Cat may end up needing dentures?

Question

My cat, who was diagnosed with gum issues at an early age, has just now lost his first tooth: his left canine. I knew this was going to happen, but is there anything I can do to help him or to prevent it? It's very, VERY hard to catch him and bring him to the vet, so I'd rather not bring him if it's something that can be remedied at home.

Addition Info:

9 year-old grey tabby

Tom

Indoor cat

Very, very shy

Eats mainly dry food

Has been foreshadowed to have gum issues

Answer 1

some cats just have these issues, my friends cat was told she would have issues with her gums. she is also nine and has no teeth but can still live happily. she still even manages to eat dry food. just let your kitty be, if she starts having trouble eating slowly switch her to wet food or a combination of both. good luck

Answer 2

Hi Korijent,

I have a cat with similar problems, which were due, in fact to his having Feline Herpes. He has had most of his teeth extracted, in fact, whch has definitely helped his health and the condition of his mouth extensively. He has no problem eating at all, and in fact his appetite has improved. Cats who have had all their teeth removed do quite well, and the benefit of a healthy mouth is the object.

One of the things you might consider is to find a mobile veterinarian who can come to your house.  We have done this and it has been a blessing to have found one.

You can learn to brush his teeth, with a little patience and rewards for your kitty. I started just using my finger, very slowly and patiently, with nothing on my finger, just rubbing his teeth and gums. I graduated to using a little veterinary toothpaste on my finger, just to get him used to the taste and the feeling. Then I used a finger brush I got from my vet. He totally accepts this. Some folks have good luck using a q-tip to start.

Here are some excellent instructions how to do this:

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?...

I would slowly switch him over to a high quality moist food. We use Natural Balance, or Wellness and the cats love it. Dry food was actually created for human convenience and not for the betterment of the cat. Since cats don't really chew dry food that well, pieces do get stuck between their teeth which is an invitation to gum disease and cavities.

http://www.catinfo.org/#My_Cat_is_Doing_...

Hope this helps! Our cat is doing great using these methods to help keep his mouth and general health in fine condition.

Troublesniffer

Owned by cats for over 40 years

Former breeder of Siamese and Oriental Shorthairs

http://frequentlyfeline.blogspot.com/

Answer 3

Dental issues are common in some cats. About the only thing that you can do to help at home is brush their teeth, but with a shy cat, this may not be possible.

In addition to brushing, you also need to know what the cause is. Sometimes it is simply tarter buildup. Other times it is caused by a virus (Fiv, Felv or stomatitis). In rare cases, cancer is the cause. Unfortunately, the exact cause is very difficult to determine. Successful treatment is also a challenge. Many times, vets will recommend full extractions. This should only be done when all other treatments have failed. Even then, it has a low success rate and is extremely traumatic for the cat. However, cats do eventually get along just fine without any teeth. Dentures and other forms of teeth replacement are just not done on cats.

Answer 4

Although most people aren't able, you can always try brushing his teeth. If that's not possible, they sell rinses you can use. Those are a little easier. They have angle spouts that you just put in the corner of the cat's mouth and squirt. They are supposed to stop the build up of plaque and tartar. Again, not always practical. But don't worry, many cats don't have teeth. A lot of people don't realize that most cats don't even chew the majority of their food, they actually swallow it whole. So even if a few years down the road your cat doesn't have many teeth left, he will still be able to eat, even his hard food. The only thing you will want to watch for are tooth root abcessess. If you notice any swelling on either side of his face or he stops eating, then you have no choice but to bring him into the vet.