something else, or that one tooth could be infected only. Your cat will be fine till his appointment. In future you need to have your kittys teeth cleaned at least once a year. If he is gentle there are places to have it done without anesthesia. There are also supplements you can give to help him clean his teeth in between. It would be great if you could teach him to let you brush his teeth too.

      The vet will clean his teeth and may give you antibiotics for him. Ask your vet how often to bring him in for teeth cleaning. Some cats build up tartar faster than others. Also ask your vet the best way to brush the kittys teeth.

      Feed him whatever he wants and normally gets. Good luck on the 18th

      Ro

22. QUESTION:
    My cat has gingivitis. Can someone tell if applying the med. to treat it in this fashion will be effective?
    I took my 9 year-old cat to the vet last week for a standard medical exam. Afterward, I learned he had a mild case of gingivitis. The vet prescribed an antibiotic called Clindamycin hydrochloride, a liquid which comes in a small brown bottle with a syringe/ eye dropper to administer it.
    I’m to fill the syringe and place the liquid on his gums 2x a day until the product is gone! If you’ve ever tried to steady a stocky muscular 16+1/2 lb. cat, while you lift up one cheek with one hand, as you try to get the medication in his mouth with the other, you can appreciate the difficulty factor!
    ? It should be no small wonder most of the medicine goes everywhere but in his mouth-where it belongs-lol!
    Last night, I put the medication in some canned (“wet”) food and he “licked the platter clean”!
    Here’s What I WANT to KNOW: Will it BE as EFFECTIVE to place the medication in his food where it will be chewed and ingested as opposed to being applied directly to his gums with the syringe? . By no means am I a “science” person. However,
    I figured since the medication is intended is to be ingested orally in the first place, that mixing it in his food would be an easier alternative!

    • ANSWER:
      Mild gingivitis in a 9 year old cat honestly doesn’t seem like a big deal to me. I am a dentist and tons of human beings have gingivitis. I don’t make them put antibiotics on their gums for it, I just tell them to clean their teeth better.

      I’m not a veterinarian but it just seems like overkill.

23. QUESTION:
    how dangerous is torbugesic in cats surgery?
    my cat had three teeth pulled due to feline gingivitis, the vet gave him 10 ml of torbugesic and he wasnt the same for a month…i asked the vet and she said it was probably as adverse reaction…i read this stuff is as bad as herion and some adgencys are trying to ban it…what do you think?

    • ANSWER:
      Torbugesic comes in a 2mg/ml or 10mg/ml solution.
      Your cat probably recieved an injection of the 10mg/ml torb.

      Torb is typically very safe in cats who recieve the proper dosage.
      Was pre anesthetic blood work done to ensure clearance of the drug?

      I would wonder if it was pain that caused the cats demeanor change.
      Removing teeth even under anesthesia is extremely painful.
      Your cat certainly may have had an adverse reaction or slow clearance of the drug.
      If blood work was done and the kidney values were within normal limits in my experience it is more likely the pain from the surgery that caused the problem.

      Torb has been used for many years in cats.
      Today there is a superior version of pain medicine called bupernex.
      Was the cat given pain medicine to take home?

      The only question I would ask of the doctor is how much of the 10mg/ml torb did the cat recieve.
      That will tell you if the cat recieved its proper dosage.

      I have been in practice for over 10 years and have never seen an advers reaction to torb.
      I also have never seen a cat who recieved an overdose of torb but it certainly can happen.

      I certainly hope your cat is doing much better.

24. QUESTION:
    Vet in Denton with reasonably priced teeth cleaning for cats?
    New cat. Went to Banfield for a free first time pet visit, they said she was healthy, but had tartar, and gingivitis, which i think would be in the early stages, but i don’t want to pay their price to get the teeth cleaning, so, if someone knows a good vet in denton who has a cheap, reasonable price for a teeth cleaning, that’d be awesome.

    • ANSWER:
      Call around, they should be able to quote you over the phone. The other good idea is to chat with friends or co-workers to see which vets they like in your area. I have yet to meet a bad vet but there are certainly some that mesh better with my personality than others. Enjoy your new kitty!

25. QUESTION:
    What could be causing my cats’ gums to get inflamed?
    My cat Boz is FIV positive and was struggling with sores in his mouth due to the gingivitis causing an autoimmune reaction. After many rounds of antibiotics and prednisone we decided to do the permanent solution which was to have all his teeth removed. He did wonderful even going back to eating hard food. Now recently his gum on the one side are inflamed and painful. The vet is puzzled as she finds no leftover bone or tooth fragments in the gum. Has anyone else ever had this problem? The anitbiotics and prednisone were used again but never really cleared in up for more than a few days and it was back to painful. I know that the FIV will eventually catch up to him and maybe this is a unavoidable symptom but I am just searching for something. I guess I will have my vet put him on the medication again until we can think of something else. She did say that we could do a biopsy but that will cost about 0 and I don’t have that right now though as soon as I can get it I will.

    • ANSWER:
      Hi Debbie…consider joining the Yahoo Groups for FIV cats. Someone may have experienced this with their kitty. There are 393 members here and many exchange information that is helpful for the owners and their kitties: http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/FIVCats/

      Here’s the group description:
      Description

      A discussion group for caretakers with cats who are living with FIV or Feline Immunodeficiency Virus. This group allows caretakers to discuss various treatments of both holistic and traditional medicine and support each other in the task of caring for these special cats.
      Feline Immunodeficiency Virus infects 2.5% of cats in the US. It is transmitted by deep bites and mating behavior. It cannot be transmitted by casual contact and it is not a death sentence.

