Has anyone ever tried Sangre de Drago to clean your cat's teeth?

[Calicos are Best (GA)]

I have been reading online about something called Sangre de Drago/ Dragon's Blood. It is a natural remedy that comes from the sap of trees in the rainforest. Some of the sites online indicate that if you apply it to your cat's teeth it will break down tarters building up. Other sites mention that is can fight off infections.

Here are some of the sources I have been reading:

Natural Remedies to Clean a Cat's Teeth
Blog About the Natural Ways to Clean Teeth
Cat Forum Talking about Dragon's Blood
Sangre De Drago - More about it

I have slowly been trying to brush my cat Lily's teeth with q-tips and water mixed with this powder I bought on Amazon a while ago called plaque zapper. You're really supposed to be able to just add the powder to water and leave out the water for cats and dogs to drink. Then supposedly this will clean there teeth when they drink the water. What a silly idea for cats!!! We all know cats don't drink much water unless it is a sign of their diabetes acting up. Hence, why I dip the q-tips in the water.

This week I cleaned Lily's teeth with the q-tips and plaque zapper 3 times. She is a very good cat and is patient. She does bite the q-tips a little when I do it also which I am sure helps clean her teeth more. I would say Lily's front teeth are pretty good plaque wise, but she has 2 back teeth on each side which are looking like they could definitely use some cleaning.

The reason why I am looking for alternatives to the vet is because Lily's diabetes is not stabilized. The vet doesn't want to clean her teeth under anesthesia unless she has better numbers. Personally I also don't feel comfortable either, so I actually agree with the vet on this one. If I can clean Lily's teeth and save them from rotting and removal I think it would totally be worth it!

Does anyone have any personal experience with using Sangre de Drago on their cat's teeth? OR any input cleaning plaque on your cat's teeth?

 

[Bobbie And Bubba]

Hey there, I don't know anything about those products. I would make sure no sugar or sweetener is in them. I wear a pair of white cotton gloves ( I used to use them as liners because I was allergic to the surgical gloves I had to wear all day when I was working) I dip the index finger of those gloves into just plain water and rub starting at the gumline down. It gives me a lot of control unlike the toothbrush that I was banging around in his mouth, sometimes accidentally gouging him. Ouch.

The vet doesn't want to clean her teeth under anesthesia unless she has better numbers. Personally I also don't feel comfortable either, so I actually agree with the vet on this one. If I can clean Lily's teeth and save them from rotting and removal I think it would totally be worth it!

The problem with that thinking is that if there is inflammation in the gums and/or a tooth ache, the numbers won't come down. It's a catch 22. Twice after Bubba had a dental and had bad teeth removed his numbers came down to normal ranges once the tissue had healed. Personally, I would get the dental and anything addressed that needed to be.

 

[Calicos are Best (GA)]

Thank you for the input Bobbie! How do you know if your cat has a tooth ache or pain if they can't tell us?

The problem with that thinking is that if there is inflammation in the gums and/or a tooth ache, the numbers won't come down.

My thinking exactly .....so I thought maybe if I could try to clean the tarter that could help her teeth from getting worse? When I first started cleaning Lily's teeth last month I only did it 4 times in the entire month. In the beginning Lily's gums were mad and producing some blood the first time. Then she had less and less the following times. I wasn't as focused on cleaning her teeth and that is why I only fit in 4 times last month.

This month I want to be more proactive and do it 5 times a week or so? So far I have only done it 3 times in this month. There hasn't been any blood in the 3 times I already did. I am thinking because I wasn't regularly brushing Lily's teeth was the reason for the blood before. Kind of like if we as people don't regularly floss and then the dental hygienist goes to clean our teeth and they bleed from irritation.

I wear a pair of white cotton gloves ( I used to use them as liners because I was allergic to the surgical gloves I had to wear all day when I was working) I dip the index finger of those gloves into just plain water and rub starting at the gumline down. It gives me a lot of control unlike the toothbrush that I was banging around in his mouth, sometimes accidentally gouging him. Ouch.

I will try this! I bought some dental scrapers, but they don't scrape well right now. The plaque is very hard. I will work at breaking it down. Q-tips and the rubber glove method you mentioned sounds like better methods! I don't want to gouge Lily either!

 

[Bobbie And Bubba]

The plaque is very hard.

Hard plaque is called calculus and you won't be able to remove it. It can only be removed mechanically. Glad, less bleeding, that's good , but as long as there is calculus up around the gums , there is inflammation. ( I was in the dental field for over 40 year)

Good for you brushing as often as you do, you put me to shame! If I get 2 times a week, it's a good week! I always strive for more...

 

[Calicos are Best (GA)]

I just cleaned Lily's teeth with the rubber glove and q-tips. She didn't really like the rubber glove, but she let me do it. She tried to bite a little but she didn't get my fingers. lol.

When I look at Lily's spreadsheet her numbers are all over the place. It has been a long time since they were stable. I will talk to the vet again about Lily's numbers. She had 1 good day May 4th, 2019. I will ask about concerns I have with anesthesia. You are right maybe her numbers won't ever come down without the vet doing a procedure. Lily has 2 different colored gums. On her right it is a black gum and on the left side it is a pink gum. The pink side looks kind of mad.

 

[Calicos are Best (GA)]

Good for you brushing as often as you do, you put me to shame!

