My Cat's Dramatic Dental Procedure: What's Involved and Why It Matters - Plus a Kid's Honest Review!

Ultrasonic Cat Tooth Cleaning and Tooth Stone

I never thought I'd be writing about this topic, and to be honest, I had no idea that ultrasonic tooth cleaning was available not just for humans, but for cats too. It was a complete surprise for me.

Maybe this knowledge will be useful to someone, because I'm definitely not the only one living in the dark about the fact that cats need their teeth cleaned too, or at least have their dental health checked regularly (it's recommended to do it once a year).

But let's get back to the story.

Ultrasonic Cat Tooth Cleaning ReviewHow to Detect Tooth Stone in Cats?

For a couple of months before the procedure, we noticed that our cat would occasionally make a strange sound after eating, like he was trying to get something out of his mouth with his paw. It was like he had something stuck in his teeth and was trying to get it out, but his paw just wasn't cooperating.

I'll be honest, we're not exactly experienced cat owners. We've known each other since childhood, but I actually bought him from a market when I was younger, and he's been with me ever since. He's a bit of a legacy, I suppose. Sometimes I joke that some people inherit a mill, while others inherit a cat. I guess that's me.

Ultrasonic Cat Tooth Cleaning ReviewOkay, let's get serious. We adopted our cat, but we didn't really know how to take care of him. I thought that as long as he had clean water, Pro Plan food, and a few toys to play with, he'd be happy and healthy.

But it turns out that's not the case. Our cat is 15 years old, but he's still a spry young fellow. He loves to run around the house, chase toys, and climb up high. He's still got plenty of energy and doesn't act like an old cat at all.

Or so I thought. Until the whole tooth thing started.

Ultrasonic Cat Tooth Cleaning ReviewSo, we took our cat to the vet, who loaded him into a carrier and took him for a check-up. We were a bit worried, but the vet reassured us that it was just a routine procedure.

And that's when we found out that our cat had a tooth stone. Who knew? We'd never even thought about it before.

Removing Tooth Stone from CatsIt was a bit of a shock, but we're just glad that we caught it before it became a bigger problem. And now that we know, we'll make sure to keep an eye on our cat's dental health from now on.

Ultrasonic Cat Tooth Cleaning ReviewSo, if you're a cat owner and you're not sure if your cat needs a dental check-up, just remember that it's always better to be safe than sorry. And if you're wondering how to detect tooth stone in cats, just keep an eye out for any unusual behavior or sounds coming from your cat's mouth.

Ultrasonic Cat Tooth Cleaning ReviewAnd if you're looking for a way to keep your cat's teeth clean, ultrasonic tooth cleaning might be the way to go. Just make sure to do your research and find a reputable vet or clinic that offers the service.

Ultrasonic Cat Tooth Cleaning ReviewAnyway, that's my story about how we discovered that our cat had a tooth stone. I hope it's helpful to someone out there.

Ultrasonic Cat Tooth Cleaning ReviewThanks for reading!

Ultrasonic dog and cat tooth cleaning under anesthesia review
Ultrasonic dog and cat tooth cleaning under anesthesia review My cat's got a pretty scowly face, and it's all because he's not a fan of the great outdoors - or any new places, for that matter. The only place he's really comfortable is our home.

Ultrasonic dog and cat tooth cleaning under anesthesia review
Removing tartar from cats - photo review We got lucky and managed to squeeze in an appointment at the vet's without an appointment, which is pretty rare for us. My husband and I explained the problem, and the vet took a look and quickly diagnosed the issue - my cat had tartar buildup.

The vet gave us a pretty straightforward diagnosis:

Ultrasonic dog and cat tooth cleaning under anesthesia review When the vet showed us the actual tartar buildup, I was shocked - I had no idea it looked like that!

I used to think tartar buildup was just a hard deposit on the teeth, like limescale on a kettle. But my cat's was more like... rocks. I couldn't believe it.

Removing tartar from cats - photo review It was like the tartar had taken over - you could hardly even see the teeth underneath! I have no idea how my poor cat managed to live with that for so long.

Removing tartar from cats - photo review So, why does tartar buildup happen in cats?