      If you have an emergency with your FIV+ cat or kitten, please contact your veterinarian or the nearest emergency veterinary clinic.

      Here’s another FIV Yahoo Group as well: http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/FIVpositivecats/

26. QUESTION:
    How long does it take for a cat’s gingivitis to get worse?
    So about last week i saw my cat had this kind of bloody tooth
    so i checked his gums and diagnosed it as gingivitis ?

    its an early stage

    his gum line is only a bit red and irritated
    he has a lot of tartar though
    and im pretty sure one of the top teeth is starting to decay

    my mother has been fighting with me all week because he is 11 years old
    and she thinks that gingivitis takes about 5 years to get noticibly and life imparingly bad – she says by then he will die anyway

    i told her to fuck her self and put in my own 2000$ and got my dad to promise to take me to a vet sometime this month

    my question is
    how long does it actually take for gingivitis to get bad ?
    and about how much do you think it will cost for my cat to have dental done
    and MAYBE 1 of his teeth pulled – plus pills for pain and what not

    how long before it starts to lead to kidney and heart failure and sinus infections ?
    i want to know how much of a panic i should be in right now

    thank you and all comments are appreciated !

    • ANSWER:
      He has given 11 years of unconditional love, and now there is a quibble over taking him to the vet? He has earned it.

      How quickly? One of my kittens had juvenile gingivitis, and at age three required extensive and expensive dental work, and had 11 teeth extracted.

      My senior cat, much older then yours, had a resorptive lesion (FORL), meaning her body was attacking her own tooth. That turns out to be very painful, and the dental work was done. And just one year later, developed another resorptive lesion on another tooth.

      How long before kidney damages starts? I don’t know, and you probably don’t want to find out.

      Cost? Expensive, and you probably are looking at least 00, as your vet will want a current senior blood profile run, to see if there are any hidden dangers, since he will be under anesthesia. And the blood profile work can be several hundred dollars. But it also gives you a baseline for future changes.

      Total costs will depend on what the vet finds, and until the vet gets in there and starts to work, the vet won’t know. You should get an estimate from the vet, subject to change depending on conditions, but will give you a price range.

27. QUESTION:
    How can I treat my cat’s gingivitis?
    My 2 year old cat (Doodle) was diagnosed with kidney failure 3 months ago. Recently I have noticed sever bad breath and opened his mouth to check his teeth. His gums were bright red around his teeth. My 12 year old cat (Tinker) has FIV and he also has the same problem. The vet said gingivitis is just one of the many side effects that come with his disease. I was sent home with a mouthwash kinda thing but it is IMPOSSIBLE to use on either cat, especially twice a day! Anything that I can administer to him in his food? Suggestions? Please help. Thanks
    I have had their teeth cleaned a dental work done before. Yes, Doodle is on sub-q fluids and predisone for his cancer and he does not have FIV. Anything easier than brushing teeth?

    • ANSWER:
      The treatment for gingivitis in cats is to have the cat’s teeth professionally cleaned. In addition to cleaning above the gum line, a vet surgeon will do ultrasonic scaling or cleaning below the cat’s gum line. Cats are typically put under anesthetic for this procedure because it can be very painful. Your veterinarian may also choose to put your cat on antibiotics if an infection in the gums is present.

      Of course, the best treatment for gingivitis is prevention. It is best to begin a home dental care routine with your cat when he or she is young, if at all possible. Brushing your cat’s teeth will take time and patience. You need to slowly acclimate your cat to having his or her teeth brushed. To do this, make teeth brushing sessions short and positive and praise your feline throughout each session.

      First, set aside some time everyday to brush your cat’s teeth. Sit down with your cat on your lap and gently stroke your kitty’s cheek. After a few sessions of that, you can progress to the next step. Get your kitty used to having things placed into his or her mouth by dipping your finger into some tuna water and allow your cat to lick it off your finger. Next, gently rub your finger over your feline’s gums. Repeat these steps for a few sessions before moving on to the next step.

      Doctors Foster and Smith recommend wrapping some gauze around your finger, dipping it into some tuna juice or other liquid your cat may enjoy, and massaging your cat’s gums in a circular motion. Again, wait until your cat is comfortable with this procedure before you move on to the next step.

      To get your cat used to the texture and consistency of a toothbrush, put something tasty onto the toothbrush and allow your cat to lick it off. You can purchase a toothbrush from the cat section of your local pet store or you can purchase a child’s size toothbrush for your kitty.

      Next, get your cat used to pet toothpaste by putting some on your finger and allowing your feline to lick it off. Rub toothpaste gently over your cat’s gums. You may purchase pet toothpaste in beef, poultry, or other flavors your cat may like in the cat section of your local pet store.

      Finally, you are ready to begin brushing your cat’s teeth with the toothbrush and toothpaste. Put some pet toothpaste onto the toothbrush and begin to brush your cat’s teeth. Pay special attention to your cat’s gums and his or her gum line. Start by brushing one or two of your cat’s teeth and progress slowly to brushing more teeth in future sessions. Remember to praise your cat for being good throughout the sessions and talk to him or her in a happy and soothing voice.

      Gingivitis can be a serious problem for your cat. Taking your cat to regular checkups at the vet as well as using home dental care practices, you will be able to catch and treat feline gingivitis early so that it doesn’t develop into anything more severe.

      Good luck.

28. QUESTION:
    what are general recommendations for cleaning cats teeth?
    4 YO indoor cat, the vet said she wants to do a detailed cleaning (w/anesthesia, and that there’s at least 1 cavity. But she only briefly looked in the mouth. I had another cat have it done at 11 YO, but I would think 4 is kind of young to be showing gingivitis, etc. I almost think the vet just needs the cash, as harsh as that sounds. They talked me into a LOT of procedures for my other cat and ultimately said ‘Oh he’s fine’
    Your suggestions about the teeth of the younger one? We just started brushing her teeth.

