Will my cat be ok if his teeth are removed?

kelseyrat

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We're at fourteen months post-op having my Simon's remaining teeth extracted and he is doing great! No stomatitis recurrence yet! 


On advise from my vet we started with a partial extraction, which helped for about 6 months. Don't even bother with the partial.

He's such a strong little trouper and is doing great without teeth. Needs some help with grooming in the way of frequent brushing.
Good advise on not bothering with the partial.  I wish we would have had all of Frank's teeth removed from the get-go (We left his fangs--he only had three, anyway).  He can still eat fine but still has some pain with them occassionally.  I spoke with our vet about removing the others to just get rid of the problem and he said he wasn't ready for that just yet.  He doesn't want to subject him to surgery until it's an absolute must.  We will eventually be there I imagine, but we're not there yet.  Frank's teeth were removed nine months ago.  He did have to undergo an additional surgery because of a root being left behind (That is what was causing him to not eat at all post surgery).  That can happen even with a good vet, which ours is.     
 

suartel

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Update. My kitty is is over 2 months post surgery. She is so great. Not one bit of droll, bad breath or pain and redness. She is very vocal and playful since surgery. Her redness would come back right after steroids would wear off (usually 3-4 was, max). Ultimately, I am glad we did it.
 

bettycat

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My 8 year old ginger cat has had really bad breath. Took him to the vet 3 days ago and he was put on antibiiotics and antinflamitory tablets. He seems a lot better.  The vet booked him in for this morning to have 4 teeth extracted.  I felt that would be too many and surgery for so long would weaken his heart. I signed the consent form with receptionist just to have 2 at back extracted.   When I got home the vet phones me to tell me she would be taking 12 teeth out.  I panicked and told her no that he was a fragile cat, and it would be too much for him.   She said she would not take out 2 teeth only.  So I have gone and taken him home.  I did not see the vet, the receptionist just gave me leaflets on a gum disease I never heard of before. I see it mentioned here on lots of posts.  I am really upset.  I have read the posts here about cats having a lot of teeth extracted at one time.  I feel now maybe I did the wrong thing for Ginger.  Please help. Thanks
 

susank521

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You did what you thought was in Ginger's best interest, certainly not the wrong thing. You do not have to rush into a decision. Give yourself time to become informed and then you can decide what is best for Ginger. The cats discussed in this thread are mostly to the point where they can not eat without experiencing severe pain. No one likes their kitties to suffer unnecessarily, but take a little time to make sure you are comfortable with whatever decision you make.
 

denice

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You did what you thought was best.  That is a huge difference from 4 to 12 teeth.  I know on estimates for dentals with extractions they were much closer than that.  They always put one or two on there as a maybe.  Once I was told 4 and it turned into 5 which they called me about before extracting the fifth one.

The only gum type disease I can think of requiring that many extractions is stomatitis.  If that is what is going on it is very obvious on visual exam and you should have been told before you took her in.
 

greysalt

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My cat had six teeth extracted about a month and a half ago. Now he's down to just his fangs. He is SO MUCH BETTER! I am so pleased with how well he has done. He seems much happier and healthier.

The vet did mention a potential connection between bartonella and stomatitis. He recommended a course of antibiotics which I still have to get. Has anyone else heard of this bartonella connection?
 

sharon taggart

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hi,  my 11 month old cat has been to the vet 3 times in the last 6 months because of the red line across him gums.  I'm really paranoid about this as my last cat had to be put down as he was a stray and his gums were really really bad, and vet advised to put him down.    my 11 month old, it doesn't really seem to be annoying him, but I'm trying to get on top of this to prevent it getting bad. I had read that is reversible if treated soon.    my vet cleaned his teeth, and gave him another anti biotic and steroid, but 3 weeks later I can see the red line coming back.   would getting his teeth removed definitely cure this problem ?  as I say its worrying me more than my cat at the moment.  please someone give me your thoughts.  thankyou
 

denice

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The main concern particularly with a kitty this age would be stomatitis.  Usually stomatitis is much worse than a red line at the gum line.  Do you brush his teeth?  If not that is something that could help.  Kitties usually don't like it and you kind of have to work them up to brushing their teeth  Start with getting them used to having their mouth messed with, then having a finger in their mouth, then hopefully eventually get them to the point of having their teeth brushed.
 

sharon taggart

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yes I have tried brushing teeth, iv even purchased a mouth get to rub on his gums, and its hard to get in his mouth.   its just a red line at the moment, and doesn't seem to be annoying him, but I'm afraid of it getting worse.  vet told me if it didn't clear after the last steroid 2 weeks ago that he would have to have all his teeth out.  I'm so gutted, I'm trying the denta bites and all sorts to try to get rid of it.  he got his teeth cleaned and polished 2 weeks ago as well.
 

