Louie Bob needs tooth extractions. :(

Louie randomly started having jumping, hissing, and squealing fits. They only lasted a few seconds but it honestly sounded like there was a cat fight in my home, but with only one cat. It happened mostly when he was doing nothing in particular - he could just be sitting there, but it happened when he was eating too. So off to the vet we went, of course.

I ended up having to drop him off for the exam as DD has an appointment close in time to when I could get him in. They called me on my cell and told me that for his age, he has VERY severe gingavitus. (he's almost 1 year) They wanted to do a FIV/FElV test and I had been meaning to get it done anyway. He was negative, thank goodness.

She thinks that he may have - I can't remember the medical term - basically where they reject their own teeth? As she was showing me his teeth I noticed that they were very yellow, and I mentioned that his breath had always been kind of bad, but some animals (and people lol) just have bad breath so I never thought twice and I feel horrible! Plus, he was at the vet's in November for a check up, and he was neutered in february - why did no one see this before now if this was developing?

He is on antibiotics and pain meds to get rid of any possible infection before surgery. At this point they want to remove 2-3 teeth. They think roots may be exposed as well but aren't positive as they could not get an excellent look.

She said this may or may not be an ongoing problem - but if his teeth are this bad now, what will they be like in a year or two? How many times will I have to put him under?

I am so stressed out, and I'm sure this is probably a simple procedure but this is one of my babies. This is my toddler's cat. Even not feeling well he's snuggled up to her and just adores her. He is being such a trooper and I am in just total shock that he's still in such great spirits.

Any advice? Have you been through this? I really apprecaite any words of encouragement!

One of my cats just had 5 teeth removed. She is seven though, but even as a kitten she too had a little bit of bad breath. My other cat is about three months older than her and has had no dental problems yet. She did fine. She had the complete bloodwork before surgery to make sure she would be okay with anesthetic so I know she has no liver or kidney problems. I picked her up that evening and she was running around and even eating some kibble that night. They gave me pain meds to take home with her and an antibiotic to take for two weeks after. She went back two weeks after to make sure she healed up right and she was fine. She had her two top canine teeth pulled and the vet said sometimes those extractions don't heal as well and there is sometimes a problem with how the bottom canines line up with the top gum but she was fine.

If he has stomatitis, and it keeps progressing (I think I'd give it a couple years to see if his system can kick it), it will eventually be safer, more humane and more cost-effective to have all of his teeth removed, even the ones that aren't rotten yet. Otherwise he'll keep needing dentals and extractions every year, and it's just not good for them to go under anesthetic that often. Ask your vet about that option, and at what point he thinks you should do it.

Yes, I believe Stomatitis was the word she used.

I was wondering if it would be best to simply remove all or most now, as they seemed so shocked at how bad it is for his age, I didn't want to have to keep putting him under. I will ask when I go back.

He is taking his meds like a champ. So much easier to give him liquid than pills, just mix it right with his food. He only had one painful spell today and it did not sound as bad as it had.

Is recovery generally easy after having teeth removed?