Speaking of animals ad dental health, pardon me while I fret. I'm still worrying about getting my cats' cleaned. I've never had any of my cats' teeth cleaned, and they've all lived long healthy lives with all their teeth. I also have heard scary stories about anesthesia. But every time I see their vet, he tells me their teeth need cleaning, and implies that I'm a bad kitty caretaker if I don't do it. I've looked at their teeth - Leo has some redness at the gumline, and it's hard to tell with Percy because his skin is black but he's the same age and eats the same food, so it's a fair bet that his teeth are about the same. Neither has shown any indication of having sore teeth, but certainly I don't want them to. So what do I do? I'm frankly terrified that one of them won't wake up, or will wake up and be not quite the same anymore. I know it's rare and unlikely, but rare things happen.

I'm also massively peeved because I was roped into helping to organize an event for this Thursday, where in I was charged to pursue and manage a panel of pretty high end speakers. I did my bit. The organization now tells me that they have procured 4 registrations.

I was so clear about what I could and could not do for this event THREE MONTHS ago, and TODAY they tell me they never really pulled their act together.

Aaagh. The desire to upbraid people is disproportionate to the benefit I would gain by doing so. And it burns.

Zen, I've never gotten teeth cleaned and I'm pretty sure that a lot of our Buffista pet owners - who are among the very best of pet owners, mind you - will come in and say that they never did it either and their pets lived long awesome lives.

I'm sure, being in the way of How Buffistas Work, that there are just as many who do get their pets' teeth cleaned and those pets also live long and awesome lives.

Either way, you are not a bad kitty owner as the fretting over it alone makes you and awesome kitty mama.

My dog was able to get some kind of teeth cleaning that didn't involve putting him under. If you're worried about anesthesia you might ask about other options. He also got his teeth cleaned when he was under anyway to have a fatty tumor removed.

My diabetic cat has lost all his fangs at this point. It doesn't hinder his ability to eat (including kibble) at all.

Zen, I know a lot more about dogs than cats, but I will say that this product, called Plaque Off is like a miracle.

Bartleby had really bad teeth issues, but once I began giving him this stuff, he simply stopped accumulating plaque. Now the redness part is a different problem, and we solve it with chewies and teeth brushing, but I assume you could get a piece of damp gauze around your finger and massage the kittie's gums at least a little bit. This would help stimulate blood flow and, maybe, break up the infection.

I should add that I know a 12 year old kitty who never even saw a vet, much less had her teeth cleaned, and she's fine. She has one tooth left, but she's totally able to eat and, frankly, cause a ruckus when the mood strikes her.

eta: OH, and I second the recommendation of finding an non-general anesthesia option. My bestie's two Shih Tzus just had their teeth cleaned without and they did just great. They are also 12.

I have had Bartleby's teeth cleaned in the past, but now that he is 9, would not do it again. Besides, the aforementioned Plaque Off has taken care of the problem!

We have our cats' teeth cleaned as needed, usually every couple of years. (In fact, the dentist gave us an adorable photo of Marie hiding behind a lamp in the waiting room.)

I'm not opposed in principle to sympathy cards for the loss of a pet. But an office that plays favorites when recognizing people's milestones has some pretty severe problems. (My office has a policy of, if we know when your birthday is, we'll celebrate it. I've made a point of keeping quiet about when mine is. But that's a conscious decision on my part, not something I think everyone should do.)

this product, called Plaque Off

In looking at their site, I see they make this for humans too. I think I'll try it on all of us!

In looking at their site, I see they make this for humans too.

Right! It started in Britain...obvious dental jokes avoided...and has had great success. I don't know about the people side of it, but I really can't say enough about what it has done for my pooch.

Interestingly, the specialty dentist I first worked with, gave me a totally inappropriate ration about how could I put anything in my dog's mouth that I would not put in mine (my response was...Um. He's a dog. Oh, and he eats dirt). But he neglected to mention this wonderful product. Why? Because it put him right out of business with me!

Because it put him right out of business with me!

Which is where I think Zen's vet is headed. Seriously, I made a note at my dentist to tell them there was one dental tech I refused to let clean my teeth, because it was a constant sermon on the "proper" way to brush and I obviously wasn't doing it. I brush, I floss, I rinse with mouthwash, I've got 29 of my original teeth at 52. My grandmother had none at my age. End of story.

Roundabout way of saying, I think Zen's vet is looking for more fees, less concerned with the animals health (still concerned, but $$$$).