Anastasia's health issue

I promised "otto" here to write all about it, so here goes.

I went to the vet for a check up and vaccination last week on Thursday. They tell me she has some gum issues and since she's got it this young it probably means it's chronic.

She's on antibiotics until they'll pull out her front teeth next Friday. They're hoping they can slow down the progress of her disease. They will probably have to pull out more teeth in the future and if her gums still are irritated and sore after having removed all of her teeth, she will have to be put down, because the pain will increase with time if nothing helps. Even without teeth.

I suppose there is a slight chance of her getting better, so I'm hoping for that and that they wont need to pull out more teeth.

I have to wet feed her only now. She gets some organic wet food, I think it's the best brand there is here.

I actually did go for a dental check up in October or November and then the vet told me that her gums were red, but it was due to stress and that it was normal for her breed (Maine Coon). This time they brought in a 2nd vet and they both agreed that this was serious.

Because of the antibiotics, she's also constipated. She didn't have a bowl movement since Sunday morning. I called the vet again Wednesday and she told me to give her liquid parrafin, but wait one more day (since she ate very little after changing her food, but now she eats normally again). I waited. Nothing happened. I gave her the dosage of parrafin as the vet recommended.

Thursday evening, she still didn't have any bowel movements. The vet also told me to give her an enema if the parrafin wouldn't work. So late Thursday evening me and my bf (who happens to be a nurse... yay!) co-operated on giving her an enema. She was screaming like mad and it was a real struggle holding her still (she's quite big and strong), but she didn't even attempt to claw or bite me. She just wanted to wiggle herself free. Shortly after that she had a bowel movement. I just hope she'll be able to do it on her own again soon.

I've given her yoghurt and cheese, but it didn't seem to work.

That's the story. She's also an angel about me giving her liquid medicine. She sits perfectly still. Which really surprised me a lot, since she's rather mean when I try to brush or comb her.

Right now she's screaming for my attention, so I need to go an play with her

I don't know what sort of pet products you can find, but a probiotic supplement could help since she's been on antibiotics so long. Usually cats (and humans) will get diarrhea from antibiotics destroying the natural intestinal flora - but it can cause constipation, too.

Other home remedies you can safely try are plain canned pumpkin - Not a pie mix, no sugar or spices added. This will provide fiber. Some try butter or olive oil with that, or a hairball paste.

But if this doesn't seem to be getting any better you should probably talk to your vet about a laxative for her. Here we have a gentle human one that commonly gets used, but with no idea what's available there you'll have to ask your vet to figure that out.


Do they think that her dental issue is just bad genetics or have they considered autoimmune? If you can share more information on that it could help those that have dealt with some pretty bad chronic dental issues offer some suggestions.

Originally Posted by strange_wings

I don't know what sort of pet products you can find, but a probiotic supplement could help since she's been on antibiotics so long. Usually cats (and humans) will get diarrhea from antibiotics destroying the natural intestinal flora - but it can cause constipation, too.

Other home remedies you can safely try are plain canned pumpkin - Not a pie mix, no sugar or spices added. This will provide fiber. Some try butter or olive oil with that, or a hairball paste.

But if this doesn't seem to be getting any better you should probably talk to your vet about a laxative for her. Here we have a gentle human one that commonly gets used, but with no idea what's available there you'll have to ask your vet to figure that out.

Do they think that her dental issue is just bad genetics or have they considered autoimmune? If you can share more information on that it could help those that have dealt with some pretty bad chronic dental issues offer some suggestions.

Click to expand...

Olive oil. Will try that! I don't know if we have canned pumpkin, but one type of her wet food actually contains pumpkin. Maybe I should buy more of that kind.

If she doesn't poop tomorrow morning, I will call some vet office about it again (our vet office is closed until Tuesday).

I haven't heard anything about autoimmune, but they told me they'd give me more information after having pulled out her front teeth. I probably need to go back for a check up a short while after that too.
Her ancestors are quite healthy. I did not see this coming *sigh*

Thanks for the input

I don't think any of us really expect and foresee major health issues ahead of time. We all end up blind sided.

If that wet food lists it's fiber content as being high (from the pumpkin) it's certainly worth trying it.

I hope they can give you more information, especially if it means a long term treatment plan.

And I did look at her pictures, she's a gorgeous example of a maine coon. I'm not sure I've seen ear tuffs quite as long as her's before.

Originally Posted by strange_wings

I don't think any of us really expect and foresee major health issues ahead of time. We all end up blind sided.

If that wet food lists it's fiber content as being high (from the pumpkin) it's certainly worth trying it.