    • ANSWER:
      Some cats have worse teeth than others, and some may need teeth cleaning every few years. Part of owning a cat is being prepared for such expenses.

      Tooth-cleaning catfood does not work, it gets mushy when it goes into their mouth. You can get a little cat toothbrush and some enzymatic cat toothpaste, but that will only work on plaque (not tartar) and frankly, many cats will not put up with it.

      Tartar is what your cat has, most likely, and once tartar forms, no crunchy food or tooth brushing will get it off. The accumulation of which can lead to irritation of the gums, leading to exposed tooth roots, and eventually possible loss of teeth, and gum infections.

      If you think your vet is BSing you, take your cat to another vet. Just go for a checkup and mention that you want the vet to look at the teeth, but don’t say why.

      Please go forward with the removal of the tartar as soon as possible. I suspect your vet is correct – vets may insist on many extra procedures, some of which may not be ultra important, but a vet would not lie to you about such a condition. There are enough animals that your vet sees with serious conditions; he doesn’t have to make them up.

      For the record: BRUSHING THEIR TEETH AND FEEDING CRUNCHY CAT FOOD DOES NOT CONTROL TARTAR. Only a proper veterinary procedure can remove plaque.

29. QUESTION:
    My cat has intense gingivitis, her gums around her teeth are blood red and her teeth are a bright yellow?
    It’s only on her upper teeth though. I was wondering how I could fix it? She’s a 8 yr old 17 lb cat. And no I can’t afford to take her in to get her teeth cleaned, much less wrestle her still to brush them myself. Anything I can rub on her teeth or gums to help?

    Her teeth are bright yellow and gold, and her gums look painful. It’s red at the roots surrounding the tooth, like a bright red compared to her soft pink gums. I just wanna help her out I was thinking rubbing baking soda on her teeth but I’m scared to hurt her. She’s my baby.
    I had minty tartar treats that were chicken flavored that she liked by they didn’t help her teeth at all. And I have attempted to brush her teeth on my own and she absolutely hated it.
    Another weird thing, it doesn’t seem to bother her. Like she eats just fine, I have her on dry food and she’s actually overweight. She eats fast, in small dainty bites like a normal cat. I’m worried cause it looks so painful. I actually have some pet toothpaste that’s minty (it isn’t flavored, it’s mint flavored and mom accidently used it LOL) so she doesn’t like it. I used a little kid toothbrush in the past, which is smaller than the thing I bought that’s specialized for animal teeth. The toothbrush is for 4 yr olds….

    • ANSWER:
      Your pet is in bad shape. Use can temporaily use people medicine ( Ambesol) but just use one time. It is a topical anesthetic for mouth pain. There is also a dental solution to put in her water everyday that you can get at a pet store or online at Dr. Fosters or Pet Edge. But that is not an fast cure. There are also Dental treats made by temptations. But, I am thinking maybe some kind hearted vet might help you with a perscription of Clindomycin hydrochloride liquid which is what she needs and maybe you could call around to see if any of the rescue centers (yellow pages) could help you get your kitty to a vet at least for a checkup and a persciption. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. I did . I have a kitty with the same problem as yours. It is still not all resolved and may have to have 14 more teeth pulled. I feel real bad for your kitty and hope you can get some help with this.

30. QUESTION:
    Why does my cat keep getting gingivitis?
    He had it in the summer and it cost me a fortune, he had to have anti biotics, then he had them all cleaned, then he had one removed along with more anti biotics. Now i think he has it again. He is eating though and cleaning himself, his breath doesn’t smell but his gums look a bit red around his teeth. I am taking him to the vets tomorrow but it’s costing a fortune and i am skint! Is there anyway to stop him getting this? Can i brush his teeth, would this help? He would tear my arm off if i tried though. He had blood tests last time and all was fine.

    I’ll find the money, i’m trying to loose weight anyways so maybe just wont eat.

    • ANSWER:
      maybe he needs to be eating more hard food such as biscuits, they should help decrease the bacteria in his mouth….. what did the vet say? did he recommend anything?

31. QUESTION:
    My cats tooth fell out?
    My cat is 8 yrs old so she shouldn’t be losing teeth. She had this one tooth which was sideways and stuck out of her mouth like a fang (this was the tooth that fell out). also had alot of gunk or black stuff at the top of it. i think it is called tarter (idk 4 sure). My mother suspected it was gingivitis but either way my cat is not that old and her tooth just fell out with a touch. i think that even when they are rotten there is supossed to be some resistance.

    What should I do? My parents do not want to have to pay for vet bills so they dont want to take her to the vet to make sure everything is alright which angers me because when u own a pet u have to take responsibility. So I was wondering if I should keep pestering my parents to take her or can I just leave it alone.

    My cat isnt showing any signs of pain after it fell out in fact she was playing with the toth that had just fallen out. her gums are not black or ruined they are a healthy pink. and she is still eating like she always did.

    • ANSWER:
      A vet would be the best solution so you may have to do some pestering I think! With all due respect to your parents I do believe that it is irresponsible not to take a pet to a vet whenever needed although I do appreciate it is expensive. Maybe you could convince them by doing odd jobs or something. The cat is more than likely fine but you need to make sure that there is no indication of a gum infection.

      http://www.thecatplanet.com/

      http://www.thekittyskorner.com/

32. QUESTION:
    What causes a cat to have bad teeth?
    My 9yo cat has gingivitis and had a couple abscessed teeth. He is on antibiotics now for the infection. The vet recommended having some teeth pulled and probably more after he is feeling better. I have had many cats and some older than him, (one 16yrs) and none have had teeth or gum issues. I never noticed him having any problems with eating until now. The only way I knew something was wrong was a sudden bad odor from his mouth with drooling. By the next day he was meowing like he was in excruciating pain. What makes some cats develop dental problems? Is it related to diet or genetics??
    Is it expensive for the dental work?

