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Question:

Is teeth cleaning really necessary for my cat?
Posted by honorine on 08/11/2010
I took my 1.5 year old cat to the vet for a checkup recently. Everything looks fine. He is very healthy but the vet said he has some tartar and might need teeth cleaning.



I noticed he does have some yellow stains on the teeth. But he doesn't eat treats. So dental treats won't work for him. Is teeth cleaning really necessary? I know the cost is high.

How can I get his teeth cleaned without spending too much?
Answers:
Answered by Dr.Greg on 08/11/2010
Your cat just doesn't chew on enough hard stuff to rub against the teeth and gums and scrub off the tartar.Cats that hunt and chew on small mammals and birds have much better teeth and gums than kibble eaters. Because of that, I give my cats hunks of gristle, pork, and chicken several times a week to clean their teeth.Its good for them...cats are meat eaters!
A few of my clients brush their cats teeth but they do not like to have their teeth brushed. A little tartar will not hurt anything but if the gums get inflamed or recede gum infection and pain may result.
In this case cleaning may be necessary to prevent abscesses,but chewing may help tartar and mild gingivitis
Comments:
Commented by honorine on 08/13/2010
I just bought a bag of Royal Canin Oral Care. It controls tartar and hairballs. It's one of the high end cat food at Petsmart. I hope it works. My cat doesn't like to eat pork and chicken, so I have to get him the dry food. Thanks for the advice.