Mouth abscess?

[anmlmonk]

I've already called the vet but I'm waiting for them to call me back. I adopted this cat in June, she is fairly feral but is comfortable around me. Last week she had some foul smelling breath which was new and I saw a faint black spot around her lip but I wasn't able to get a good look at it. Finally today I was able to get a couple of pictures. It looks like a blood blister from the side and the picture makes it look like there's a puncture. However, I'm not sure what a normal cat's mouth looks like but I'm pretty sure this isn't normal.

If she goes to the vet she will have to be sedated for an exam unfortunately. She has been having some allergies (mostly itching and dandruff) but I believe that is unrelated. Does this look like an abscess or something else? Thanks!

 

[neely]

In the first picture I can't tell exactly but it looks like the teeth are almost black. Is she showing any signs of discomfort or pain? I would recommend seeing a veterinary dental specialist. Ask your vet if they have a dental specialist in the practice. Instead of having to put her through sedation perhaps you can ask the vet for something you can give her prior to the appointment to relax her.

 

[FeebysOwner]

Start with a vet visit so there is someone else besides you looking at it - and, the vet ought to be able to determine if a dental specialist needs to be consulted. As neely said, see if the vet would give you a small dose of something like gabapentin to help calm her before the vet. If she has had issues in the past with going to see the vet, I would think they would be willing to let you pick something up ahead of the visit to give her.