    • ANSWER:
      Great question.

      It can be both related to diet and genetics, but genetics plays a huge part in how susceptable felines are to dental disease. Some breeds are more pre-disposed to this condition as well. The Siamese and Oriental Shorthairs are just two to mention.

      Rather than write a lengthy response, here is a great article on this subject for you to read.

      http://www.sniksnak.com/cathealth/dental.html

      It sounds like your vet is right on top of things with your cat. Your vet is totally accurate in what he/she is telling you about the benefit of tooth extraction after your cat is feeling better. Cats can get along very well in fact, with hardly any teeth. The improvement in the mouth is dramatic post surgery. I have an Oriental that only has his front and canine teeth. He is so much better and is able to eat anything.

      Your vet can also instruct you on how to brush your cat’s teeth to help inbetween professional visits.

      Troublesniffer
      Owned by cats for over 40 years

33. QUESTION:
    I’m so frustrated… Took my cats to the Vet yesterday and…?
    I know it’s a long question, but PLEASE help me out..

    Ok, so yesterday I took my cats to Vet for their annual exam and vaccines. She said they had mild gingivitis! By the way, I brush my cats’ teeth on a regular basis.So here is why I’m frustrated…
    When I first adopted them, I did a lot of research to find the best quality food, and found that Orijen dry food is truly the best ~ it’s grain-free and has high quality meats and NO by-products at all. I was very happy since it can be hard to find decent foods nowadays especially with so many brands having junk like corn, wheat, and by-products. My cats love Orijen so that was another big plus.
    I like to research cat related articles and love reading on how I can be a better “mom” for my cats, and so two months ago I found out that dry food is actually very bad for cats (if you don’t know what I’m talking about, look it up). Anyways, after reading many articles and people’s personal experiences, I was convinced that changing my cats’ diet to a 90% wet food was healthier and better for them in the long run. I found Wellness Canned Formula to be the best one out on the market today, because it’s also grain-free and has high quality meats and no by-products. So yeah, I thought everything was going to be perfect.
    Yesterday, I take them to the Vet, and she says they both have mild gingivitis and after asking me what I feed them and me telling her the story I just told you, she said it was caused by the wet food because wet food actually gets stuck between the gums and causes gingivitis. So I told her that cats in the wild don’t eat dry food and that wet food reflects their true diet. She said that we CAN’T compare domestic cats to the ones in the wild, because “we have domesticated cats to be able to have them as pets, thus dry food is the proper diet from them now.” She also said that even though wet food does indeed reflect a wild cat’s diet, that same wild cat does not go on to live 15 years like domesticated cats do, because of many different health issues, one of them being getting gingivitis.

    I’m so confused at this point. If I feed my cats the correct form of food, which is wet food, they will get gingivitis; and if I feed them dry food, which apparently is healthier for their gums, they will have other health complications.
    WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO!?!?

    ~ Thanks in advance for any helpful advice

    • ANSWER:
      Wet food is definitely better for their health than dry because it is closer to their natural diet. Dry food is full of carbohydrates (sugar) and we all know how bad that is for teeth. It’s a fallacy that dry food is better for their teeth because they have to crunch it in order to eat it, and it’s slicing/chewing not crunching that helps keep teeth clean. Even if the alleged dental benefits of feeding a cat dry food only were true, they are grossly outweighed by the fact that feeding dry food contributes towards more serious health problems such as diabetes, struvite crystals and kidney problems.

      I disagree with your vet’s comment about domesticated cats requiring a dry food diet. Dry food was invented for owner convenience and as a cheaper method of feeding. Genetically speaking, feral and domestic cats are exactly the same and therefore require a wet food diet. In the UK, there are feral cats on record as old as 19 and 28 years who survived on a diet of whatever they could hunt or scavenge. Some pet cats die young, so longevity is dependent upon inherited genes and the safety of the local environment as much as it is diet.

      Just as with humans, some cats are genetically predisposed to dental problems, whilst others rarely need dental treatment. Brushing and regular dental check ups are the best ways of keeping teeth healthy.

      I think you are doing all the right things to care for your cats’ teeth, so I wouldn’t listen to your vet’s advice on this matter. Perhaps you might want to consider introducing some chunks of either raw or cooked meat to your cats’ diet which they can slice with their teeth to help remove plaque which is the main cause of gingivitis.

34. QUESTION:
    what to do with my poor sick kitty?
    i adopted a cat from four paws rescue to find out four days later the cat has gingivitis, ulcers in his mouth, a upper respiratory infection, and a small heart murmur, and i didn’t sign up for a sick cat i thought i was doing the right thing by adopting this almost 8 month long haired black cat who is adorable. so the first vet appointment was free but the blood work and the medication wasn’t and so i had to pay 5 and the vet lady to wants to do a echo gram on my cats heart for the murmur… i cant afford that im 18 years old living with my boyfriend in the house we just bought and its our third week in our new home the first bills haven’t even came yet. so my question is does anyone know how much the echo gram is gonna cost and if i can avoid it because its a small heart murmur will he be didn’t i didn’t get it done? oh and the my new cat might have a disease that’s why the vet wanted to do the blood work . and my boyfriend adopted his cat from four paws 3 years ago and his cat was sick when he got him but i guess they dont care that they are giving people sick cats even if they dont know that you cant afford a sick cat because vet bills are soo expensive .
    and also i tried calling the four paws rescue and there mailbox is full so i sent them a email .

