FORL - Kitty needs extractions

[lokilove]

I didn't know how bad Loki's gingivitis got until the vet had him under for some skin biopsies. She found 2-3 teeth that need to be extracted and one has the root exposed. I'm assuming this is quite painful.

Should I get this surgery ASAP? It's $400-600 depending on how many teeth need to be removed. I don't think this includes a cleaning which I might as well ask for.

I don't want my little guy to be hurting. The vet didn't really say how urgent it was just to not wait "like 6 months".

Need a little guidance on what to expect etc.

Will he need lifelong treatment? How will he fare with even fewer teeth?

 

[txcatmom]

I've been researching this because we have a foster kitty with stomatitis/gingivitis and she will probably need most of her teeth extracted as soon as she is over her kitty cold.

Yes, it is painful.  I'd have the surgery done ASAP.  The vet will definitely want to keep an eye on it for life.  Some people report their cats can still eat kibble with most of their teeth gone, but I would opt for wet food.  It is softer on their mouth and healthier for them anyways.  Hope your kitty feels better soon.

Here's one of the links I read.  There are others that are good too if you google gingivitis/stomatitis in cats.

http://www.mypetsdentist.com/site/view/110772_felinecatstomaitits.pml

 

[GoldyCat]

I would get it done as soon as possible. Cats hide their pain very well, but can you imagine what it would feel like if you had an exposed root on a tooth?

My vet and I spent a year trying to get Merlin's gingivitis under control. Nothing really helped and he finally sent me to a dental specialist. Poor Merlin's teeth were so bad the dentist wouldn't even let me take him home and bring him back the next week to have the work done. He had all of his teeth removed that day. Merlin's case was extreme, the dentist even said he'd never seen it that bad in a young cat in 25 years of practice. Just don't wait too long trying other treatments. At this point your cat's teeth aren't going to heal themselves and the longer you wait the worse it will get.

Yes, it was very expensive (thank goodness for Care Credit), but I got my happy little boy back almost immediately. He has no idea that he's toothless, eats anything and everything. He dove into his kibble about a minute after I let him out of the carrier the same day he had surgery.

 

[lokilove]

Thanks guys. I really needed reassurance. I'm going to call the other vet clinic and check prices (they also have a newer facility) although I love my vet here in town I'm unsure of how clean it is.

I'll get him in as soon as I can! Poor lil buddy
 

 

[txcatmom]

I'm going to call the other vet clinic and check prices (they also have a newer facility) although I love my vet here in town I'm unsure of how clean it is.

That's so great that you have a choice.  I also found a new vet for our foster cat because our other vet didn't seem as up to date and thorough with the way they approach tooth extractions and stomatitis.

 

[lokilove]

I decided to go with the first vet. The other place is more modern but they charge nearly $100 more at baseline, and up from there depending on the number of teeth. They also didn't seem all that interested in helping me, I felt like an inconvenience.

Is there anything I should know about the procedure? What's recovery like?

 

[katjoeus]

How did it go for you guys??