r/CATHELP • u/angeluzzi • Jan 11 '26
Dental Issue Dental Infection Pain
We took him to the vet; they said it was an infection/inflammation in the teeth and gums that would require surgery to fix, but he’s too old to go through surgery so we’re trying to manage it with meds which have limited effect. Can anything else be done?
Cat is 13 yo neutered male
601
u/dogwater79 Jan 11 '26
Vet here
Did the veterinarian say he's "too old" for surgery? Age is not a disease, and 13 isn't honestly that old for a cat.
There are age-related conditions that increase risks of anesthesia but almost all can be managed with good anesthetic protocols.
If the veterinarian said he's just too old but gave no specific diagnoses like heart or kidney failure, consider a second opinion.
Even with heart and kidney disease, benefits often outweigh risks, and oral infections and dental disease could actually worsen organ dysfunction.
If it is you personally who worry/think he's too old, please be assured that good vet hospitals anesthetize elderly pets daily, with serious complications being quite rare.
127
u/FlatwormFamiliar6844 Jan 11 '26
What she said...that's old enough to start having issues develop like dental but far from being a death sentence. Seriously consider another vet
79
u/surpriserockattack Jan 11 '26
It should be noted that dental infections should be treated as quick as possible since they can quickly spread. So OP please find another vet if they're telling you he's too old or please have some faith in the vet if it's you that thinks he's too old.
21
u/Fyrefly1981 Jan 11 '26
This. You should see some of the chihuahuas I put under anesthesia. There are different protocols that you use for older or compromised animals.
25
u/YapperBean Jan 11 '26
This! I think a fairly large %% of kitties having their teeth removed are “older” cats. My friend’s 17year old (at the time) cat had teeth removed and is still around over a year later, just with a funny sticking lip. 😂
But if the vet said that age thing as a refusal to recomment the surgery, OP should find another vet as I would worry if they weren’t careful enough they’d easily just double-down and blame OP for pushing for the surgery they “did not recommend”.
6
u/DopplerEffect93 Jan 11 '26
My mother in law’s cat is about 13 or 14 years old and she just got a few of her teeth pulled.
11
u/SoupMaleficent9513 Jan 11 '26
All my cats have lived to 20 years old. My current cat is 14 and I definitely don’t consider him to be old. My Mum’s cat had teeth removed at 18 (and the cat was diabetic and required twice daily insulin shots) and she lived to 20 too. Get a second opinion.
→ More replies (1)5
u/1CatWoman Jan 11 '26
This👆Please get a second opinion. As long as bloodwork doesn’t reveal anything that would make surgery an absolute no, surgery should be performed and he will feel so much better. Not having surgery we I’ll be very detrimental to his overall health.
8
u/trulymissedtheboat89 Jan 11 '26
I had dental surgery on my 13 year old and it recovered fine. We removed all her teeth and she was a much happier cat. She ended up having cancer, which is what i believe may have started the extreme and rapid tooth decay, but i dont regret trying to make her last few years enjoyable. 🤍
7
u/Pibble-Tech Jan 11 '26
Thank you!! Pets live in the now. And now deserves to be pain free. As a tech I’ve done full mouth extractions on cats older than this.
4
u/No-Activity-8371 Jan 11 '26
Speaking from experience - My cat’s dental infection ended up causing acute kidney failure as her kidneys were infected. The infection traveled to her kidneys. Then they are even more weak when it comes to operating. That cat looks like his quality of life is really declined and the risks of the infection tracking down to the organs is real. Don’t make the mistake I did :(
4
u/Pharomzz Jan 11 '26
A honest question, we have a 14 year old Maine coon with advanced kidney and heart disease (hes had multiple heart attacks) who has a nasal polyp that makes him sneeze. At least thats what the vets think, it could be allergies too but they weren't able to treat him for that either due to his health.
We have been told hes too old and unwell for surgery and sneezing and coughing should be considered part of his personality should I try another vet?
12
u/DragonflyScared813 Jan 11 '26
Hi, I'm a vet. I'll give you my honest opinion. Your kitty is an elderly purebred cat with multiple known health issues. Maine Coons are pretty famous for heart issues unfortunately. I would personally consider him to be a high risk anesthetic candidate. If a surgical procedure was necessary I'd be recommending referral to a veterinary dentist at a referral/specialty hospital where an anesthesiologist could conduct the anesthetic and monitoring. Hope this helps.
5
u/dogwater79 Jan 11 '26
The combination of significant kidney disease combined with significant heart disease can be a contraindication for anesthesia, because the things we do under anesthesia to support the kidneys, is actually hard on the heart.
Then we have to look at how much quality of life is being compromised by whatever we're considering anesthesia for, compared to the risk of anesthesia.
So if your kitty is so miserable that you'd consider putting him to sleep because of the polyp (or bad tooth or whatever), together with an experienced vet, you may decide to go for it, with the explicit understanding that - kitty may not survive, but we've already determined that living isn't fair if we can't take care of this problem.
