11 year old male lost big tooth.

silentearth

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My Johnny just turned 11 this month, which I know is up in age for cats. He's had a heart murmur since he was born, which has been ultrasounded and he is supposedly 'okay'. Today I found a big tooth (one of the side ones, not the front 'fangs') in the food bowl. He's lost a whole bunch of the little teethies over the past few years but not a big one. And he's had a hard time eating dry food for a while now (I've been feeding him wet to make up for it). He's also had pretty fowl breath for a long time.

I was reading a few other posts about teeth falling out and so far all I've gathered is that I definitely should bring him into the vet to make sure he doesn't have an infection in the hole where the tooth came from. I can't get him to open his mouth enough to get a good look at his gums to see if they're red, swollen, etc. I don't want to touch his mouth too much if it hurts.

Basically before I bring him into the vet I'd like to be informed, I haven't been able to find a vet I feel comfortable with/trust so I'd just like to know any and everything I can before I go in (aka before they start pumping him full of who knows what, for no reason). Also, since Johnny does have a heart condition and he's older, I was hoping I could find some honest opinions on how serious this is, and if there's a possibility that he doesn't have much longer. He's my first and best cat, he's very dear to me. I've had him since he was a kitten, since I was 13. Seeing one of his big ole teeth all dried and bloody is upsetting
.

I've included links to a few pics of his tooth to see if maybe someone can tell what caused the tooth to fall out. (Just old age, gingivitis, bad teeth due to poor blood circulation, etc?) Thanks all for reading and looking.


Large files, not dialup friendly.
http://i51.tinypic.com/30v24ap.jpg
http://i51.tinypic.com/14m9e06.jpg
http://i52.tinypic.com/24qjsxx.jpg
 

denice

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He probably has advanced gum disease which means his mouth is probably very sore. A vet would probably do a dental which would include pulling other teeth that are too diseased to save. One of mine had a dental this past February. She ended up losing 5 teeth and the vet cleaned up the other teeth. She came home on a two week course of an antibiotic and some pain medicine for the extractions. Vets are like any other professional some are better than others and like any other people there are some you will personally like and others not so much. The vet I am taking mine too now is not the first one they have been to. I really like this vet and I think she is very knowledgeable.
 

otto

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Hello and welcome to TCS! I agree that your cat needs a dental. Cats hide pain instinctively and Johnny is probably in a lot of pain.

Have you recently moved, and that's why you don't have a vet you know and trust? I understand your concern.

Ask people for vet referrals, and get him in. Do you have all his records from his old vet?

The heart murmur should not be a problem, the vet should use a safe fast acting gas anesthesia.

You'll be amazed at the change in Johnny, once his mouth is cleaned up and free of pain.

PS Canned food is better for him anyway, so keep him on it!
 
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silentearth

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I was able to take a very quick peek into his mouth today, and his gums are a little poofy, and pink with a little bit of red. Haven't had a chance to actually see his gum/the spot where the tooth came out of. Last night he kept kinda moving his tongue around as if he were trying to swallow as well. It makes me think he had most likely lost the tooth yesterday when I had found it, or maybe just the day before. One thing I'm worried about the dental work is that I was told he can't be put under any anesthesia at all because it is too risky with his heart.

To Otto, I haven't recently moved but I have tried all but 1 of the vets within a 40 minute drive and I've had unsatisfactory experiences with them all. Tomorrow I'm calling the last 1 I haven't tried in hopes that they take a special credit card used for big vet bills.

The time waiting for the vet to open tomorrow is going to kill me. Johnny isn't in the best of health and I don't want him to be in pain
. A few years ago my aunt had to put her kitty down just because he lost all his teeth and he couldn't eat anymore (I think that's why I'm freaked out). Once I get him into the vet and see what they have to say I'll share it here in this thread with everyone.
 

otto

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Originally Posted by SilentEarth

I was able to take a very quick peek into his mouth today, and his gums are a little poofy, and pink with a little bit of red. Haven't had a chance to actually see his gum/the spot where the tooth came out of. Last night he kept kinda moving his tongue around as if he were trying to swallow as well. It makes me think he had most likely lost the tooth yesterday when I had found it, or maybe just the day before. One thing I'm worried about the dental work is that I was told he can't be put under any anesthesia at all because it is too risky with his heart.

.
Of course you are not a vet, and can't really judge what you are seeing.

This may come down to a quality of life issue. Do you want him to live a life of pain, or take the risk of putting him under anesthesia, knowing he may not come out of it?

Me, I'd take the risk. When Ootay
was 17 1/2, with CRF, high blood pressure, hyper thyroid, stroke and heart murmur grade 3, her mouth was so bad I knew she was suffering. She had the dental, with one extraction, and went on to enjoy 8 more months of life, without mouth pain.

I am not trying to talk you into anything, only giving you my thoughts and experiences to help you think things through.

To Otto, I haven't recently moved but I have tried all but 1 of the vets within a 40 minute drive and I've had unsatisfactory experiences with them all. Tomorrow I'm calling the last 1 I haven't tried in hopes that they take a special credit card used for big vet bills.
I understand. It took me 7 years and four other practices, before I found the vet I have now been with since 2005. Do you have his records from other places?

Has he ever had blood work? What grade is his heart murmur been given?

The time waiting for the vet to open tomorrow is going to kill me. Johnny isn't in the best of health and I don't want him to be in pain
. A few years ago my aunt had to put her kitty down just because he lost all his teeth and he couldn't eat anymore (I think that's why I'm freaked out).
That was completely unnecessary, or perhaps there was some other problem with your aunt's cat. Cats can eat just fine without teeth. I know lots of cats who have no teeth that are just as happy as they can be. My Tolly has very few teeth because of a condition called FORL (Feline Odontoclastic Resorptive Lesions, also called neck lesions)

Once I get him into the vet and see what they have to say I'll share it here in this thread with everyone
yes, please do keep us updated. I'll be thinking of you and Johnny tomorrow.

Johnny
 

otto

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PS I recommend you write down all of your questions and bring them with you. Ask the vet what kind of anesthesia would be used. I recommend gas anesthesia, specifically sevoflurane. Sevo is fast acting, and not as deep. A skilled vet and tech team can put him under, get his mouth done, and bring him out in less than half an hour usually.

11 is senior, but not that old. Johnny and you should have many more years together. Without mouth pain.


Johnny
 
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