    • ANSWER:
      Jesse Rocks is 100% right! And don’t let them trade you another healthy cat! Wouldn’t even want to imagine what they might do with the poor sick kitty. Make them take care of it like they should have done before they gave it to you.

      Good luck!

35. QUESTION:
    Is it common for an 8-year-old cat to die of kidney complications?
    My 8 year old cat recently died of what was first gingivitis, and then became a kidney failure. Is this common in mid-age cats?

    • ANSWER:
      uhmm, idk but my cat died about a year ago and she was 5 and she had a kidney problem, so it might be.

36. QUESTION:
    My Cat with LPGS – Lymphocytic Plasmacytic Gingivitis?
    My cat (11 years old boy) has recently been diagnosed with LPGS – Lymphocytic Plasmacytic Gingivitis. I am seeking an advice from anyone who has experiences with this disease. Currently he is on antibiotics (Clindamycin 25 mg) and anti-inflammation (steroid) medication (Prednisone 5mg) , which I know are not going to be the permanent solution. I was told that a special type of teeth extraction (complete/deep) might be helpful (is the regular full-teeth extraction really not helpful ? ) .
    Question #1: Could you give me any information if you had an experience with this problem?
    Question#2: Do you know any veterinarians in Los Angeles (California) area, who perform this kind of teeth extraction, to treat disease successfully?
    Question#3: Also, any other natural remedy you might recommend? Thank you very much in advance.
    Thank you very much for your information, Julie S and BiPetual !! I also need to add this question, as I am confused. *** Does the regular teeh extraction (pulling all the teeth out, but the procedure is the normal extraction) work for LPGS? OR, does it have to be a special (deeper to the bones) extraction?*** Thank you so much !

    • ANSWER:
      My young Maine Coon had this problem. I felt so bad for him; his gums looked like hamburger. My vet told me he would probably have to have most of his teeth pulled, but we waited a while until they deteriorated enough to be pulled. He still has his canines, but that’s about it. He’s healthy, though. The gums look good, he’s happy, he can eat any food he wants (even dry food) and it really didn’t seem to be overly difficult for him. I’m afraid I’m on the other end of the country, so I can’t help with the other parts of your question, but don’t hesitate to get his teeth pulled. Ask for pain meds. It will fix the problem.

      Good luck to you!

      Edit: My vet never said anything about special deep extraction. I did find this website, which does advocate the deep extractions, but it also mentions diet and medication as being helpful in some cases. I hope it helps.

      http://www.dr-addie.com/stomatitis.html#ebook

37. QUESTION:
    My 14 year old cat needs dental work. What are the risks involved?
    My male cat is 14 and has a slight case of gingivitis. The vet said he needs 2 teeth out and his teeth cleaned. I am reluctant to let him have an anaesthetic because of his age. He is not having any problems eating and I think if I hadn’t just taken him in for a check up I probably wouldn’t have known. The vet I went to was at a new clinic that I had never been to before. I have 2 cats and they both refuse to eat chicken wings to clean there teeth also they won’t eat those dentabite things you can buy for cats. What do you think?

    • ANSWER:
      With any anesthetic, there are always associated risks, but without treatment it is likely to get much worse. Unfortunately, even with this intensive care, the disease often progresses and the only way to cure the disease and eliminate the very painful lesions is to extract all of the teeth in back of the large canine teeth (fangs). This may appear drastic, but in almost all cases it is the only alternative. In cases of juvenile onset gingivitis, professional teeth cleaning every 2 months and once- to twice-daily brushing at home for the first year or so of their life, may allow them to revert to a more normal status as they age.
      There is no satisfactory treatment for gingivitis in cats. Descaling to remove tartar build up and removal of badly eroded teeth is helpful, but the gingivitis will often recur. Antibiotics and anti-inflammatory or immune-suppressive drugs have all be used and may be beneficial in some cases. Feeding special diets formulated to help prevent dental disease, and regular brushing of the teeth with/without pet toothpaste may also be helpful in these cases. Antiseptic mouth washes have been recommended but they are difficult to administer to cats. Surgical removal of the gum margin, cryosurgery and laser therapy have all been used with variable success, and in the most severe cases removal of all the teeth may be undertaken.

      Gingivitis can be a frustrating condition to treat – for both veterinarians and owners, but some cases do resolve with periods of remission between relapses.

      When your pet is scheduled to undergo a surgical procedure your first thought may be of the risks entailed in anesthesia. This is perfectly natural – the risks of general anesthesia are usually greater than that of the surgery itself. All veterinarians know this and most of them have a great deal of empathy for your concerns. Veterinarians are fortunate in that older, less predictable, anethesthetics have been replaced by compounds that are very predictable and safe when properly used. Injectable anesthetics now each have their specific reversal agents and the gas anesthetics we use are quickly reversed by ventilation. These agents have dramatically reduced risk to your pet…

38. QUESTION:
    How long will my cat live?
    I believe my cat is around 11 years old. She is an Ocicat and she weighs around 9 pounds. I believe she has gingivitis. Over the years she has lost almost all her teeth, all 4 fangs. Now she only has one sharp back tooth left and some small teeth in the front on her bottom row. She seems healthy but I know cats are good a hiding pain. Do cats with her teeth problem not live long? Can she live for 7 more years?

