toothache /diet
 

hi i have an 10-12 year old tom cat who in fairly good health but hes being
suffering from a toothache. i brought him to the vets this morning but the
vet said he wouldnt risk removing the tooth because hes to old and the best
thing to do would be finding him foods that are easier for him to chew. ive
tried the tined foods he usually eats (wiskas beef and beef n liver) but
they seem to be causing him discomfort. anyone got any ideas on foods that i
can get for him which would be easier on his teeth .

in article , Gerard at
wrote on 8/5/03 1:09 PM:

hi i have an 10-12 year old tom cat who in fairly good health but hes being
suffering from a toothache. i brought him to the vets this morning but the
vet said he wouldnt risk removing the tooth because hes to old and the best
thing to do would be finding him foods that are easier for him to chew. ive
tried the tined foods he usually eats (wiskas beef and beef n liver) but
they seem to be causing him discomfort. anyone got any ideas on foods that i
can get for him which would be easier on his teeth .


Hmm. If a blood panel show he is ok for anesthesia, it's better to have it
out. Infections can lead to wose diseases. My mothers cat had teeth removed
as late as 14 y.o. It may be the vet is not comfortable with dental
procedures. You might look for one who is.

Karen

in article , Gerard at
wrote on 8/5/03 1:09 PM:

hi i have an 10-12 year old tom cat who in fairly good health but hes being
suffering from a toothache. i brought him to the vets this morning but the
vet said he wouldnt risk removing the tooth because hes to old and the best
thing to do would be finding him foods that are easier for him to chew. ive
tried the tined foods he usually eats (wiskas beef and beef n liver) but
they seem to be causing him discomfort. anyone got any ideas on foods that i
can get for him which would be easier on his teeth .


Hmm. If a blood panel show he is ok for anesthesia, it's better to have it
out. Infections can lead to wose diseases. My mothers cat had teeth removed
as late as 14 y.o. It may be the vet is not comfortable with dental
procedures. You might look for one who is.

Karen

the vets this morning but the vet said he
wouldnt risk removing the tooth because
hes to old and the best thing to do would
be finding him foods that are easier for
him to chew.

Please find another vet ASAP. Any vet that thinks a 10 year old cat is
"too old" to have dental work shouldn't be in practice. I have an 11
year old cat that is at the vet right now having a dental (I just called
to check on her and she's under anesthesia as we speak.) I had bloodwork
done before the dental to make sure she's in good health and they are
using a gas anesthesia (isoflurane) and have her on IV fluids during the
procedure. I have had cats as old as 15 get dental work and as long as
some precautions are taken they have been fine. Please find a vet that
is used to working with older cats and knows what they are doing. It is
cruel to force this cat to suffer with tooth pain indefinitely when it
can be fixed.

Megan



"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do
nothing."

-Edmund Burke

Learn The TRUTH About Declawing
http://www.stopdeclaw.com

Zuzu's Cats Photo Album:
http://www.PictureTrail.com/zuzu22

"Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one
elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and
splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then
providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision,
raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and
material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his
way."

- W.H. Murray

the vets this morning but the vet said he
wouldnt risk removing the tooth because
hes to old and the best thing to do would
be finding him foods that are easier for
him to chew.

Please find another vet ASAP. Any vet that thinks a 10 year old cat is
"too old" to have dental work shouldn't be in practice. I have an 11
year old cat that is at the vet right now having a dental (I just called
to check on her and she's under anesthesia as we speak.) I had bloodwork
done before the dental to make sure she's in good health and they are
using a gas anesthesia (isoflurane) and have her on IV fluids during the
procedure. I have had cats as old as 15 get dental work and as long as
some precautions are taken they have been fine. Please find a vet that
is used to working with older cats and knows what they are doing. It is
cruel to force this cat to suffer with tooth pain indefinitely when it
can be fixed.

Megan



"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do
nothing."

-Edmund Burke

Learn The TRUTH About Declawing
http://www.stopdeclaw.com

Zuzu's Cats Photo Album:
http://www.PictureTrail.com/zuzu22

"Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one
elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and
splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then
providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision,
raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and
material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his
way."

- W.H. Murray

Personally, I don't consider 10 - 12 too old for a dental workup - with
extracting that tooth; your cat probably has a good 5 - 7 years ahead of
him, maybe more. If the vet takes some pre-op precautions, he should be
fine. I know *I* sure wouldn't want to be stuck w/ a toothache forever!
I'd take him to another nearby vet for a second opinion if this vet refuses
to consider getting that painful tooth out of there.

Cathy

--
"Staccato signals of constant information..."
("The Boy in the Bubble") Paul Simon

"Gerard" wrote in message
...
hi i have an 10-12 year old tom cat who in fairly good health but hes
being
suffering from a toothache. i brought him to the vets this morning but the
vet said he wouldnt risk removing the tooth because hes to old and the
best
thing to do would be finding him foods that are easier for him to chew.
ive
tried the tined foods he usually eats (wiskas beef and beef n liver) but
they seem to be causing him discomfort. anyone got any ideas on foods that
i
can get for him which would be easier on his teeth .

Personally, I don't consider 10 - 12 too old for a dental workup - with
extracting that tooth; your cat probably has a good 5 - 7 years ahead of
him, maybe more. If the vet takes some pre-op precautions, he should be
fine. I know *I* sure wouldn't want to be stuck w/ a toothache forever!
I'd take him to another nearby vet for a second opinion if this vet refuses
to consider getting that painful tooth out of there.

Cathy

--
"Staccato signals of constant information..."
("The Boy in the Bubble") Paul Simon

"Gerard" wrote in message
...
hi i have an 10-12 year old tom cat who in fairly good health but hes
being
suffering from a toothache. i brought him to the vets this morning but the
vet said he wouldnt risk removing the tooth because hes to old and the
best
thing to do would be finding him foods that are easier for him to chew.
ive
tried the tined foods he usually eats (wiskas beef and beef n liver) but
they seem to be causing him discomfort. anyone got any ideas on foods that
i
can get for him which would be easier on his teeth .

Yngver wrote:
wrote:

I have an 11
year old cat that is at the vet right now having a dental (I just
called
to check on her and she's under anesthesia as we speak.) I had
bloodwork
done before the dental to make sure she's in good health and they
are
using a gas anesthesia (isoflurane) and have her on IV fluids
during
the procedure.

Our six year old cat just had dental work done using gas anesthesia
and with IV fluids during the procedure. Is it getting more common
to
use fluids during the procedure? Do you know what the benefit is? I
just wonder because I don't recall that with our other cat the last
time she had a cleaning, although that was a while ago, and it was
just a cleaning then, no extractions.

This is just a guess, but maybe it keeps the kidneys flushed of the
bacteria in the mouth when there is bleeding? Good question. I have
to get Shamrock (aka stinky breath) one very soon and I'd like to be
prepared for that, though he is young (~2yrs).