Woke up this morning and found the cat's tooth on the floor. He doesn't seem to be in any apparent pain or experiencing any discomfort. Is this normal??
2007-05-29 16:36:17 · 9 answers · asked by newyorktrueblue 1 in Pets ➔ Cats
Woke up in the morning and found his tooth on the living room floor. He doesn't seem to be in any pain or experiencing any discomfort. He's an older cat, almost 10. Is this something I need to be concerned about?
2007-05-29 16:42:05 · update #1
no its not normal...you should take him to the vet to make sure the rest of his teeth are fine..they can have all kinds of weird problems with their teeth
2007-05-29 16:39:15 · answer #1 · answered by bailie28 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
To be blunt, YES, you need to be concerned when a senior cat's tooth just falls off from his mouth. Apart from direct trauma to the tooth, the most common reason a tooth falls ut is periodontal disease. This is a very very common disease affecting older cats. Plaque and tartar accumulates around their teeth providing bacteria a perfect place to multiply. This irritates the gums and gives the cat bad breath. If not treated, gingivitis develops into periodontal disease - bacteria accumulates into pockets in the tooth's gumline. This triggers infection which then attacks the tissues holding the tooth. In time, the tooth falls off.
Cats are very stoic creataures and do not readily show that they are in pain. He may be or he may not be. Check your cat's mouth and see if there is a thin reddish line along the gumline - where the gums meet the teeth. Check also for tartar accumulation. If both these are present, you need to take kitty to the vet to have his teeth checked.
2007-05-29 17:10:26 · answer #2 · answered by Phoebhart 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is normal for an elderly cat to lose teeth. But a vet checkup (which an older cat should have anyway) will tell you the exact cause.
A younger cat can lose them from running into something and knocking it out (which my cats have done), and also from gingivitis, which one of my cats had, and now he has few teeth, including only 1 'snaggletooth'.
You need to make adjustments in his feeding (softer food and smaller bites).
2007-05-29 18:06:07 · answer #3 · answered by Mama_Kat 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, you should be very concerned! Cats are predators and if they show pain or weakness then they would become the prey. Cats ONLY show pain when they are maxed out on it.
The hole left in your cats mouth is prime for infection-which I would imagine is already there and could be part of the reason why the tooth fell out. If it is on top it could lead to an oral-nasal fistula. If on bottom make sure jaw integrety is still there.
You cats should be taken in for a complete dental.
2007-05-29 16:43:31 · answer #4 · answered by doggie_poopie 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋
It means your cat probably has periodontal disease. We are supposed to brush our cat's teeth with a special toothbrush or use a dental cleaning solution in their water bowl to prevent their teeth from rotting. The Vet can do a more complete cleaning once a year under anesthesia to get rid of the buildup on their teeth and keep the gums healthy. There is also a disease cat's get that causes lesions to form in their gums and can lead to tooth loss. Two of my cats have this and one of them has lost two of her teeth because of it. Her daughter is in the early stages of it.
Have your Vet examine your cat's teeth and recommend treatment.
2007-05-29 16:47:09 · answer #5 · answered by SusieQ 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Teeth should not just fall out of your cat's mouth. It could the a sign of dental disease.
2007-05-29 16:42:43 · answer #6 · answered by leftygirl_75 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
How old is he? If he's a kitten, he's probably just teething. If he's grown, you need to take him to the vet. Cats' teeth are not supposed to fall out.
2007-05-29 16:39:25 · answer #7 · answered by Alice K 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
If he's a kitten, then it's just a baby tooth just like people.
2007-05-29 16:38:40 · answer #8 · answered by purpledeucegirl06 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Cats grow back their teeth so don't worry.
2007-05-29 16:38:40 · answer #9 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 9⤋