Do you have any animal toothpaste in the house? That must have some antibacterial agents in it of some sort. If it tastes good, I'd think about diluting it and using a Qtip to clean her teeth instead of stressing her further with something that might work better, (thank you Barbara for the info!), but may not be worth it, given the circumstances. How about a watery baking soda paste, if you don't have toothpaste? If she freaks with the Qtip, you might try a damp wash cloth over your finger, Jazz seemed to find that not quite as scary as the Qtip. Maybe you could have it ready to use after you syringe feed her, that way she doesn't have to be "wrapped" more than once. Keep that resolve firm, I know how awful I feel when I'm having to force them to succumb to treatments when all they want is to be left alone. Let us know when she starts to eat on her own.
I sent the following to Michelle in an off-list email this morning. I thought I'd repeat it for the list.
About Ginger's mouth... Do you have an antibacterial wash to use on Ginger's teeth? My vet prescribed "CET" oral rinse, (not sure what the CET stands for). Of course, I don't use it as directed. It says to syringe .5cc to 1cc on one side of the mouth and then the next day the other side. What I do instead is dilute it with a tiny bit of water, (about equal amounts), and use a Qtip to gently clean the gum line. It doesn't taste bad and it helps to keep the bacteria level down. The other med I've had success with for gingivitis is Peroxicam. It's an antiinflammatory similar to aspirin. My specialty clinic is always manned, even during their off hours to accommodate ER cases. They don't usually take appointments, but they are available to fill prescriptions, if you can get hold of your vet to authorize them. With scripts as benign as these, you may be able to get the ER vet on duty to give them to you. Just a thought. I know how hard it is to sit by and do nothing.
I've had great success getting Gypsy eating by piercing a salmon oil cap and dropping some over her food. The aroma gets her motivated to eat even when she seems to have forgotten how. Of course, Gypsy's favorite food is salmon, (and it's her belly that hurts, not her mouth). I've had Gypsy on a raw diet for the last month, (exclusively for the last 2 weeks). When she's having a hard time eating, I pop the raw muscle meat, (cut into tiny little pieces), into the microwave for 10 seconds to "sear" the outside, warm the meat, and bring out the aroma. This usually gets her interested enough to start eating.
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
Barbara, thank you so much! I actually have the gaia combo in the house-- we take it when we get colds. I am stressing her so much with syringing and antibiotics and fluids-- she fights terribly and has to be toweled for each-- that I don't know whether I want to also put something in her mouth that will make her foam. hmm.... what to do....
Michelle
In a message dated 5/7/05 12:54:18 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
<< going thru my cat care books. one mentions Biodent-a good general
nutritional supplement to benefit the mouth.a human product but vet can
order. contains bone meal, carrot powder, spleen and other nutrients that
create a healthier chemisty in tissue of mouth. takes time to work. for
inflamed gums, the topical application of an herbal combinatin called
Echinacea-goldenseal supreme by gaia herbs-saurate a Q tip with the liquid
and run along gum line once a day or if condition severe, twice a day. (tho
as I recall, echinacea made my cats foam at mouth...the taste.)
anitra frzier mentions an herbal remedy to soothe and heal sore and bleeding
gums--add 1/4 teaspooon salt to 1/2 cup strong lukewarm calendula and pat on
gums with a cotton ball. herbal remedies are usualy taken 3-4 times a day,
one to two teaspoons of tea for a cat, 1/2 t. for a kitten. another book
mentions calendula for general gum care-purchase a bottle of the mother
tincture-put 6 drops in 1 oz of distilled water --if gums are infected
already, use a cotton swab padded with extra cotton(from a cotton ball)so
tht it soaks up the liquid. (brushing would only irritate gums more). cover
both inside and outside of the gums(I guess they mean both sides of the
teeth)with the calendula.
hope some of this helps. calendula is usually easy to find in a good health
food store.
interesting footnotes that the vets seem to feel they see teeth problems
more in certain breeds and colors. redheaded cats have more gingivitis than
other cats. purebreds more at risk-tho maine coons have less problems than
abyssinians and persians. My Mr. Bean is red and he ws the first one to
exhibit the gum and tooth problems.
barbara
>>
