Chewing string and leaving behind blood

jahzara

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My 11 month old was chewing on some string I was playing with him with and I noticed the white string turning red. This happened when he was teething as well, but he is well past the teething stage. I am guessing it was just the dry rubbing action against his gums, but wanted to get other thoughts on the subject. 

 

mrsgreenjeens

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Can you look in his mouth and see what his gums look like.  This doesn't really sound right, unless he was really giving that string a workout, and it was rough string.

See if his gums look nice and pink, or if they look inflamed and angry. (if you can...some cats aren't very cooperative about stuff like that
)
 
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jahzara

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I've looked at his teethers before and the gums are pink, but at the base of each tooth, the gum is redder. My other cat, who is 14 months has this as well. I don't really know if that is cause for concern though, he's only 11 months, so it can't be gum disease, especially since they have looked like that even when he was 6 months!

Could it be something else...?
 

mrsgreenjeens

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Sorry to be so long in replying...out of town company.  I would say since both cats' gums look the same, and they are both young, they probably don't have an issue.  But as to why there was blood on the string, that is still a wonder to me.  I've not encountered anything like that before, although I don't normally let my guys chew on string.  wide ribbon, yes, as long as one end is tied to a doorknob or something so they can't swallow it.   I suppose if the string was really fine like dental floss, it could cause bleeding.  Why not just call your Vet and ask, just to be sure?
 
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jahzara

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Thanks!
Upon inspecting the string more closely, I can see it being very drying and abrasive to the gums. He gets really into chewing - he likes to chew it straight in half. I have to watch him really carefully when he gets to play with it that he does not swallow any of it. But no, he just really likes chewing it in half. He does not get blood on other toys he plays with, just after he has been chewing on the string for a while. And it is very diluted, more pinkish in color, which makes me think even more it is just irritation to the gumline. I will mention it to his vet when he goes in for his yearly check-up and have him check his mouth. Otherwise, I am not too concerned about it anymore; just can be scary when you first see that kind of thing, so I was freaking out a bit!
 
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