I am trying everything in the book to try to get the good numbers that you and the other veterans on here get. lol You guys are all experts and have amazing SS. I strive for.

Hmm...I don't like the vet, but maybe that is what Lily needs! I will think about making an appt. See what they can do.

 

[Bobbie And Bubba]

The good numbers that Bubba has didn't come over night. It was with lots of data and increasing safely according to TR until he hit his dose and then he started racing down the dosing ladder.

Keep on keeping on. But, I would seriously insist on the dental. If not at that vet, another one? If you don't like the vet, all the more reason to find a practice that feels like a good fit.

 

[Bobbie And Bubba]

Lily has 2 different colored gums. On her right it is a black gum and on the left side it is a pink gum. The pink side looks kind of mad.

From her photo, she appears to be a Tortie. Having pink gums in one place and black gums in another are indicative of Torties. Also, to have a couple of pink paw pads and a couple black paw pads. The pink gums will be more noticeable if they are inflamed.

 

[Calicos are Best (GA)]

From her photo, she appears to be a Tortie. Having pink gums in one place and black gums in another are indicative of Torties. Also, to have a couple of pink paw pads and a couple black paw pads.

I thought torties predominantly have more black fur with all the other colors?





I did find some torties they call torbies that look like Lily called a Brown Mackerel Torbie.



Here are some other photos of Lily.



I always wondered if Lily could be part Maine Coon. She is a larger kitty, but not as massive as the kitties who are full Main Coon. After you mentioned the tortie I did find the Brown Mackerel Torbie so now I am wondering even more. Lily has all pink paws. Her one back paw pad does have a circle of black though. It is mostly pink with a small amount of black.

The pink gums will be more noticeable if they are inflamed.

Yes, I did notice this with Lily's gums.

I'll continue to clean Lily's teeth and think about what I want to do regarding Lily's vet. My vet is actually pretty good, but I cannot stand the emergency hospital when Lily gets sick. Honestly I feel like medical professionals just don't give you the advice and care like you guys on here do though. The medical people are there to make money. You guys have hands on experience and don't tell people do stupid things that just don't make sense.

 

[Mollycat]

I have been reading online about something called Sangre de Drago/ Dragon's Blood. It is a natural remedy that comes from the sap of trees in the rainforest. Some of the sites online indicate that if you apply it to your cat's teeth it will break down tarters building up. Other sites mention that is can fight off infections.

Here are some of the sources I have been reading:

Natural Remedies to Clean a Cat's Teeth
Blog About the Natural Ways to Clean Teeth
Cat Forum Talking about Dragon's Blood
Sangre De Drago - More about it

I have slowly been trying to brush my cat Lily's teeth with q-tips and water mixed with this powder I bought on Amazon a while ago called plaque zapper. You're really supposed to be able to just add the powder to water and leave out the water for cats and dogs to drink. Then supposedly this will clean there teeth when they drink the water. What a silly idea for cats!!! We all know cats don't drink much water unless it is a sign of their diabetes acting up. Hence, why I dip the q-tips in the water.

This week I cleaned Lily's teeth with the q-tips and plaque zapper 3 times. She is a very good cat and is patient. She does bite the q-tips a little when I do it also which I am sure helps clean her teeth more. I would say Lily's front teeth are pretty good plaque wise, but she has 2 back teeth on each side which are looking like they could definitely use some cleaning.

The reason why I am looking for alternatives to the vet is because Lily's diabetes is not stabilized. The vet doesn't want to clean her teeth under anesthesia unless she has better numbers. Personally I also don't feel comfortable either, so I actually agree with the vet on this one. If I can clean Lily's teeth and save them from rotting and removal I think it would totally be worth it!

Does anyone have any personal experience with using Sangre de Drago on their cat's teeth? OR any input cleaning plaque on your cat's teeth?

Hi I saw your post. My cat has bad teeth and I ask the vet each time if it's a good idea to clean them by she says they're not too bad but bad. I know they don't like to clean teeth when their sugar is high but the condition of the teeth could be affecting the blood sugar. I wondered if I should pursue a cleaning.

 

[Calicos are Best (GA)]

Hi @Mollycat ! Pursuing a cleaning at the vet could be a good idea. I am thinking of doing that also. I might hold off for a little bit and see if I can clean my cat Lily's teeth myself and check if there is any progress in relation to blood glucose levels.

I haven't confirmed anything about what I read with the Sangre de Drago from anyone on here. I will stick to water and sprinkling some tiny amounts of plaque-zapper. Usually I just dip q-tips in water and rub my cat's teeth. Sometimes she chews the q tips when I do it, but it's ok I think it just helps clean her teeth further.

@Bobbie And Bubba suggested to use a rubber glove and water. I tried the glove technique yesterday along with my q-tip routine.

The vet doesn't want to clean her teeth under anesthesia unless she has better numbers.

The problem with that thinking is that if there is inflammation in the gums and/or a tooth ache, the numbers won't come down. It's a catch 22. Twice after Bubba had a dental and had bad teeth removed his numbers came down to normal ranges once the tissue had healed. Personally, I would get the dental and anything addressed that needed to be.

This is some advice earlier in this post that @Bobbie And Bubba gave me.

If your vet thinks you should get your cat's numbers down before doing any dental procedures you can get lots of help on this site.