I hope they can give you more information, especially if it means a long term treatment plan.

And I did look at her pictures, she's a gorgeous example of a maine coon. I'm not sure I've seen ear tuffs quite as long as her's before.

Click to expand...

Yeah, you're right. I wish we could foresee them though, hehe.

I just gave her some olive oil mixed in with her wet food.

Thanks, I keep hearing that about her tuffs Now I will search for photos of your cats as well, hehe.

Originally Posted by KatrineA

Now I will search for photos of your cats as well, hehe.

Click to expand...

I don't have any recent ones up. Though this is the cat section of my photos. I should probably update pictures some time.

I hope you enjoy the community here.

I am sorry you are going through this with your cat. I hope the gums will heal and you can have some more time with her.

Originally Posted by strange_wings

I don't have any recent ones up.

Though this is the cat section of my photos. I should probably update pictures some time.

I hope you enjoy the community here.

Click to expand...

Cute cats! Did you keep all the kittens and which cat is the mum? Is Sherman a Siamese mix or is he a Ragdoll? Very beautiful kitties

Originally Posted by KatrineA

Cute cats! Did you keep all the kittens and which cat is the mum? Is Sherman a Siamese mix or is he a Ragdoll? Very beautiful kitties

Click to expand...

Yes, I'm stuck with all three kittens. Oh well, we're all used to each other. I honestly do not know where their mother is - they were caught at the petfood factory that my husband works at. Had we not taken them, they would have either been hypothermic by morning and/or killed shortly after by animal control because we have no animal shelter here and they were feral. Mother cat was never caught or seen at the factory after we took the kittens.

Sherman's a foundling stray. His former owner moved and left him behind. I got him used to me then took him home. He could possibly be a poor quality ragdoll or ragdoll mix as I know there's a person in this area that advertises them in the paper for $120 a kitten. I just consider him to be a fluffy kitty.

Originally Posted by strange_wings

Yes, I'm stuck with all three kittens.

Oh well, we're all used to each other. I honestly do not know where their mother is - they were caught at the petfood factory that my husband works at. Had we not taken them, they would have either been hypothermic by morning and/or killed shortly after by animal control because we have no animal shelter here and they were feral. Mother cat was never caught or seen at the factory after we took the kittens.

Sherman's a foundling stray. His former owner moved and left him behind. I got him used to me then took him home. He could possibly be a poor quality ragdoll or ragdoll mix as I know there's a person in this area that advertises them in the paper for $120 a kitten.

I just consider him to be a fluffy kitty.

Click to expand...

How many cats do you have all together then? I'd love to be surrounded by cats as well, hehe. Right now I'm not allowed to have more than one.

I love orange cats btw

7 house cats and 2 outdoor in a cat proof fenced yard.

I would disagree with your vet about having to pts if her gums are still red after removing her teeth - my male cat has chronic gum issues, possibly calici related, and despite taking all his teeth out he still gets ulcers (one so bad this year the vet nurse thought it was a tumour) - but he still has a good quality of life, it doesn't stop him eating, playing or enjoying his fusses. He gets regular dental checks, and I always keep antibiotics and anti-inflams in just in case he needs them. There are foods in the UK that can help with gingivitis, I dont know if they are available where you are, but a good website is www.draddie.com. Good luck for her dental.

Katrine, I am very sorry to hear about Anastasia's struggles with dental problems, and constipatiotion.

Are the vets calling this stomtatitis? I think that is something that is fairly common in the Maine Coon breed. We have another member here who has dealt with that, hopefully she'll be in to give her insight at some point.

Cats do fine without any teeth, if it comes to that, I have a friend who has several cats with no teeth due to genetic dental issues.

Has your vet done blood work? I recommend you insist on blood work before the surgery so you know how all her organs are doing.

If Anastasia is eating well, then she's not in TOO much pain at this point, so that's a relief, sorry to hear about the constipation. I wouldn't think cheese would be of any use, it's actually thought to be binding sometimes.

Unless...are you talking about cream cheese? I know there is a member in another forum who swears by cream cheese for constipation in cats, I have never tried it.

Did your vet give you the special feline enemas for Anastasia and show you how to do it? I brought it up because I want to comment here that no one should ever attempt an enema on their cat unless they have been instructed how to do it by their vet and given the premeasured dose feline enemas. You made it sound too easy!

When giving the liquid paraffin (which is aka mineral oil), give it on an empty stomach an hour before any meal or medicine. It can interfere with the absorption of nutrients and meds, is why.