felixxxx

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As previous posters, my cat went to the vet to get 4 of his molars taken out as he was diagnosed with trench mouth. After a year of steroids (and me giving him Vitamin B supplements and green lip mussel powder to help with inflammation of his gums and arthrits) the steroids just made him fat and did very little to keep the inflammation down enough. He was in discomfort and so the vet suggested it would be best if she'd take the molars out. I did get a call from the vet while my cat was under anaesthetics, to ask me for permission to take ALL his teeth out apart from the little incisors in the front. I had to make the decision on the phone there and then and I trust the vet completely, so said yes to the 3 hour surgery.

The first 5 days after the surgery were heartbreaking and I wished I had asked her to euthanise him instead. He couldn't eat and I had to syringe feed him, which meant I had to touch his stitched up gums. He went on some sort of opiate pain killer that I had to administer also per syringe, but only need to get on his gums somehow so the liquid could make into the blood stream that way. After 4 days he was too hungry and started to lick watered down food, growling and hissing while he moving his mouth to ingest some food.

Cut a long story short - after 2 weeks he was no longer in pain, discomfort was visible - but he was active enough again, going outside for toilet breaks. He gradually built up again and after a few weeks he was really perky, much more than he had been before the extraction. He eats the same wet food that he ate before - I just mash up little clumps and very finely chop the meat for him. He has always been a fussy eater and that hasn't changed. Now, 7 months later - his coat is finally glossy again and apart from his arthritis, he is looking good. He can eat little kibbles, but chooses not to - I placed tiny bowls of kibble and water all over the house, and he grazes on them every now and then. He is still learning how to live with no teeth. When he wants to play-bite me, he looks shocked and runs away.

My message to everyone who is in the same situation - if you trust your vet and they suggest taking all the teeth out, do it. You should take at least 5 days off work to nurse your cat during the worst time straight after the surgery. Be prepared to feed it (or try to) several times and day and night, and just be there and observe. Use high quality food - I recommend food that is specifically created for recovering cats, because it may not eat a lot since it is so painful. It is the most horrible recovery to watch - but the cat will recover - as will you. And it is most likely that the cat will be able to live without inflamed and sore gums and be much much happier.

the thing I have since learned, is that without teeth, he cant groom himself any more as he used to. Obviously they use teeth to comb their coat and remove any stuff stuck in the coat. He gets dreadlocks now and I just gently try to 'undread' them with my hands when he is relaxed and lying on me. Can't and never could brush/comb him. So keep that in mind. Will let you know if there is anything else that I will notice over time.

Hope that helped! 
 

sharon taggart

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hi, thankyou so much for your reply.   I'm going to try a few last things before taking his teeth out, as he is only 12 months old.    I have bought the applaws cat food,   and have purchased cat tooth paste,    at least if it doesn't work or help I will know that I have done everything to help him.   hope your cat stays well for you
 

nicster q-burg

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My Daisy had the same thing done she is 6 years old and only has

her k9 front teeth, So she eats Turkey Chicken or scrambled eggs

she can't eat crunchy foods it hurts her gums.
 

suartel

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It has been 18 mons since my kitty's full mouth extraction. I was tormented by the decision to do the surgery. I pray so hard for this cat and went to three vets before giving in. It was the right move for us. I know every cat is different and heals differently. My vet did her surgery early in the day and kept her overnight so that someone would be with her at all times. I was grateful for that time they watched her. They called me the afternoon of the surgery and told me she woke up and actually went straight for the food and ate a bit. That made me happy since I knew she could barely eat prior to the surgery. Her vet also shaved a patch of hair and gave her a pain patch so I didn't see her go through much discomfort at home. She hid a bit except for when she was hungry but after about a week...she was the happiest I had ever seen her. And so loving and affectionate. She grooms ok, I even saw her biting her nails like she used to. She probably doesn't get the job done like before but she seems to have toughened up her gums. Even eats hard food still. She is medium hair and it took a couple of weeks but she is grooming fine now. This is a very difficult thing for these cats to go through. The slightest cut in our mouths or toothache and we can be unbearable. I almost felt bad for waiting so long trying other treatments. But she is happy now and probably doesn't even remember having teeth!
 

RogueDom

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I just want to thank everyone posting in this thread. I was just told today that my cat needs to have all his remaining teeth removed next week and I've been very anxious about it. I feel much better having read through this thread. I was so worried about how his eating would change, but you have put my mind at ease (for the most part). I just want him to be healthy and happy, and now I believe he can be with the surgery.
 
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