Cat had teeth removed 2 mths ago - old problem back

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TJH72
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Cat had teeth removed 2 mths ago - old problem back

Post by TJH72 »

My cat (who came to me as a stray 4 years ago) had a problem last summer with his mouth/teeth in that he kept gagging and furiously pawing at his mouth whenever he ate/yawned etc.

The vet gave him a shot of antibiotics (saying it was an infection) and it seemed to resolve things, but a few months later it was back. Saw a different vet who said it was calicivirus and he would need to have all of his teeth out to make the problem better. (Looked into Calicivirus and save for the occasionally weepy left eye and his mouth/teeth problem, he doesn't seem to have any other symptoms but I take my vet's word that that's what it is).

His teeth were all removed (save for the front ones) about 2 months ago, but in the last few days have noticed he's back to not being able to eat and the gagging/pawing is worse than it was before. I have got an appointment at the vet but they couldn't see me until Friday, but they have prescribed some metacam in the meantime to see if it helps.

Since I was told removal of the teeth would be the only way to make things better, and the problem now seems to be worse than ever, I'm just wondering if there actually is anything more that can be done? Want to be prepared, just in case... Does anyone have any similar experiences?
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Kay
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Re: Cat had teeth removed 2 mths ago - old problem back

Post by Kay »

I have no experience of FCV, but I have had a cat with a severley ulcerated tongue, who exhibited these signs, so could mouth ulcers be the problem here?

Have you tried liqidising food to see if he will eat it? Something really soft and non-salty such as white fish or very jellified cat food

A course of abs might well be needed to see if his mouth clears up - must say though that having to wait several days for a vet appointment for a cat who can't eat is worrying in itself
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Re: Cat had teeth removed 2 mths ago - old problem back

Post by kev1949 »

Yes, try what Kay said. About two years ago, one of my cats came home at 4am ( lucky the wife was up ) with his face smashed. Think car accident? Had to have a number of teeth out and broken jaw wired up. As well as loosing an eye!
However, while his gums were healing and waiting for his jaw to set, had to be hand fed and watered. We liquidized his food into a syringe, sat him down, and much to his annoyance fed and watered him that way. Don't think he took to kindly having a syringe poked into his mouth? But only way to keep him nourished and hydrated till well enough to feed himself again :)
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Re: Cat had teeth removed 2 mths ago - old problem back

Post by Crewella »

I agree too - I had a cat with an oral tumour and used to mix a little warm water in with her food and blend it to help her to eat.
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TJH72
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Re: Cat had teeth removed 2 mths ago - old problem back

Post by TJH72 »

Thanks for the replies.

I haven't tried liquidising food but I've tried the soft mushy pate type food (including some very bland stuff I got from the vet after he had his teeth out) and he struggles with it. He actually seems better able to eat biscuits. I struggled to get the Metacam in him (I attempted to syringe it in), but then found that he managed to lick up a tube of that Lik-e-lix stuff, so I squirted the Metacam into it and he had it no problem. He is eating better now, albeit it over a few visits to the bowl rather than in one go, and he's not been gagging (that I've seen) so must be helping.

(BTW re the vet appt, I did have a cancellation appt at the vet last Sunday but thanks to a neighbour - long story - he escaped the basket and ran off so had to cancel it. There was also the option of calling in the morning for an emergency appointment if the Metacam didn't help.)

Fingers crossed it's just a case of needing antibiotics but hopefully it won't recur too often as I believe they can lose their effectiveness over time(?)
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Re: Cat had teeth removed 2 mths ago - old problem back

Post by greenkitty »

I've had two cats who have had most of their teeth removed due the calici virus and neither had symptoms like that. Both had gums that looked like raw chopped liver and drooled brown saliva with smelly breath. The condition is called FGS and there's an excellent website http://www.dr-addie.com/stomatitis.html which has a load of information on it. I think I'd be insisting on some further exploratory tests to try and determine the cause.
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Re: Cat had teeth removed 2 mths ago - old problem back

Post by Janey »

Hi, so sorry to hear about your cat. I adopted an elderly cat with this problem, the rescue described his mouth as ‘like raw liver’ when they found him and he had some extractions with them, but the situation didn’t improve once we adopted him his poor gums were still red raw. We tried everything, I even had to scrape the tartar off the teeth daily with a cotton bud and apply some solution ugh, also tried antibiotics etc. My vet thought he was FIV positive but tests didn’t show this, In the end my vet said the only thing was to remove the teeth - but, couldn’t guarantee it would solve it. Thankfully, it did. So there may be the possibility it hasn’t solved the issue, or hopefully it’s just taking a bit longer to settle down. I really do hope so because it must be awful. I would ask your vet though and fingers crossed things do improve, very soon.
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Re: Cat had teeth removed 2 mths ago - old problem back

Post by TJH72 »