The vet explained that it can be caused by a variety of things, from changes in water and food composition to age-related issues. We hadn't changed my cat's water or food, and he's been eating Pro Plan for neutered cats - he's not interested in any other food, to be honest. Maybe it's just a case of age and changes in his saliva, but it's weird - we were at the vet's about a year ago and no one mentioned anything about tartar buildup, but this time it was a major issue.

Ultrasonic tooth cleaning for dogs and cats under anesthesia reviewOur vet told us that tooth plaque is a super common issue in dogs and cats these days, but it's even more prevalent in those who eat soft, wet food because it doesn't clean their teeth mechanically. Our cat, on the other hand, only eats dry food, so that's weird.

Ultimately, they suggested we do an ultrasonic tooth cleaning with a complete oral cavity sanitation. One tooth was in question - it was loose and the vet wasn't sure if it could be saved or if it would have to be removed after the plaque was cleared.

Ultrasonic tooth cleaning for dogs and cats under anesthesia reviewWHY DOES REMOVING TOOTH PLAQUE IN CATS ONLY HAPPEN UNDER ANESTHESIA?

Ultrasonic tooth cleaning for cats is only done under general anesthesia, at least in the clinic we went to. We were worried about how our cat would react to the anesthesia and if there were any alternatives.

Ultrasonic tooth cleaning for dogs and cats under anesthesia reviewBut they explained that trying to remove plaque from a awake cat is a pointless endeavor because the cat won't let you do it properly and you can't reach all the teeth, especially near the gums.

And that's the problem with plaque - it slowly raises the gums, causes gum inflammation, and eventually leads to tooth loss.

And after removing the plaque, they do a thorough polishing of the teeth to prevent the buildup of new plaque in the micro-cracks and irregularities - again, an awake cat can't get a proper polishing done.

Our vet told us that tooth plaque is now a super common issue in animals, and many cases are already quite advanced. According to her, some cats and dogs that come to the clinic have such severe gum inflammation that they have to remove up to ten teeth at once. Ten teeth at once!

Before the procedure, our cat was thoroughly examined and had a blood test (they recommended we do a fasting blood test next time, just like humans).

Then our cat was scheduled for an echocardiogram because of his age - the vets were worried about how he would react to the anesthesia.

But I was right - our cat is a trooper, even if he's 'over the hill' age-wise: the vet gave him a backhanded compliment, saying "the only problem is his weight, otherwise, he's got no health issues!".

Dental cleaning for dogs and cats under anesthesia reviewHow much does ultrasonic dental cleaning under anesthesia cost?

The "full package" ultrasonic dental cleaning under anesthesia costs 6020 rubles in the clinic, plus mandatory medications for further oral care - another 930 rubles.

This is the "Standard" package for small animals up to 9.9 kg.

Dental cleaning for dogs and cats under anesthesia reviewBut that's not all. This price only includes the anesthesia and the dental cleaning procedure. The after-effects of the anesthesia, which take about an hour and a half to two hours for the cat, are not included in this price. During the after-effects, you need to monitor the cat, moisten its eyes (they will be open), help it wake up, and prevent it from injuring itself, and so on.

We were offered two options: either take the cat home after the dental cleaning still under the influence of the medications and monitor it for these conditional two hours, or pay an additional 2,000 rubles and leave it under the care of professionals in the clinic. Of course, we chose to pay extra.

Then we left the cat to undergo the ultrasonic dental cleaning procedure in the clinic, and they told us it would take about three hours, and they would call us when it was done and we could take the cat home.

How did the cat cope with the procedure of removing tartar and anesthesia?

In the end, the ultrasonic dental cleaning procedure was successful, and the cat handled the anesthesia well. It was a bit lethargic when we picked it up, but that's not surprising.

Conclusion about the procedure: one tooth still had to be removed, as it didn't survive the pressure from the tartar on the gums.

Dental cleaning for dogs and cats under anesthesia reviewHere's a photo of what they removed from the teeth, plus the poor tooth that had to be removed (I'll remove it from the quote for those who are squeamish):

Removing tartar from cats' teeth photo reviewAfter the procedure, we were given a list of recommendations for oral care.

We had to apply a special gel to the gums twice a day and add a special cleaning water for the cat's teeth "for whiteness of teeth and freshness of breath" to its drinking water.

Dental ultrasonic cleaning for dogs and cats under anesthesia reviewI've been using this stuff on a regular basis, and we've actually bought a second bottle. I'm not even sure if it works, but at least my conscience is clear.

