| Animal Attraction Pets and Other critters. |
 | 
05-23-2005, 06:16 PM
|  | Epinions Members | | Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Home
Posts: 8,499
| |
Do you brush your cat's teeth?
__________________  You are better when you are pink Winnie the Pooh |
05-23-2005, 07:35 PM
|  | In Spanish, I'm Marijuana | | Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Lawn-Guy-Land, NY
Posts: 29,218
| |
I tried to. Didn't. Astro had 10 teeth removed as a result and Buffy (RIP) used to have huge chunks of tartar on his teeth that the vet would scrape off with his thumbnail (tsk tsk tsk-ing me the whole time).
Hubby got some Ortha-Gel for Princess when he was at the vet, you're supposed to apply it once every 2 weeks to prevent tartar and keep from having to brush the cat's teeth.
__________________
MJ
It's extraordinary to me that the United States can find $700 billion to save Wall Street and the entire G8 can't find $25 billion dollars to save 25,000 children who die every day from preventable diseases.~ Bono |
05-23-2005, 08:59 PM
|  | Registered Member | | Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 5,905
| |
I just keep mine on hard food. I don't think Pixie would be a problem with teeth brushing, but Stranger's teeth are much sharper, and she has this way of getting REALLY spastic...
__________________ Axis of Evil (You know you want to join)
Emergency Backup Curmudgeon
"Wow, sometimes violence is the OPPOSITE of helpful" ~~ Pete Abrams |
05-23-2005, 09:52 PM
|  | Epinions Members | | Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: The City In A Garden
Posts: 5,237
| |
Ben gets hard food, unless he manages to snatch a piece of my dinner (this is a new activity -- he's never done it before, but now we have regular sessions of "Why do you get all the interesting stuff and I only get (ugh!) kibble?). He also gnaws on my knuckles from time to time. Seems to work. |
05-23-2005, 10:11 PM
|  | Epinions Members | | Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Pacific Northwest
Posts: 425
| |
No. The younger cat is much too sensitive about human hands touching his mouth, and I don't like cat fangs piercing my hand. The older cat we did while he was younger but that didn't last. Both eat hard food, and the occasional scrap from us. |
05-23-2005, 11:12 PM
|  | Dancing in the streets | | Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Home of the Frito
Posts: 4,932
| |
We brush Claude's teeth/gums with our finger whenever we think about it. He'll tolerate that but won't tolerate any kind of brush in his mouth, even the finger brushes.
Cindy
__________________
What sig line? |
05-23-2005, 11:14 PM
|  | Hot and Juicy | | Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: off campus
Posts: 46,671
| |
I wish I did. I had their teeth cleaned a few years ago and it's EXPENSIVE, and they're going to need it again soon.
You really have to start when they are kittens, and forget about the handle brushes - they have little brushes that fit over your finger tips - those are much easier. |
05-23-2005, 11:15 PM
|  | Mom of the Four Men | | Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Canada, sort of
Posts: 17,476
| |
Yes, not as regularly as we ought to, but yes.
Cindy, aka "Hook"  |
05-23-2005, 11:35 PM
| | In Spanish, I'm Marijuana | | Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Lawn-Guy-Land, NY
Posts: 29,218
| |
Note: my cats have never had anything but hard food. Didn't keep the tartar away - vet said it's genetic, IIRC. And the cleanings are even more difficult when they're really old (10+) because the vets are loath to put the cats under when they're that old.
__________________
MJ
It's extraordinary to me that the United States can find $700 billion to save Wall Street and the entire G8 can't find $25 billion dollars to save 25,000 children who die every day from preventable diseases.~ Bono |
05-23-2005, 11:38 PM
| | Hot and Juicy | | Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: off campus
Posts: 46,671
| |
Birdie eats canned, Bogey eats dry. They both needed cleanings. The difference after the cleaning was amazing. Their gums were healthier and their breath was better, and they seemed happier. |
05-24-2005, 12:53 AM
|  | I'm Sparkly in Real Life | | Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: It's not heaven, it's Iowa
Posts: 24,356
| |
Dogs same as cats....I never even thought of brushing an animal's teeth when we were growing up and raising animals. Now I'm stressing because I can see gunk on Rex's teeth (and we have a new kitty, so now I will stress about that thankyouverymuch) and I tried brushing them but he was having nothing to do with that.
Do you use toothpaste?
__________________ C-My Designs has been updated! Check out my new, improved website for incredible jewelry design. SUBSCRIBE TO The Beading Help Web Blog who knows, you just might learn something!!
