Hi everyone. My cat Presley began having trouble eating this past Februrary--mid-bite, she would cry out and appear to have trouble swallowing. The vet said she had an ulcer in her mouth, and recommended a dental cleaning. We tried a round of antibiotics first, but the symptoms returned and she had a dental cleaning in Feb or March. She improved after the cleaning, was eating normally, playing, and acting like herself.
A couple of months ago, the symptoms started again. The vet had said initially that if this happened, she may need all of her teeth removed (something about developing an allergy to the tartar). However, they chose not to go that route, and instead recommended another cleaning and Depo shots every 60 days. The vet also told us to feed her only dry food, give her dental treats, and use a mouthwash and/or toothbrush if possible. This cleaning, along with the first shot of Depo and another round of antibiotics, were administered on 9/10/12. Since then, I have followed the dry food recommendation and given her Greenies treats on a regular basis. We haven't had much luck with the mouthwash and tooth brushing, though.
At about the 1.5 month mark I began to see the signs that she was having trouble again--each time, she has become less active and more reclusive along with eating less, and I noticed her acting that way beginning a week or so ago. She started having the 'crying out' response when eating, then started refusing food and sleeping all day. She is due for her next Depo shot on 11/10, and we were planning to take her next week to get it.
I guess I am just startled by how soon the symptoms returned, and I'm kind of questioning this course of treatment. It was bad enough when the symptoms returned 6 months after the first cleaning, but a month and a half seems really soon. The shot left a lump between her shoulder blades, which worries me (the vet said it would take a couple of months to go down, which it has, but still), and I'm not too happy that it didn't even keep her symptoms at bay for the full 60 days until the next shot. I think the lump itself lasted longer than the relief from it! Not only has all of this cost us a fortune, but poor Presley has had to deal with episode after episode of feeling lousy. I so want her to feel like herself for longer than a few weeks!
Has anyone successfully treated something like this, or could offer any advice? Should we continue to try the Depo shots--and is using them repeatedly safe? Would surgery to remove the teeth be a better option, or is that too risky/invasive/etc to attempt at this point? Is there anything else we could do that would offer longer-term relief? I just want my girl to feel well again.
Oh, I probably should have noted, Presley is about 10 years old, spayed, and blood tests run in February showed she is in great health otherwise.
A couple of months ago, the symptoms started again. The vet had said initially that if this happened, she may need all of her teeth removed (something about developing an allergy to the tartar). However, they chose not to go that route, and instead recommended another cleaning and Depo shots every 60 days. The vet also told us to feed her only dry food, give her dental treats, and use a mouthwash and/or toothbrush if possible. This cleaning, along with the first shot of Depo and another round of antibiotics, were administered on 9/10/12. Since then, I have followed the dry food recommendation and given her Greenies treats on a regular basis. We haven't had much luck with the mouthwash and tooth brushing, though.
At about the 1.5 month mark I began to see the signs that she was having trouble again--each time, she has become less active and more reclusive along with eating less, and I noticed her acting that way beginning a week or so ago. She started having the 'crying out' response when eating, then started refusing food and sleeping all day. She is due for her next Depo shot on 11/10, and we were planning to take her next week to get it.
I guess I am just startled by how soon the symptoms returned, and I'm kind of questioning this course of treatment. It was bad enough when the symptoms returned 6 months after the first cleaning, but a month and a half seems really soon. The shot left a lump between her shoulder blades, which worries me (the vet said it would take a couple of months to go down, which it has, but still), and I'm not too happy that it didn't even keep her symptoms at bay for the full 60 days until the next shot. I think the lump itself lasted longer than the relief from it! Not only has all of this cost us a fortune, but poor Presley has had to deal with episode after episode of feeling lousy. I so want her to feel like herself for longer than a few weeks!
Has anyone successfully treated something like this, or could offer any advice? Should we continue to try the Depo shots--and is using them repeatedly safe? Would surgery to remove the teeth be a better option, or is that too risky/invasive/etc to attempt at this point? Is there anything else we could do that would offer longer-term relief? I just want my girl to feel well again.
Oh, I probably should have noted, Presley is about 10 years old, spayed, and blood tests run in February showed she is in great health otherwise.