I took in a stray about 8 years ago. He’s always had bad breath. I asked about it at the vets and they did recommend a cleaning, but said his teeth didn’t look too bad. So I researched it and I don’t remember seeing anything about bad breath and oral.cancer, until now of course, when the vet mentioned oral cancer after he had to have a few teeth extracted. He’s always had the bad breath but was a robust eater and toy chomper.
So about 4-6 months ago I started noticing his cupid mouth didn’t look the same. His breath got worse and he seemed to have trouble eating so I took him in. He ended up having 2 abcessed teeth and 2 teeth they were reabsorbing. She estracted them all and I was waiting for a return to normal. Except he’s not normal, so I took him back and she said that one of his upper tooth must’ve been worse than she thought and that had to go to. So we made an appointment to remove that.
Except I’m afraid that’s not it either. He holds his mouth open slightly all the time. He cleans his face with his paw normally, but he’s off somehow. Like when I come home from work he looks like he’s not feeling well. His hair stands up a bit. We had xrays today of his skull, but they have to off to the radiologist to read them. She’s taking his other tooth out next week and she said the radiologist might want to do xrays when his mouth is open. I’m kind of on the fence here because if he does have oral cancer it’s going to show up eventually. I don’t know if anyone can think of something else it might be.
I’m so mad at myself for not getting his teeth cleaned. I wish the vet had mentioned this as one of the dangers. I just figured he was a guy with halitosis and since he has annual check ups they would spot if his teeth were worse. But I swear I looked it “cat bad-breath” up sooooo many times and no red-flags about oral cancer. So if anything, hope this post can give a heads up to others.
I love this cat so much, he’s absolutely the most unique fella. He spent the winter in a Coleman cat house cooler that I built for him, before I was finally able to get him the house in the Spring. He hasn’t wanted to go out since! Every year about this time he starts jumping into bed and spooning with me because it’s getting colder. He’s this big linebacker of a cat. I’ll never have another like him.
If anyone has any resources about oral cancer I”d much appreciate.
So about 4-6 months ago I started noticing his cupid mouth didn’t look the same. His breath got worse and he seemed to have trouble eating so I took him in. He ended up having 2 abcessed teeth and 2 teeth they were reabsorbing. She estracted them all and I was waiting for a return to normal. Except he’s not normal, so I took him back and she said that one of his upper tooth must’ve been worse than she thought and that had to go to. So we made an appointment to remove that.
Except I’m afraid that’s not it either. He holds his mouth open slightly all the time. He cleans his face with his paw normally, but he’s off somehow. Like when I come home from work he looks like he’s not feeling well. His hair stands up a bit. We had xrays today of his skull, but they have to off to the radiologist to read them. She’s taking his other tooth out next week and she said the radiologist might want to do xrays when his mouth is open. I’m kind of on the fence here because if he does have oral cancer it’s going to show up eventually. I don’t know if anyone can think of something else it might be.
I’m so mad at myself for not getting his teeth cleaned. I wish the vet had mentioned this as one of the dangers. I just figured he was a guy with halitosis and since he has annual check ups they would spot if his teeth were worse. But I swear I looked it “cat bad-breath” up sooooo many times and no red-flags about oral cancer. So if anything, hope this post can give a heads up to others.
I love this cat so much, he’s absolutely the most unique fella. He spent the winter in a Coleman cat house cooler that I built for him, before I was finally able to get him the house in the Spring. He hasn’t wanted to go out since! Every year about this time he starts jumping into bed and spooning with me because it’s getting colder. He’s this big linebacker of a cat. I’ll never have another like him.
If anyone has any resources about oral cancer I”d much appreciate.