Hey Everyone...
I'm new here, and I hope to get to know everyone soon! I am quite frustrated, and I'd like to know if any of you have any experience with issues concerning the mouth/teeth. My cat is going to the vet again, but we've been going through this for quite some time now. I don't know my cat's age, the vet has guessed him to be around 5-7 years old. I got him from someone who had to get rid of him. He was a happy, healthy cat for a few years, but over the last 2-3 years he's been having horrible problems with his mouth/teeth. What happens is, his gums become very red and bleed, usually on the top. He gets these sores above his teeth, and they're nasty! He has awful breath when this happens. He also refuses to eat, because he's in so much pain from it. (I would refuse to eat too!!! Ouch!!!) He won't groom himself, either. This problem goes in cycles of sorts, although I have not found any sort of pattern or been able to figure out if anything specific sets it off.
He's had dental cleanings done and blood work. During one of the dentals, they were supposed to pull two teeth. (The big teeth on top. I don't remember what their called, but there's one on each side.) They only ended up pulling one. Every time this infection comes back, I take him to the vet and they look at his mouth, give him a pain shot, and send him home with oral liquid antibiotics. The infection does clear up and he begins eating again, but a couple months later (sometimes sooner, sometimes later), it comes right back! Because he can't eat, he also loses weight, and quickly. I've tried all types of wet foods, and even that replacement milk for kittens so he can at least get some nutrition. He tries to eat, but just ends up screaming and running away.
I feel so bad for him. He's such a sweet cat. I am on a mission of sorts to try to figure out what could possibly be causing this. The vet said this happens in some cats, and they do not know why. He said what happens is the cat's immune system for some reason begins looking at their teeth as foreign bodies that should not be there, and their body basically attacks their teeth. He said eventually he'll need to have all of his teeth pulled out! It just seems so odd to me. I've had lots of cats, and not one of them has ever had any kind of problem like this. He is so miserable.
I'm also quite frustrated because of his pain. The pain shot they give him each time, they say it lasts about 3 months. That seems not right to me somehow. My cat's behavior tells me it only lasts between 3 days and a week, at the most. They never give him any sort of pain medicine to have at home if it's needed (although they do give him extra antibiotics for if it returns, as we've been there so many times for this same thing that taking him in each time is just not needed). Don't they make some kind of kitty motrin or something? Anything that would be safe for them to give me to give to him?
I did find this homeopathic treatment that I can put in his water. It's called "better breath, teeth and gums", I believe. I found it at my health food store. It does help him, and he doesn't seem to even notice it in his water.( I put it in the dogs water, too. He doesn't notice it either, and he has never had "dog breath" and the vet said his teeth are perfect. )
So, have any of you ever experienced something like this? Do any of you have any ideas of what I could do for him? Or perhaps some other questions I could ask the vet or anything? I'd be happy to hear any suggestions. I'm simply beside myself, and my poor kitty is absolutely miserable!
Thank you for your time! I know this is pretty long for my first post and all.
Puzzle
I'm new here, and I hope to get to know everyone soon! I am quite frustrated, and I'd like to know if any of you have any experience with issues concerning the mouth/teeth. My cat is going to the vet again, but we've been going through this for quite some time now. I don't know my cat's age, the vet has guessed him to be around 5-7 years old. I got him from someone who had to get rid of him. He was a happy, healthy cat for a few years, but over the last 2-3 years he's been having horrible problems with his mouth/teeth. What happens is, his gums become very red and bleed, usually on the top. He gets these sores above his teeth, and they're nasty! He has awful breath when this happens. He also refuses to eat, because he's in so much pain from it. (I would refuse to eat too!!! Ouch!!!) He won't groom himself, either. This problem goes in cycles of sorts, although I have not found any sort of pattern or been able to figure out if anything specific sets it off.
He's had dental cleanings done and blood work. During one of the dentals, they were supposed to pull two teeth. (The big teeth on top. I don't remember what their called, but there's one on each side.) They only ended up pulling one. Every time this infection comes back, I take him to the vet and they look at his mouth, give him a pain shot, and send him home with oral liquid antibiotics. The infection does clear up and he begins eating again, but a couple months later (sometimes sooner, sometimes later), it comes right back! Because he can't eat, he also loses weight, and quickly. I've tried all types of wet foods, and even that replacement milk for kittens so he can at least get some nutrition. He tries to eat, but just ends up screaming and running away.
I feel so bad for him. He's such a sweet cat. I am on a mission of sorts to try to figure out what could possibly be causing this. The vet said this happens in some cats, and they do not know why. He said what happens is the cat's immune system for some reason begins looking at their teeth as foreign bodies that should not be there, and their body basically attacks their teeth. He said eventually he'll need to have all of his teeth pulled out! It just seems so odd to me. I've had lots of cats, and not one of them has ever had any kind of problem like this. He is so miserable.
I'm also quite frustrated because of his pain. The pain shot they give him each time, they say it lasts about 3 months. That seems not right to me somehow. My cat's behavior tells me it only lasts between 3 days and a week, at the most. They never give him any sort of pain medicine to have at home if it's needed (although they do give him extra antibiotics for if it returns, as we've been there so many times for this same thing that taking him in each time is just not needed). Don't they make some kind of kitty motrin or something? Anything that would be safe for them to give me to give to him?
I did find this homeopathic treatment that I can put in his water. It's called "better breath, teeth and gums", I believe. I found it at my health food store. It does help him, and he doesn't seem to even notice it in his water.( I put it in the dogs water, too. He doesn't notice it either, and he has never had "dog breath" and the vet said his teeth are perfect. )
So, have any of you ever experienced something like this? Do any of you have any ideas of what I could do for him? Or perhaps some other questions I could ask the vet or anything? I'd be happy to hear any suggestions. I'm simply beside myself, and my poor kitty is absolutely miserable!
Thank you for your time! I know this is pretty long for my first post and all.
Puzzle