Please do keep us updated on Anastasia.

Wow, Strange Wings. That's a lot of cats! You wont need a TV or anything with that many cats, hehe.

Booktigger, I'm happy you disagree with the vet. I've thought so too, that if she seems rather happy, then she should be ok. As a cat owner you usually see if they are happy. Anastasia seems ok, except from her constipation problem.

Otto, they haven't diagnosed her yet, I'll get some more information after they'll remove her teeth. They actually did bloodwork the same day they told me that her gums were irritated. She's fine otherwise I kind of forgot about that part, because I was in a sort of shock.

When I called my vet she told me to just get a regular enema as used on people. So that's what I used. The bf is a nurse, so he was the one who did it. I was a bit anxious, but she got over the whole trauma easily.

She is eating well at least

Originally Posted by KatrineA

Wow, Strange Wings. That's a lot of cats! You wont need a TV or anything with that many cats, hehe.

Click to expand...

Believe it or not, my house can get pretty quiet sometimes...when they're sleeping! Actually since the weather has been nice they've entertained themselves by sitting in the open windows.

Keep us updated on Anastasia's constipation. Maybe someone has other tips that have been missed so far. And of course, people want to know what her diagnosis will be.
I hope her surgery goes well.

Us girls went to the vet today and we ended up spending about 2 hours in the vet's office.

Anastasia was like a limp ball of fur. She was in some sort of shock. So scared, my little baby. They could do anything to her. I felt so bad. I also didn't feed her that morning and evening before, because I thought she had to undergo surgery. I knew she was very hungry. She was calling for me to feed her many times throughout the night.

Well...
She had to check Anastasia's teeth first and she told me that we'd probably have to pull out many more teeth. Then she took some X-rays. She told me that it wasn't critical or that much painful yet. It was like a problem from the inside waiting to come out. She said that we could wait a while if we wanted. So we're doing it in September. It will cost like 1100 $.

We have to go back for a check up in June and I'll keep an eye on her gums.

I also told her about Anastasia's constipation problem, so they took an X-ray of her stomach area as well. They told me her intestines were fine and they'd give her an enema. Then they placed her in a cage with a litterbox and we waited and waited and waited (not for 2 hours though, there was a lot of talking and failed X-rays as well). Then they decided to give her one more, because she refused to poop. After that she did it! They told me it seemed fine and that I'd just have to feed her normally and preferably organic wet food (which I am), but quit the antibiotics.

I can't remember if I've missed some details.

Now she's home chillin' and back to her content self.

Thanks for the update on our Beautiful Anastasia!

Katrine, may I ask why you are going to wait on the dental surgery? Dental problems affect the whole body, including and especially the kidneys and the heart. I'm not trying to tell you what to do but I am curious why you're waiting.

Did the vet give a name to what her mouth disorder is? I was wondering if Anastasia has FORL, Feline Odontoclastic Resorptive Lesions, also known as Resorptive Lesions, or Neck Lesions. Very very painful condition.

Cats do very well, just fine, without teeth, by the way. Tolly doesn't have many left, thanks to FORL.

Originally Posted by otto

Thanks for the update on our Beautiful Anastasia!

Katrine, may I ask why you are going to wait on the dental surgery? Dental problems affect the whole body, including and especially the kidneys and the heart. I'm not trying to tell you what to do but I am curious why you're waiting.

Did the vet give a name to what her mouth disorder is? I was wondering if Anastasia has FORL, Feline Odontoclastic Resorptive Lesions, also known as Resorptive Lesions, or Neck Lesions. Very very painful condition.

Cats do very well, just fine, without teeth, by the way. Tolly doesn't have many left, thanks to FORL.

Click to expand...

It's gingivittis. She said it wouldn't affect her otherwise though, but I need to go back if the gums turn red again. They're not red now after I switched from dry to wet food. It was something about the problem being inside the teeth, but it wouldn't hurt as long as it stays inside, it's when it comes outside. She described it like that. She did assure me that it wouldn't do her any harm in waiting, as long as I did keep an eye on her and she stayed stabile

I do have some money set aside for emergency situations, but I want to keep that in case something else will happen as you never know. If I do get a chance to save up some extra money, I'd be happy for being given that chance.

I am a bit surprised too at leaving her teeth if she thinks they need to come out - gingivitis can get a lot better when their teeth have been removed. Am also surprised you have been told to stop the antibiotics - if she gets very stinky breath, ring the vet immediately, as that means she needs them - I have two cats with gingivitis and both have regular antibiotics to help control their mouth.