Cat grinding teeth (bruxism) - vet stumped

[Catgrindsteeth]

My 6 year old cat has been grinding her teeth for more than a year now. I've taken her to two different vets, and the issue persists. She's absolutely miserable and I can't afford many more vet visits.

She grinds every day, usually in the morning and evening. Sometimes she is frantic, grinding ferociously while crying and trying to chew anything in sight, especially wires and plastic bags. This happens right before she throws up, usually a hairball. Sometimes she throws up and I can see a hairball in her throat, but it won't come out.

Here's what's been tried so far:
- She had full blood panels done twice (one last year, one recently) and her urine checked. No kidney issues, etc.
- Her teeth need to be cleaned but the vets spotted no cavities or tooth resorption.
- She went on sulcrate for nausea, which sort of helped but it made her dangerously constipated.
- I switched her food to something formulated for sensitive stomachs, and removed all fish from her diet. (I suspect she had a mild allergy to fish which was making her overgroom). Her overgrooming has stopped, but she's still grinding her teeth.
- She's brushed daily and gets hairball remedy daily.
- Her appetite is great (she actually gained weight after I switched her food) and she uses the litterbox regularly.
- She drinks a lot, but that might be a side effect of the hairball medicine.
- She went on gabapentin to see if it was pain causing her tooth grinding. The theory was that if she stopped grinding her teeth while on gabapentin, it would point to pain being the cause. Unfortunately while she was very relaxed and happy on the gabapentin, she still ground her teeth.
- She's currently on omeprazole for a month. She seems to grind her teeth a little less while on it, but she still has her attacks. She just had one now - threw up a small hairball and then went on a tear crying and trying to chew anything she can get her teeth around. I have almost every cable and wire in this apartment covered with plastic loom, but she still goes for them when she gets in this state. I'm terrified she's going to electrocute herself. I bought her dog toys to chew on, hoping to redirect from wires, but she won't touch them.
- The vet is pushing for me to get her teeth x-rayed and cleaned, but I know from experience that's going to cost me a couple thousand and I can't afford to drop that kind of money on something that may not work, especially as nothing is pointing to the cause being her teeth, and the gabapentin didn't help. (I will get her teeth cleaned when I can afford it, hopefully next year. But my bank account is literally at 0 after all these vet visits and tests.)

What should I do? I was thinking of taking her to a groomer to get shaved down to see if that helps. I'm pretty certain she's grinding due to nausea. But why is she so nauseated? I feel like her vet won't listen to me and just sees me as another cash cow.

 

[maggie101]

Until you can afford it,brush her teeth every day. Give him canned food. Food with meat in it would help. No dry. Fancy feast classics is a good brand. No fish

 

[neely]

My 6 year old cat has been grinding her teeth for more than a year now. I've taken her to two different vets, and the issue persists. She's absolutely miserable and I can't afford many more vet visits.

First, welcome to TCS! I'm sorry to hear your cat is having this health issue. Were either of the vets you saw a Veterinary Dental Specialist? The reason I asked is because they are board certified and have the knowledge and expertise for dental procedures.

The vet is pushing for me to get her teeth x-rayed and cleaned, but I know from experience that's going to cost me a couple thousand and I can't afford to drop that kind of money on something that may not work

I don't know your location or if you're in the U.S. but it should not cost thousands of dollars for a dental cleaning and x-rays. I have had more than one cat who needed dental surgery, an x-ray and cleaning from a veterinary dental specialist and it did not cost anywhere near that amount. I completely understand you have exhausted your financial account and appreciate your situation. I realize this Article may not be what you're looking for but if she does not feel better you may find some helpful information here:
No Money For Vet Care? How To Find Help And Save Your Cat’s Life – TheCatSite Articles

 

[Catgrindsteeth]

First, welcome to TCS! I'm sorry to hear your cat is having this health issue. Were either of the vets you saw a Veterinary Dental Specialist? The reason I asked is because they are board certified and have the knowledge and expertise for dental procedures.

Thank you! The vets she saw were all DVMs. No idea if they had any specialization.

I don't know your location or if you're in the U.S. but it should not cost thousands of dollars for a dental cleaning and x-rays. I have had more than one cat who needed dental surgery, an x-ray and cleaning from a veterinary dental specialist and it did not cost anywhere near that amount. I completely understand you have exhausted your financial account and appreciate your situation. I realize this Article may not be what you're looking for but if she does not feel better you may find some helpful information here:
No Money For Vet Care? How To Find Help And Save Your Cat’s Life – TheCatSite Articles

Every time I've gotten my cats' teeth cleaned it always costs me a mint. Granted I am in Canada and in a very high cost of living area. I think I'm gonna call and ask for a quote for an oral exam and scans. I'll try to save cleaning etc. for next year unless there's an emergency.

 

[fionasmom]

I don't have a lot to add, and certainly this could be a dental issue. However, as I was reading, I was picturing the grinding to be a frantic attempt to deal with pain or nausea elsewhere in her body; therefore, the gabapentin did not work as it is not a pain issue but the acid reducer did a little something.

If you do decide to shave her, check a few articles about shaving cats and make sure that it is done correctly and does not make her more miserable. I am not talking about whether it is right or wrong to do that at all; in some cases it needs to be done. But done incorrectly and shaving down to the skin, leaving irritated skin etc will open a whole new problem for her.

There are veterinary specialists of all kinds and sometimes going to one will save you money and time in the long run as they are better equipped to diagnose the problem.

 

[kittenmittens84]

Has she ever taken famotidine (pepcid)? Since you mentioned the omeprazole helped slightly, it could be a reflux issue. Pepcid works well for some cats, you could ask you vet about it.