Reptile & Amphibian Forums

How important is it to have your cat's teeth cleaned? My vet just told me that my 10 year old cat- who is otherwise healthy and eats only dried food- has a little gingivitis and should have her teeth cleaned every year. But until now I've never heard of doing such a thing for cats. And I've grown up with a lot of them- all who lived to be 16- 17 yrs old without having their teeth cleaned. It's expensive too- about $50 for bloodwork and then another $200 for the procedure, which involves putting her under anesthesia! Should I just bite the bullet, or is this some thing I don't really need to do? I'd really appreciate some feedback!

If you have the money I would do it. Here is a link that is recommended.
dental care

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Jaime owned by
Mya the dog
and the cats:Crash, Moxie, Gabby and sometimes Tucker

Thanks for the info. I found that website to be extremely helpful and informative. I wasn't sure if the vet was just trying to push some new procedure on me or if it really is important. I didn't realize that so many other health problems could arise from having bad teeth. I'm going to schedule it for my cat right away. And when I get my new kitten I'm going to brush his teeth!

The biggest issue around teeth cleaning is a heart issue. If the gums are diseased then those nasty bacteria can invade the cat's heart and cause problems. Best to kept them out of the system and clean the teeth and gums regularly!
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Smile, it will make them wonder what you are up to!