Dental ultrasonic cleaning for dogs and cats under anesthesia review Dental ultrasonic cleaning for dogs and cats under anesthesia reviewThe vet also recommended using a toothpaste and brush specifically designed for cats, but let's be real, that's just not happening. Even the vet said it's a pipe dream – nobody can get their cat to sit still for a toothbrush.

On top of the 'tooth stuff', we were also prescribed a parasite and worm treatment, plus an ear medication. That's another 1.5 grand. Here's our shopping list.

Dental ultrasonic cleaning for dogs and cats under anesthesia reviewSo, the total came out to be 8,950 rubles for the procedure (including post-anesthesia monitoring), and 1,500 rubles for the additional meds. That's a grand total of over 10,000 rubles.

It's actually more expensive than my regular at-home whitening and dental care routine. Now my husband and I joke that the only ones who don't go to the dentist are him and our son – and even our son only because he's still got baby teeth. But now we've got our cat joining the ranks, and he's rocking a brand-new smile.

Check out those pearly whites – our cat's sporting a brand-new grin.

Dental ultrasonic cleaning for dogs and cats under anesthesia reviewI can only imagine how much of a relief this must be for him compared to what he was dealing with before.

Before:

Dental ultrasonic cleaning for dogs and cats under anesthesia reviewNow:

Removing tartar from cat teeth photo reviewFor comparison:

Removing tartar from cat teeth photo review

Recovery After Ultrasonic Teeth Cleaning Procedure

We were told that our cat might act strangely after the anesthesia, get nauseous, sleep poorly, have trouble using the litter box, or lose its appetite (ha-ha, about losing its appetite - that's for wimps, and definitely not about our healthy guy).

Ultrasonic Teeth Cleaning for Dogs and Cats Under Anesthesia ReviewOn the day of the procedure at home, our kitty was a bit lethargic for the whole evening, but wasn't suffering, whining, or meowing, he was just much quieter than usual.

Ultrasonic Teeth Cleaning for Dogs and Cats Under Anesthesia ReviewFrom his behavior, there was no sense that he was suffering, just a bit of weakness and disorientation - a couple of times he stumbled while walking, but only slightly, he didn't trip or bump into anything.

At home, our cat took a couple of hours to recover, and when he woke up, he immediately started asking for food - meaning he was coming back to life.

We were forbidden from giving him his usual dry food for 2-3 days. So, we bought the most "delicious" packets (according to the consultants at "Four Paws") of wet food.

But our cat despises any wet food, so he took a long time to get used to it, then sort of licked it out of desperation when he realized there was nothing else. He ate reluctantly and in small amounts, gazing longingly at the packets of his favorite food.

Ultrasonic Teeth Cleaning for Dogs and Cats Under Anesthesia ReviewBy the morning of the next day, our cat was back to normal, with no signs of suffering or discomfort. My husband tried to apply the prescribed gel to our cat's gums, but it was a bit of a struggle, of course, but it probably did some good.

A few weeks after the procedure, we took our cat in for a check-up, and it was clear that not only had the tartar been removed, but the inflammation and swelling of the gums had also gone down, and the gums were no longer red and inflamed - they were back to normal.

Ultrasonic Teeth Cleaning for Dogs and Cats Under Anesthesia ReviewHe's no longer trying to pull anything out of his mouth with his paw, he's eating with an appetite, and even chasing after toys.

Overall, he's back to being the cat he used to be, again giving us those disdainful looks that only a feline servant staff deserves, and we're happy about that.

Ultrasonic tooth cleaning for dogs and cats under anesthesia reviewI'm planning to take my furry friend to the clinic in three months for a routine cleaning with toothbrushes, just to see how things go before the tartar builds up again.

I have to admit, the ultrasonic tooth cleaning procedure for cats and dogs might be a bit unpleasant (thanks to the anesthesia), but it's a necessary process that brought my kitty some relief and definitely helped.

❗❗❗UPD I'll add that in the end, my kitty was diagnosed with tooth resorption and had to undergo not only the usual tartar removal procedure but also had to get several teeth extracted. You can read more about it HERE IN THIS REVIEW.

And that's it, folks! Wishing all you pet owners a healthy and happy crew!

You can find more of my reviews on various products, pet gear, and more in my profile ODNA_ADELAIDA!

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