Take the pledge. Just say no to  |
05-24-2005, 12:55 AM
| | I'm Sparkly in Real Life | | Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: It's not heaven, it's Iowa
Posts: 24,356
| |
Additional thought. Maybe I should just try those (Colgate? Crest?) brush ups things that you put on your finger and brush with????
__________________ C-My Designs has been updated! Check out my new, improved website for incredible jewelry design. SUBSCRIBE TO The Beading Help Web Blog who knows, you just might learn something!!
Take the pledge. Just say no to |
05-24-2005, 01:12 AM
| | Mom of the Four Men | | Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Canada, sort of
Posts: 17,476
| |
I just use a regular child's toothbrush. Reserved just for the cats, of course- what kind of mom do you think I am? 
Cindy |
05-24-2005, 02:18 AM
|  | Housemother to the World | | Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: A Capital Ship For an Ocean Trip
Posts: 3,313
| |
Aren't "greenies" supposed to help keep a dog's teeth clean?
No, we don't brush our cats' teeth, and Critter, who likes the occaisional saucer of milk, is the one who has tartar on his teeth.
__________________
"Death before dishonor. Nothing before coffee." |
05-24-2005, 09:35 AM
| | Hot and Juicy | | Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: off campus
Posts: 46,671
| |
They have special toothpaste for dogs and cats. Do NOT use human toothpaste!!!
The cat toothpaste is supposed to taste like fish or something. |
05-24-2005, 10:05 AM
| | Epinions Members | | Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Pacific Northwest
Posts: 425
| |
Quote: | theworm said
...cat toothpaste is supposed to taste like fish or something. | 
Imagine accidentally mistaking that toothpaste for human use?!
When we had a Samoyed, we did brush his teeth. The vet we originally used for our cats, told us it wasn't necessary if the cats ate dry food. My parents (who have always owned multiple animals) thinks its crazy, stating that they are just animals. Regardless... my parents do treat their dogs and cats as family members. |
05-25-2005, 08:33 AM
| | Epinions Members | | Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Home
Posts: 8,499
| |
Quote: | mjfrombuffalo said
I tried to. Didn't. Astro had 10 teeth removed as a result ... | How did Astro react? Was it under a general? Did you consider it expensive?
__________________ You are better when you are pink Winnie the Pooh |
05-25-2005, 08:38 AM
| | Epinions Members | | Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Home
Posts: 8,499
| |
Quote: | theworm said
... - they have little brushes that fit over your finger tips - those are much easier. | I have seen those, but I am concerned the brush will fall off in the mouth and choke the cat. Unnecessary fear?
__________________ You are better when you are pink Winnie the Pooh |
05-25-2005, 08:41 AM
| | Epinions Members | | Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Home
Posts: 8,499
| |
Quote: | jenninca said
We brush Claude's teeth/gums with our finger whenever we think about it. | Does that help to rub off loose food bits?
__________________ You are better when you are pink Winnie the Pooh |
05-25-2005, 08:54 AM
| | Epinions Members | | Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Home
Posts: 8,499
| |
Quote: | eris esoteric said
I just keep mine on hard food. | Quote: | rmthunter said
Ben gets hard food | Quote: | Lisa_J said
Both eat hard food |
Same here. My six-year-old kittens have had mostly hard food ever since they were weaned. At their last visit to the vet we were told that they all had problems with their teeth. The teeth were in such poor condition that the vet said all the cats might need dental surgery. He suggested first that we try a special dental food by HILLS. We used the food for about three months, but I have not noticed any improvement in the teeth, or the breath 
__________________ You are better when you are pink Winnie the Pooh |
05-25-2005, 09:04 AM
| | Epinions Members | | Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Home
Posts: 8,499
| |
Quote: | theworm said
The cat toothpaste is supposed to taste like fish or something. | Blech!
That reminds me of some fishy oil that I had to give Clarice (I think it was Clarice) to help her pass a hairball. The vet suggested I put it on Clarice's paw so that Clarice would lick it off.  Clarice just hobbled around, holding her "injured" paw in the air.
__________________ You are better when you are pink Winnie the Pooh |
05-25-2005, 09:09 AM
| | Epinions Members | | Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Home
Posts: 8,499
| |
Quote: | Lisa_J said
My parents (who have always owned multiple animals) thinks its crazy, stating that they are just animals. | What about from the economic point of view? Even if thought of brushing an animal's teeth sounds crazy, what if helps avoid some large vet bills?
__________________ You are better when you are pink Winnie the Pooh |
05-25-2005, 09:20 AM
| | Epinions Members | | Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Home
Posts: 8,499
| |
| |
When Poe ain't happy, ain't nobody happy.