Well the vet said the removal of the teeth would normally have stopped the problem but Dave is one of the unfortunate ones. He took a swab to actually test for calicivirus and gave him a long lasting antibiotic shot. Metacam is definitely helping and he seems much better/happier tonight (despite the ordeal of the vet which terrifies him). Just have to wait and see if anti viral meds are needed depending on test results.
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Re: Cat had teeth removed 2 mths ago - old problem back

Post by Crewella »

Just to add that a few people in the situation have reported that feeding tinned Butchers Classic has helped this condition as it has no added sugars, preservatives, colours or cereal, which can sometimes further irritate the gums. My Grumpy Nellie improved on it too. Even after her teeth were first removed she was still sore, and her fur went hard and 'crusty'' where she had licked it, but the Butchers did help and it has all now calmed down.
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Re: Cat had teeth removed 2 mths ago - old problem back

Post by TJH72 »

Crewella wrote:Just to add that a few people in the situation have reported that feeding tinned Butchers Classic has helped this condition as it has no added sugars, preservatives, colours or cereal, which can sometimes further irritate the gums. My Grumpy Nellie improved on it too. Even after her teeth were first removed she was still sore, and her fur went hard and 'crusty'' where she had licked it, but the Butchers did help and it has all now calmed down.
Thanks I will try this.
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Re: Cat had teeth removed 2 mths ago - old problem back

Post by Kris35 »

My Tezzy used to do this a lot. She would paw the side of her mouth and gag. Took her to vet and an x-ray showed a hairline fracture on her jaw. The vet wired her jaw together for 6 weeks in the hope that the bones would gel together but they never did. Ive never heard of the disease mentioned in this thread. My current old girl has just started to do the same thing - please keep us posted.
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Re: Cat had teeth removed 2 mths ago - old problem back

Post by thewayiseethings »

My cat was just diagnosed with a sinus tumor after several months of this behavior. The vet needed to do a skull x ray in order to diagnose this. I wish you all the best.
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Re: Cat had teeth removed 2 mths ago - old problem back

Post by BorisTheBlacksMum »

Hello!

Any follow up from this poster please? My cat is doing the same thing. He's had FOUR dental surgeries now over the past 18 months and NONE ARE FIXING THE ISSUE! The vets just keep taking my cash for dental work. Hes on opiate pain killers three times a day right now and is STILL doing it! the pawing has stopped but the mouth and head jolting continues... he is no better. It'll be 2 weeks since his 4th surgery on Wedneasday
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Re: Cat had teeth removed 2 mths ago - old problem back

Post by Cjames71 »

I'm having similar problems. My 15yr old fur baby had dental surgery 3 weeks ago because she was gagging and clawing at mouth after eating. She had 5 teeth removed and also surgery to correct oronasal fistula after tooth removal. Symptoms still persist, so another surgery today for gum resection to basically reverse the fistula surgery. She's eaten tonight since I got her back but immediately started trying to claw her mouth again, however wasn't able to due to cone. It may be that she is in discomfort after the surgery today and things will calm down in a few days. I'm hoping the problem has been solved with the surgery today, it's been torture for both me and my fur baby and seeing her clawing again tonight has made my heart sink.
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Re: Cat had teeth removed 2 mths ago - old problem back

Post by Jellycat »

Likewise my 8 year old cat is having on going issues also. 8 Tooth extractions on 29th Dec 2020. Like everyone you just think his mouth in sore but after 3 weeks since op he was not much better and once the antibiotics and anti inflammatorys wore off seems to have gotten worse!!!
It hasn't helped with our vets being closed to COVID mid-end of Jan! So I couldn't take him back for this after dental check-up. There attitude towards the already paid follow-up appointment is bad luck!!! Grrr...
It's like feeding someone who has had a stroke, tongue seems all over the place, swallowing sometimes seems a bit odd. Vet thinks infection and since the end of February as his wrd eye also swelled up he has had 2 antibiotic jabs and been on anti inflammatorys. The second antibiotic jab which he was given 2 weeks ago made him very I'll the next day for a week he went very very depressed and went off eating and just wanted to sleep, for the past week I might have been able to feed him 200g at the most if food aa he drops most of it out of his mouth and he has to be hand fed.

I think what the vets did has given him Oral dysphagia... 😭Anyone any thoughts or similar responses from there vets...
I am also wondering if having the anesthetic when the operation was done, being done into my cats neck! Has anything to do with it? Has anyone else who has had on going issues had their cat knocked out through the neck rather than leg??? Yes he hates jabs and possibly even the vets by now too.
Costing me a fortune and I really don't know what to do 😭
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Re: Cat had teeth removed 2 mths ago - old problem back

Post by Mollycat »

Jellycat wrote: Tue Apr 06, 2021 8:58 am I think what the vets did has given him Oral dysphagia... 😭Anyone any thoughts or similar responses from there vets...
I am also wondering if having the anesthetic when the operation was done, being done into my cats neck! Has anything to do with it? Has anyone else who has had on going issues had their cat knocked out through the neck rather than leg??? Yes he hates jabs and possibly even the vets by now too.
Costing me a fortune and I really don't know what to do 😭
It's now routine or at least very common for any vein puncture in cats to be done in the neck not the leg. the reason is that as distressing as this seems for the owner, it's actually much less stressful for the cat, mostly because they get to keep all 4 feet on the ground. It's also a great deal easier for a vet's assistant to hold the cat's head perfectly still than the paw which can slip out of even a very firm hold, making the procedure much much safer for your cat. My girl came home form her dental last month with both neck and paw shaved because the overnight IV fluids went in the paw but bloods etc are done in the neck. I know what you're thinking but honestly I have been in the room with her while they have taken blood from the neck and it really is so much easier and safer for everyone and less distressing.