    • ANSWER:

39. QUESTION:
    My kitten has severe gingivitis. Please help!
    We took in a stray kitten back in March. I took her into the vet the next morning and she was overall, in good health. She was very under-weight for her age, had an upper-respiratory infection, and had borderline malnutrition and inflamed gums. She has been doing very well. She gained weight and the upper respiratory infection cleared up, but her gums were still very inflamed. We just had her to the Animal Rescue Leage to be spayed and she came home today and they said she has SEVERE gingivitis and told us to follow-up with our regular vet. Back when we first took her into the vet, she had said that her inflamed gums may be due to the fact that she had a hard start to life and a poor diet. But it has since gotten worse and the tech at the Rescue League said they have seen cats have all of their teeth pulled because of ginigivitis because there isn’t really anything they can do. Brushing will make her gum bleed. Has anyone else had this problem with their kitty? Advice please!!!

    • ANSWER:
      It’s just like with a human. Bad teeth have to be pulled.You need the dental done so infection doesn’t spread and make things worse.
      Please NO DRY Food Canned with no gravy

40. QUESTION:
    About My Cats Dental Health?
    Today i took my cat to the vet as he had been bitten by another cat and i was getting it treated. While i was there, i was horrified to be told he has bad plaque build up on his very back teeth, along with gingivitis, it did look a bit nasty. The vet typed me up and estimated bill for the dental work, overnight stay of the cat and possible extractions. Now, I have absolutely no problem with paying for this and keeping my cat in the best health, but im just worried about one little thing. As the bill was pretty high, how do i know they will take the cats teeth out for the sake of it. And also, if they do remove his teeth, is he going to be able to eat cat biscuits and chew properly with a lack of teeth. I know that these vats are doing a good job but i am obviously at their mercy, knowing only the basic health of my cat.

    • ANSWER:
      This is funny because i’m going through the exact same thing… I found out my cat has some gingivitus and bad dental… and the bill was extremely large (anywhere from 600 – 1100) just for extractions and teeth cleaning.. along with all the pre and post op stuff. I would ask them to see the xrays or see the actual break down of the bill. As far as I know they don’t charge much to take out the tooth it is the procedure to get to that point, ad the services they offer.

      I asked about the chewing and he was pretty confident they go back to normal after a few days.. and can still eat hard food properly.

41. QUESTION:
    I have two cats who need to get along and currently aren’t?
    I have had Gizmo for 11 years. She’s been a wonderful friend and I really don’t want to cause her any distress. However, one fine day Baby (we’re not especially creative with names) showed up at the house starving and ill. The vet informs that he thinks Baby is a seven year old female. While it turned out she’d been spayed when she showed up, I think she’s probably had a pretty rough life.

    It’s not exactly a surprise that Gizmo doesn’t take well to having neighborhood cats showing up on our patio. She slams against the patio doors and makes one god-awful noise until they take the hint and slink off into the bushes.

    We thought we’d take Baby to the vet and get the gingivitis fixed up. At that time, we didn’t know she’d already been spayed so we intended to do that and to get her a complete set of shots. After we got her fixed up, we intended to get her a new home. She’s really a dream kitty; she totally adores my husband to point that it’s almost embarrassing. It’s exactly the same look teenage girls give the Jonas Brothers (smile).

    Unfortunately, Baby seems to be having a recurrent problem with the gingivitis. As soon as we take her off her medication, she gets sick again. We’re thinking she may need this medication the rest of her life. Other people are extremely leery of taking on a cat needing almost constant vet care. We’re lucky the vet we go to is very reasonable but it’s still cutting into our budget as well.

    Well, now there’s no choice. These two animals need to at least need to learn to co-exist. At this point, I don’t ever expect they’ll be best friends forever but I’d be happy if they just didn’t tear each other apart when they see each other. Winter is coming on and Baby can’t be outside much. I’m in Oregon and it rains from October to May. Baby has to come in the house.

    If you have any tried and true methods of getting cats to accept each other, I’d really appreciate hearing from you.

    • ANSWER:
      Have the vet check for the Bartonella virus, which can cause red and inflamed gums, just like gingivitis. Otherwise, a good cleaning under anesthesia may be what is needed. It is initially expensive, but usually solves the problem once and for all.

      You may have to assert yourself as the dominant one here, so that Gizmo and Baby defer to you, rather than dispute each other as which is dominant.

      Give them both equal amounts of love and attention. For Gizmo to learn she is still wanted, and for Baby to know she is welcome.

      As Gizmo is a senior citizen, she is having a hard time accepting a newcomer. Perhaps tolerance may be the best to be hoped for, at least in the short run.

42. QUESTION:
    My cats is not eating and is lethargic?
    I have a 4 year old female Tabby. She is very tiny to begin with (7 lbs) but started losing weight rapidly to the point where her sides were sinking in. Then I found blood on my bed from her. I have 4 other cats, but knew it was from her cause her mouth was all bloody. I took her to the vet the same day (04/28/09)and they said she had gingivitis. The vet gave her a shot of Depo Medrol and gave me Clindamycin Hydrochloride to give to her for a week. Now almost 2 weeks later she has stopped eating again and is looking lethargic (eyes are glassy and looking sleepy)….she is also staying on top of the fridge which she never does. When I pick her up off the fridge and put her somewhere else, she goes right back on top immediately. Could this be just a reaction from the meds? Even wet food she’ll lick all the “juice up” but not really eat any of the food. She has a cleaning scheduled for 05/28/09, but I’m thinking I may have to take her sooner because I am so worried it may be her liver.
    Update: Gave her science diet wet food (it’s really mushy food) and some deli turkey slices and she ate it up last night and this morning.
    This morning she seems to be almost back to her normal self. Running, off the fridge, laying on the kitchen table in the sun, eyes wide open, alert. I’m thinking it was just cause she wasn’t eating. Maybe she was just weak. I’m keeping a close eye on her and I left a message for my vet to call me back. Thanks!

