My cat's tooth is about to fall off

**jdude360** · 06-24-2005, 12:20 PM

We just came back from vacation(we had someone feed and give the medicine to the cat). When we came back, one of the bottom teeth was hanging out of his mouth. I touched it and it was loose. Is this normal? Did he get in a fight? Or did he run into something? He is pretty old and has FIV, fast motabolism, and a thyroid problems(I dunno if that has anything to do with it). What is wrong?

**lvpets2002** · 06-24-2005, 12:40 PM

How old is your cat? It does seem he/she has several medical problems. It could be a tossed combination of things. I would suggest taking your baby to the Vet & be checked out.

**Barbara** · 06-24-2005, 03:55 PM

It can have different reasons.
My Filou lost one of his fangs when he was 4 or 5 years old. We didn't notice it was loose and didn't notice when it went. But when we finally noticed and took him to the vet it was all purrfectly healed.

On the other hand cats can have accidents. And they can have inflammed gums. Ot tartar. In any case a tooth check from the vet would be recommended. The tartar can be removed- in many cases the inflammation of the gums is healed that way.

All the best for your furboy.

**kittycats_delight** · 06-24-2005, 03:57 PM

Seeing your baby has several medical issues I think to be on the safe side I would take him to the vet. Just to make sure there is no infection and if there is to get him on antibiotics. Please let us know how he makes out.

**Shady** · 06-24-2005, 06:32 PM

Sounds like a trip to the vet's is in order.

One of Kewpie's fangs (I think they are called canine's even in a cat) was just gone one day, healed just fine, so next time at the vet she examined her to make sure there was no pain, no root pieces exposed or left behind. She said anything could have done it, and it was not a health concern for her (she was only 4)

Considering the tooth hasnt fallen out and obviously couldnt be healed I'd get to the vet and let them remove it and look the cat over.

**jdude360** · 06-24-2005, 09:31 PM

oh great.....another vet visit.

I'll call the vet and see what I can do. Should I go ahead and pull it out? Or leave it for the vet?

**kittycats_delight** · 06-24-2005, 11:05 PM

No don't pull it out. Leave it for the vet. It could still be connected to a nerve and you could cause a lot of pain and damage too. Please wait to get the vet to deal with it.

**lil_kittykat_uk** · 06-26-2005, 02:56 PM

One day we fed our cats and noticed Rosie trying to spit something out, which turned out to be a tooth. After that more and more teeth came out.

We took her to the vets and they put her under anesthetic and gave her teeth a good clean. However a few more fell out while they were cleaning, and they told us she would probably lose all her teeth eventually, but that cats with no teeth can still manage to eat soft cat food.

**jdude360** · 06-27-2005, 03:05 AM

Originally posted by lil_kittykat_uk
One day we fed our cats and noticed Rosie trying to spit something out, which turned out to be a tooth. After that more and more teeth came out.

We took her to the vets and they put her under anesthetic and gave her teeth a good clean. However a few more fell out while they were cleaning, and they told us she would probably lose all her teeth eventually, but that cats with no teeth can still manage to eat soft cat food.

Well........that calms my nerves!

**Barbara** · 06-27-2005, 08:02 AM

There is no reason now to expect the worst

It may be just that one toofie- that's very probable

But a tooth cleaning may be recommended- no big deal.

**TopCat3** · 06-27-2005, 08:58 AM

My cats had a checkup last week and one of the lower teeth, the long pointy one, apparently has decay and a small hole in it and has to be removed. I'm just thinking if decay progresses to a degree where there is more hole than there is tooth, it will sort of hang out!

You can't necessarily see the hole because it can be under the gumline and if there is tartar and inflammation it would not be obvious. This is what the vet explained to me. It takes a vet to see it, plus somehow they sit still(ish) and open their mouth for HER but they wriggle and clamp their mouths shut when I try to look!