Do cats really need to have their teeth cleaned?

I am took my 11 yr. old cat to a new vet. He said the cat needs his teeth cleaned. There is brown tartar built up on the teeth. Is this a common practice now for cats? I though it was hard on cats to be put under for medical procedures unless it is necessary. The vet said the cat can leave bacteria in the water it is drinking and then it can travel to the kidneys and affect the bladder. (I don't know if I'm explaining it quite right). He also said my dog that shares the same water could have the same problem by drinking the water. I'm wondering if this new vet is just looking for work or giving me good advice concerning my pets?

Do cats really need to have their teeth cleaned?
It is general practice to clean a cats teeth if they are dirty, and have tartar buildup, as in humans that will lead to gingivitis and tooth loss. Your veterinarian is correct, the bacteria travels from the mouth into the kidneys etc. I have had several of my pets teeth cleaned over the years now. I don't know if your veterinarian recommended it, however, your cat should have bloodwork done prior to anethesia just to be sure all is well at his age.
Reply:i haven`t had our kittens teeth cleaned for a long time, so i dunno.
Reply:11 years old and it never had its teeth cleaned?.........yes your cat NEEDS its teeth cleaned
Reply:yes its healthy and builds up dental hygiene
Reply:Yes, cats need to have their teeth cleaned, as do dogs. Depending on how much tartar builds up on their teeth, it can be once a year or once every two years. In rare cases, it can be once every 6 months.





Bad dental hygiene for animals can lead not only to bad breath, but abscesses, decaying teeth that need to be pulled and bacteria can lead to heart problems and kidney problems.





There's always some chance of there being problems when animals (and humans) are put under anesthesia, but in most cases, they pull through with flying colors. The benefits of the procedure(s) outweight the risks of anesthesia.





My cat is 14 and diabetic and will be going to get her teeth cleaned in a few months, FYI.





Good luck.
Reply:He is giving you good advice.





The practice is relatively new. Your vet will want to make sure your cat is in good health before he does this procedure.





Think of this: Recent research suggests that the same bacteria that cause tooth and gum problems can also cause problems for the heart.
Reply:yes animals need thier teeth cleaned they can get gum and teeth problems just as well we can
Reply:Dentals are very important for cats. It is just like the dentist cleaning your teeth. The only problem is you can't tell a cat to open up and say aww, so they must be put out. At 11 years old, I would request that the vet run presurgical blood work to make sure the liver and kidneys can metabolise the anesthia. I never lost a cat during a dental for the 5 years I worked at a vet clinic. But we required the blood work for any cat over 5, and wouldn't do them if the blood work wasn't purrrfect.
Reply:when cats teeth build up with tartar it can cause a few problems. firstly gingivitis which is inflammation of the gum and can be painful for the cat when eating and secondly your vet is right about causing kidney problems the bacteria in your cats mouth can cause them. if your worried about how your cat will be under the anaesthetic you could ask your vet to take a blood sample from the cat just to make sure its liver etc is working properly to process the anaesthetic.


following the dental if your cat has teeth left you can get prescription diets from the vet to help prevent more dental problems.
Reply:In the wild dogs and cat's depend on animal bones and other hard matter to keep their teeth clean and gums healthy . Domesticated animals do not always get this option . They can get tartar build up which leads to decay which could lead to health problems just as in humans , it could turn out that it is very pain full for them to eat .


Your vet sounds like he or she is knowledgeable and cares for animals . He or she is a professional and I would take their advice . They are always discovering new problems or cure for pets so I wouldn't let the fact that this vet is new deter you as they might just be up on the latest technique's and studies .


It is always a good idea to provide clean fresh water for each pet and they can pass things to each other through saliva
Reply:There is a build up of hard stuff on the outside of the teeth , look halfway back on top teeth between cheek and teeth, My vet chipped some off with a fingernail to show me.





So i paid to have it done a couple of times and learned how to get my cat to put up with me cleaning his teeth with chicken flavored tooth paste and a soft tooth brush.





If you keep doing the brushing a couple of times a week, you won't need to pay the vet to do it.



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