    • ANSWER:

43. QUESTION:
    Does anyone know where i can get cat food with NO additives?
    My cat has just has some teeth removed due to having gingivitis and calici virus, my vet has told me to buy cat food with no additives in it as it can make her immune system weaker!!

    I’m not sure where to get this from, the shop my vet said to try hasn’t heard of it!!

    Please help!!

    • ANSWER:
      If your vet isn’t able to get you some, you need a new vet. My vet has food for every cat problem.

      If there’s a pet emergency hospital in your area, ask them. They might know.

      .

44. QUESTION:
    Terrible breath and teeth in my two cats? do water additives work?
    so i have two kitties, aged 5 and 3.

    i took them for their annual check ups several months ago and the vet commented on how their teeth aren’t in the greatest shape and have build up of tarter and gingivitis. She suggested i start brushing their teeth and switching their food to a dental food.

    I feed them Orijen, and don’t really want to switch them or add anything to it.
    I tried brushing their teeth and it was awful.

    I’ve recently been putting some toothpaste on treats and having the one eat it, as well as mixing it in with laxatone for the other cat that doesn’t like treats.

    some co-workers were telling me about water additives for cats and dogs (i also have a husky with great teeth.) In our local pet stores we have two options for water additives. We have the tropiclean fresh breath and the suzies tarter remover. Do these products actually work? suzies was quite expensive, so i opted for the cheaper one to see if it works. I figured if i didn’t notice a difference with that product, i’d try the suzies product.

    has anyone had any success with these products at all? am i wasting my time and money?

    thanks.
    when i took them for their check ups, she said it wasn’t at the point where they need dental work done. Didn’t say anything about any teeth missing. She said try brushing their teeth and correcting the problem now, and see how it goes from there. If the problem doesn’t go away, then i’ll need to take them in for dental work.

    • ANSWER:
      Okay, if the breath is really “rank”, the products you are using are not doing the job and the gingivitis has gone beyond being correctable except by your cat going to the Vet and having a “dental” done.

      I have a cat that, when young, was diagnosed through formal means with chronic gingivitis from having Bartonella (Gingivitis is one of the symptoms). He has a dental once a year, always loses at least one tooth, has lost one of his canines.

      I’m guesssing once you get your cats in for their Vet Dentals, they will have lost a lot of teeth. (the rank breath will go away). If they do lose a LOT of teeth, feeding them wet food mixed with tepid water to an almost soupy consistency will make it easier for them to eat.

      If this is not taken care of, chronic gingivitis going untreated can become diseased and affect their heart, liver, kidneys and, truly, they can die from this.

      Time to take them both to the vet for a Dental. Sounds pretty much like an emergency!

45. QUESTION:
    How important are dental check ups in older cats?
    I have three cats, and took them all to the vets yesterday for their annual shots. She said the older one, who’s ten, needs a dental exam in the next few months – but she then told me that would cost nearly £200(!). He’s got slight gingivitis, which is gum disease, although I can’t see any difference to the others and they are fine. It also involves a general anaesthetic, which I don’t really want to put him through if it’s not essential. Has anyone got any advice as to what would happen if he didn’t have the exam? Or know of any other alternative treatment for gum disease in cats??

    • ANSWER:
      I am not a vet. I can only tell you about my experience. My cat was 13 years old when our vet insisted she undergo an examination of her teeth under general anaesthetic. We we were very reluctant because of her age and asked the vet several times if she would be OK at her age with the anaesthetic. He said they have special anaesthetics for older animals and he she would be fine. She was in pain and did have an abscess on her jaw so we reluctantly agreed. She never came round from the anaesthetic. They sent her home in a groggy state and she lay beside the radiator for a few days before she died. I would never put an older animal though that again as I have no idea how much pain she was in during those few days before she died. I would rather have tried some other treatment – antibiotics first – before taking a risk with an animal of that age. Sorry this has been a bit long. Its more than five years ago and still upsets me to remember how she was.

46. QUESTION:
    Where is the cheapest place to have a cat dental cleaning done?
    We live in Northern VA and my cat needs urgent care for her teeth but i asked a place and 0 is what they charge. The Vet clinic i take her to dont do that kind of job but blood checks and stuff to get her ready for the cleansing + she told me kitty needs to have it done because she is not eating right apparently for the pain build up and gingivitis is causing and soon she will have liver and kidney damage. Anyone knows a place i should take a look maybe on line or something??? Thanks!

    • ANSWER:
      Be careful about who you go to: some vets that advertise ‘low cost’ services have lists of complaints with the Better Business Bureau pages long! Many use antiquated equipment and older style, less safe anesthetics to keep those costs down, and have lost more pet’s lives while under sedation because of this! Check any place out thoroughly first – don’t endanger your pet’s life just to save a few bucks.

47. QUESTION:
    How will my cat be if all his teeth are pulled?
    My 11 yr old has gingivitis, I clean his teeth at the vet but this hasn’t improved the condition. This vet only pulled out loose teeth. I went to get a second opinion and they suggest he get all his teeth removed, they say he has cavities and reabsorbtion lesions. In fact he has a big lesion growing off his gums that needs to be biopsied. Im worried about how he will be with having no teeth.

