Gus had his annual check-up at the vet office yesterday. I haven’t worked there for a year and a half, but I did see several people I know. It was fun to say hi.
Gus was healthy in every way, except his teeth. He has really red gums. The doctor thinks it might be decay. She recommends that he has a tooth cleaning. That way, he’ll be knocked out and she can look more closely at his irritated gum to see what’s going on.
I would never have thought I’d pay real money for a cat of mine to have an anesthetized teeth cleaning, but I’m seriously considering it. Gus represents a significant financial and emotional commitment, and it would be a shame to have him die of some tooth infection before I get my money’s worth. Plus, I have to make sure he gets past three years old. Ned died at seven and Max died at five. Gus has to live past three to break the pattern.
He was nervous, but compliant.
One warning: my best buddy at the time, Lab and Border Collie mix “Bonzo”, who moved here with me from Chicago and lived 17.5 years total, was brought to another animal hospital which shall not be named here and was improperly anesthetized for teeth cleaning. Suffice it to say the bill was only paid under protest, he was given care every 48 hours by said animal hospital from July 4th through Labor day to get him through the complications, and he never had his teeth cleaned again. You know your vet and how much trust you have in the process…but also, as we discussed recently, the importance of good dental hygiene in overall health. So….good luck with all that….and glad Gus is in general good health overall. (Can he gum his food if need be?)
Yikes, Carol – that’s awful!
I think it’s ok to have something done about it, since dental health is linked to heart health, but maybe you could try having him lay off the candy first.
Speaking of candy, are those hearts on a stick in the cupboard? Is that for the carnivores after they’ve been good? “Here’s a lolly.”