It's been a day of triumph
Sep. 26th, 2008 11:01 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
holly_evolvingSo I posted a few hours ago about my joy at the flight of the rocket man. I have another joy to share.
It starts with sadness. Mudflap has gingivitis. And it's gotten really bad. His gums are red and inflamed; his teeth are discolored. Some are so bad that they may crack, in which case they'll have to be removed.
Tonight, after months of trying, I brushed his teeth.
I couldn't use a brush. His gums are so sensitive I think it would have hurt him. So I used my finger. I cut my nails down as far as I could, and washed my hands very carefully, so there wasn't any residue from soap or lotion on them (they're still dry and uncomfortable, but it was worth it). I'm using C.E.T. enzymatic toothpaste, which costs about $5 for a 2.5 oz tube. It's chicken flavored.
He has always resisted having his mouth handled.
But tonight, I approached him within the bounds of my own philosophy: cats can be handled like dogs. Behaving as an alpha will garner the same results. In this case, I simply approached and handled him as though his resistance were not a possibility. I invited him up on the couch with me and got him tucked under my arm. I put some toothpaste on my finger, gently pulled his jowls loose, and rubbed his teeth. After a second, he submitted, relaxed, and even allowed me to slide my finger along the side of his jaws, into his mouth to get his back teeth. No struggle, no resistance.
I can save my cat's teeth.
I am saving my cat's teeth.
Today has been a very good day.
In honor of my triumph, a Mudflap icon.
It starts with sadness. Mudflap has gingivitis. And it's gotten really bad. His gums are red and inflamed; his teeth are discolored. Some are so bad that they may crack, in which case they'll have to be removed.
Tonight, after months of trying, I brushed his teeth.
I couldn't use a brush. His gums are so sensitive I think it would have hurt him. So I used my finger. I cut my nails down as far as I could, and washed my hands very carefully, so there wasn't any residue from soap or lotion on them (they're still dry and uncomfortable, but it was worth it). I'm using C.E.T. enzymatic toothpaste, which costs about $5 for a 2.5 oz tube. It's chicken flavored.
He has always resisted having his mouth handled.
But tonight, I approached him within the bounds of my own philosophy: cats can be handled like dogs. Behaving as an alpha will garner the same results. In this case, I simply approached and handled him as though his resistance were not a possibility. I invited him up on the couch with me and got him tucked under my arm. I put some toothpaste on my finger, gently pulled his jowls loose, and rubbed his teeth. After a second, he submitted, relaxed, and even allowed me to slide my finger along the side of his jaws, into his mouth to get his back teeth. No struggle, no resistance.
I can save my cat's teeth.
I am saving my cat's teeth.
Today has been a very good day.
In honor of my triumph, a Mudflap icon.