    • ANSWER:
      I have the same problem with one of mine, came to me as a rescue and his teeth were too bad to rectify completely.
      In my case hes had about 6 teeth out over 3 years and hes having another dental soon where He will probably lose a couple more. Have spoken to people about this at local rescue and they do cope but often become lickers rather than chewers. In Hugh’s case he started licking the gravy jelly off his food about 2 years back. He lost a bit of Weight when the gingivitis was first diagnosed however his weight has been constant ever since. Check your food as some have smaller chunks in that are easier to eat, plus more gravy. Occasionally I will put some through the blender, for him (have one specially for him) but he seems to prefer licking off what he can then just leaving the bigger chunks.

      If its possible to Just remove the teeth in the worst areas, then would go for that, however it may mean more extractions in future. Not sure if your vet has suggested it but my cats on steroids. Does seem to help. But it does ean he needs regualr kidney tests too due to this.

48. QUESTION:
    How do I persuade my Mum that cats are clean?
    I live with my parents and brother in an average sized house. Me, my Dad and my Brother all really want a pet cat – we have it all worked out and we all know how to look after pets – my dad has had a lot when he was younger. But. My mum says they are very dirty, disgusting creatures that stink and ruin the carpets. We had a cat for 2 months a few years ago and we ended up taking him to an animal shelter – it didn’t work out because he came with so many illnesses including colitis and gingivitis, and when we woke up and looked out of the window in the morning we saw assorted bird and rabbit parts all over the garden (and I mean, all over). That cat had problems. That was 3 years ago, and we’ve been trying ro persuade mum to let us get another – but she just won’t give in. Help!!! I won’t give up!
    Her main problem is the litter tray, and we’ve decided it needs to be an indoor cat that we buy (we were thinking russian blue or ragdoll)
    she reckons they’re dirty ‘cos they clean they’re bum with their tongue and then they lick themselves…. I’m so frustrated with her!
    also, she says she hates the idea of being alone at home with a cat… anyone would think she has a phobia! (she doesn’t…)
    and we definitely can’t buy a cat before I’ve persuaded mum to let us – she dictates over everything everyone does =’(
    Please help, I need as much advice as possible!

    • ANSWER:
      I think a cat is a great pet. I have two in my house and no smell, no problems with scratching furniture (they both still have their claws), and no problems with them going outside the litter box either. One has been in my family for 12 years and the other is a recent rescue from our back yard 2 years ago. They’re both great pets, but there is some responsibility that goes along with them…

      1) Feed and water twice daily.
      2) Clean the litterbox every day.
      3) Playtime daily.
      4) Once yearly vet checkup (), teeth cleaning () and vaccinations ().
      5) Vacuum carpeting for shed fur once weekly.

49. QUESTION:
    Concerned about risks for my cats dental?
    I have a 12 year old cat that really needs a dental. Her first one was done when she was around 4 years old. She has always had a problem with tartar on her back teeth, even though she is on dry food and I give her tartar treats.
    My concern is, during her first dental she would stop breathing for several seconds. Now with her advanced age, I’m worried about the anesthesia and if she will quit breathing completely. She is my baby, I don’t want to risk losing her. She is in good health all except for her teeth. She doesn’t have a problem eating and she doesn’t have gingivitis. I’m concerned about the tartar build up and her breath smells horrible. lol Plus, I know the longer the tartar stays on the more it builds up and cause serious problems.
    My question is, what is your opinion on the risks and the benefits of a cat dental? At 12 years old is it worth the risk to have the procedure? Any serious comments are welcome. Thank you.

    Thank you for replying to my post! I’m afraid cleaning her teeth myself is out of the question. She won’t even let me look at her teeth without trying to claw me.
    I will talk to my vet about my concerns. I am also going to ask if I can be present for the dental procedure. I used to work for him so hopefully it won’t be a problem. I just want to make sure she stays healthy and happy as long as possible.

    • ANSWER:
      First good news, 12 is not old for a cat. Cat’s age is really less important than their health and your vets’ skill. Dental problems can lead to heart problems, so it is a very important maintenance item.

      When I rescued senior cats, we would often have to spay or neuter them in addition to doing a dental. We only lost 1 in all the cats we did, sadly it was my long term foster cat who had a really bad heart. We knew it was a risk, but the risks of leaving her untreated were higher.

      When I had a senior cat that was already neutered, our vet would do a clean/scrape without anesethetic. They would sedate the cat and a vey skilled tech would perform the cleaning. Thee are also anesthetics that can be reversed by injecting an agent. So if the cat gets into any trouble, they can stop the procedure and wake her immediately.

      Ask your vet if you can talk to him before you go in for the dental. Talk to him about concerns, how it works, what he uses, etc….After, you might want to look into a better diet to avoid the build up. Brushing cat’s teeth is possible, but really not fun!

50. QUESTION:
    Can someone tell me about resorption lesions?
    Just been to the vet’s with my two moggies for their annual checkup and inoculations. The little one – whose teeth have always been an issue – has resorption lesions. I understand what they are, but what caused them? Is it just age etc or something else? He needs to have some teeth out, cost to me about 300 quid when I can find it. Am wondering if there is any way to prevent this happening in my other cat or in the same cat again. They already eat Hill’s t/d because they get gingivitis.

    • ANSWER:
      My 1st cat (my parents had for 27 years) had them. They aren’t cavities but similiar I would say. They aren’t sure what causes them but I know a lot of cats have them, very common. The teeth can be treated where they put some kind of coating on them or if they are bad they just pull them. The teeth just pretty much go away starting with the enamel and then into the tooth and they will hurt the cat. Your cat has to go to the vet about every 6 months to have its teeth cleaned to prevent it because they think it might be plaque that causes it but they don’t know for sure. With my parents cat, he had only a few teeth left (the ones in the front) when he died at 27. I think the dentist can give them fluoride too but I know they have feline greenies now too that could help.