Should I Let Them Clean Her Teeth?

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Shelly/Boots

Shelly/Boots

Member Since 2012
Hello again,
After taking Boots to the vet for a grinding sound in her mouth I have become fairly convinced
that the vet is going to want to do a lot of teeth work on her. It's not that Boots doesn't need
work, but she is 18 years old. Her diabetes is stable. Today they did blood work and xrays
to see if it's safe for her. I think her check up will come back with a positive review, as she seems
happy and healthy as she can be for 18 years and diabetic. Just worried. Besides the periodic grinding,
she's eating well and acts like she's fine. I hate to tempt fate though. I would never forgive myself
if she didn't survive it. Any advise?
 
Letting a cat be put under anaethesia is always cause for anxiety, and that is especially the case when our cats are old.

But many of us here have old cats who've had dentals (or other procedures) and they've been just fine! Anaesthetics are really good these days. And your vet will take extra care because your cat is an oldie. My cat is now 14 and he's had two dentals in the last couple of years and also was put under anaesthesia just a few weeks ago because of something stuck in his throat. He sailed through all those events with no ill effects.

If you do a search for 'dental' on this forum I'm sure you'll find a few threads on this topic from just the last couple of months.

But of course there is always a risk with any anaesthesia, albeit a very small risk.

It is a matter, I guess, of weighing up the potential benefits of doing the dental against the risks involved in doing it. And also looking at the benefits and risks of not doing the dental. Is there another option? Does your cat have any infection that could be resolved with antibiotics for example?

I know these are hard decisions to make. I have five geriatric cats so I really do sympathise....
 
They do have anesthetics which are safer to use on older cats, plus they can do regional nerve blocks to help reduce the overal anesthetic dose.

Discuss your concerns with the vet and ask how they will manage her.

After the dental is done, you may wish to teach your cat to accept tooth brushing with time and patience. See Cat Info for more info. Don't try it before the dental unless you are sure her mouth is not painful, or she'll never let you do it.
 
This is a link to a post on dental procedures. There is also information on how to determine if a vet has state-of-the-art dental equipment and procedures for monitoring and comfort. Given your concerns, you may want to see if there's a board certified veterinary dentist in your area.
 
I think that the key is to weigh the risks and benefits of not doing the dental. How red are the gums? Bleeding? Problems eating? Loose teeth? Pawing at her mouth? Some vets give antibiotics b4 the dental if the gums are badly infected.

The other thing to ask is who monitors the anaesthetic while the vet is doing the dental. My cat had heart problems and so he had an anaesthetist (board certified) for his dental. It was well worth the extra few hundred dollars to me.
 
Thank you for the responses. The vet did mentioned they can recommend a board certified veterinary dentist.
Today I will find out most of her test results. I have been doing some of the research mentioned and your
answers and links are even more helpful to assist me in my decision. so thanks again
 
Re: Should I Let Them Clean Her Teeth?update

Just heard back from the vet. The good news. Boot's hemoglobin a1c was the same as cat w/out diabetes. Vet was
very impressed. Said most people would be glad with her over all health even if she wasn't diabetic. I know her success is due to the info.
I received on this site. Thank you again! I think I am going to go ahead
and get her dental work done. The vet said her dental problems were advanced. There is a specialist fairly close
by. I think I will use him. My vet said the advantage of the specialist is the speed in which it's done.
 
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