One notable exception is euthanasia when for the benefit of the owner the catheter is still usually fitted to the paw. I don't know about others but my vets now routinely (even pre Covid) take the cat out the back to have any needles and catheters put in and then bring them back into the consulting room. They know us now we always ask for our animals not to be removed out of our sight and they are happy to comply, but then I'm not squeamish about seeing them stick needles into my cat's neck so I can be calm to help them stay calm. It's also great to have that relationship with my vets because when we wanted a urine sample from my boy and I asked if they could take it the needle in the bladder method that particular vet told me very openly she was not happy to do that just at the time because she had recently had one go wrong. That's fine, I accept that and I'm grateful for the honesty, we're all only human after all and the last thing I want is her hurting my cat by being nervous. A vet you can really trust is such an essential part of caring for your pets.
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Re: Cat had teeth removed 2 mths ago - old problem back

Post by Cjames71 »

Hi, just an update. My girl has been back to vets today for further tooth extraction. She has been pawing at her mouth again since she got home and is now back in the Elizabethan collar to protest her from clawing her face. My vet thinks she may have feline orofacial pain syndrome (FOPS) as she has all the characteristics, exaggerated tongue movements after eating, pain and pawing at face. Unfortunately FOPS is a neurological condition caused by overfiring of the nerves, and can start after dental work. I'm waiting to see how she progresses over the next few days, but it may be that she needs to go on meds for FOPS. In some cats the medication works, in others its not so successful. It may be worth your while to look up FOPS on the web, there are some videos of cats displaying FOPS symptoms, some of which Unfortunately look exactly like what my girl does. I'd never heard of FOPS before but its definitely worth speaking to your vet about it if you've exhausted all other avenues.
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Re: Cat had teeth removed 2 mths ago - old problem back

Post by Gleemartin03 »

To all that had issues with FOPS, I’m just checking to see if those meds helped long term. I’m almost certain my cat has it and I’m seriously worried about her. She can’t live this way the rest of her life. I would love to hear your feedback on how your cats are all doing today. I’m hoping for the best. She is in agony right now with these head jolts and gagging. I hate seeing her in pain 😢. Thank you for any insight you can give.
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Re: Cat had teeth removed 2 mths ago - old problem back

Post by beandub »

My cat has had this issue for the last few months now. We placed a feeding tube to try to figure out the situation after she stopped eating due to her FOPS symptoms. Unfortunately the medication that helps the most with this syndrome is one that she was already on due to having seizures. The gagging and head jerking consequentially caused her feeding tube to become dislodged so we don’t have as much time to figure out what to do to fix the issue. I read that many cats can become worse after dental work so I don’t think I will have that done if it’s suggested. Please let me know if anything works in your cases and I will do the same!
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Re: Cat had teeth removed 2 mths ago - old problem back

Post by Meezy+ »

Hi TJH72,

I had adopted a cat from the Rescue where I worked. At the rescue she stayed to herself, would not let anyone get too close to her face or pet her head, and seemed to have a bloody discharge from her mouth. I had to feed her separately from the cat room and had the rescue allow me to take her to the vet to check her teeth. They pulled 4 teeth. I began researching her symptoms and realized she had Stomatitis. It is a horrible immune disease of the mouth that caused severe pain, ulcerations and broken teeth exposing the roots---the pain must have been excruciating.

I adopted her purposely to save her from that pain. She needed help and no one was going to understand what she had.
I learned Stomatitis attacks the oral tissues and the ONLY way to resolve it was to have all of her teeth removed. This must be done by a Veterinary Dental Specialist or a Vet with knowledge of this disease. There must be X-rays of the mouth and every piece of tooth and root must be removed or it will reoccur.

I was living in Arizona and took her to the Dental Veterinarian for the Big Cats at the Arizona Zoo. The cost was $3,500 for the entire process with hospital stay and vet care for 3 days.

Meezy was a new little girl. She was given a new life with me, a happy, pain-free one. I know she knew what I did because she was totally devoted to me never leaving my side. She was the love of my life and Her name is my Forum name.
Meezy passed away in 2016 at the age of about 15.
Although devastated when she passed, I knew I had given her the best life any cat could have.

Please have Kiwi visit a qualified Dental specialist who knows what Stomatitis is. Taking a few teeth out does not work..they all must go. Kiwi will be so grateful for your loving care.
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