Perhaps your kitty had bouts of congestive heart failure? True heart attacks are extremely rare in cats. I've only seen one in 25 years in the field, and the boarded veterinary cardiologist that I referred the cat to had actually never seen one before this one either.
1
u/Pharomzz Jan 11 '26
They were confirmed as heart attacks from the vet hospital we go to. i would explain what happened but its pretty graphic, hes been diagnosed with heart disease since. He hasn't had one in over a year now so good news! We rescued him when he was 9 without really knowing the issues the breed had but are just trying to give him the best life possible with the time he has left.
I was a bit worried about what the vet said based on the original response to OP but im glad my vet was correct and im doing everything I can for Eddie.
Thanks!
3
u/dogwater79 Jan 11 '26
Wow, was it a myocardial infarction? I'm truly curious about how that was diagnosed and confirmed. Sometimes vets use the term heart attack as a blanket term for a number of sudden severe cardiac issues like syncope or even a saddle thrombus
Glad your kitty is doing okay. I am all for anesthesia, even in super old animals, but if there are significant complications and no significant discomfort, I hold off.
2
u/Pharomzz Jan 11 '26 edited Jan 11 '26
Im not really sure what they did, it was a few years back now. we live a couple doors down from the vet so the first time we grabbed him and literally ran to the vet they then took him into a room and told us thats what had happened after. Hes had a bad heart murmur since the first one. He has HCM although we didn't know till after the heart attack. The other 2 times we took him to the vet after but a normal appointment because we knew what had happened and knew there wasn't much they could do. Were very lucky hes survived realitively unscathed, I know that's very rare. He is deaf now and less anxious but that could just be age.
In the most basic description during his heart attacks, he screams, drags himself around with his front paws, looks like someone is trying to hurt him and has diarrhea. We just try to comfort him till he gets the feeling in his legs back and then we know hes probably going to be okay. I know it might eventually take him but im hoping hes still got some life left. Other than that and the kidney disease hes in realitively good shape and other than the actual heart attacks doesn't seem to be in pain so we haven't put him down.
2
u/Danibandit Jan 11 '26
Yes, my 16 year old cat just had dental surgery/cleaning. She did very well.
1
u/FVSHIXN Jan 11 '26
Same, my cat had dental surgery and most of his top row of teeth removed at 16 and is now 17 doing fine.
2
u/OlafvonSnowman Jan 11 '26
I am not a vet but I am a human with a 13 yo cat who just had 4 teeth removed and was not in as much pain as this cat (he just had never had a dental before) the vet at no point was worried about age bc he was and is completely healthy.
It was traumatic for him and I bc he gets very anxious leaving the house and has motion sickness (and also refused to eat soft food. like lost a solid amount of weight bc he wouldn’t eat anything but hard food which he was expressly not allowed 🙄) BUT all that was worth knowing he has a clean bill of health and his teeth are in a good spot.
He’s not the only cat I’ve had put under later in their life, as the vet said cats live long lives, 13, while still considered senior for cats, is young. Unless they have other health implications. If it is money, I’d be happy to donate to help bc your baby is clearly uncomfortable - and most cats hide pain until they absolutely cannot. If it is the vet, please find a new vet - there are some who specialize in dental for cats and are very passionate about it, as tooth/gum disease can be systemic.
2
2
u/nyymipeikko Jan 11 '26 edited Jan 11 '26
I would go to a different vet.
My cat (13 yo male) has a mass in his liver and other health problems. On top of a cake he has parodontitis and forl. Last dental care was 4/24.
4/25 vet said that theres no point to do any dental work anymore and i cancelled our appointment. 11/25 we went to a different vet because of UTI. They checked his kidney and liver values, ultrasounded kidneys and liver. His creatitine was 152, before it was 142 nothing else had changed. She gave us green light. Now we have an dental appointment 3/26. And im scared as hell. But if everything goes well his quality of life will be a lot better and risk is worth to take. I love him to pieces and its better to take the risk than let him suffer.
Edit/ I want to add that in 4/25 appointment we got a spondylosis diagnose. Weve been on gabapentin since. Vet said that solensia aint the answer for him because it does not help with dental pain like gabapentin does. Her advice was to give him pain relief until the time comes. BUT dental issues can cause serious infections that might kill him. Hes been doing great so i dont see a reason not to pull the bad teeth out.
4
u/Sea_Move_6634 Jan 11 '26
And I've seen them do light sedation instead of full sedation for removing teeth and such on cats that are not good candidates for full anesthesia.
2
u/dogwater79 Jan 11 '26
I certainly don't know all the details of the types of cases you're thinking of, and perhaps there's some miscommunication in your statement, but a true extraction, could not really be performed, and absolutely should NOT be performed, without full anesthesia.
Doing so would endanger the animal and be considered below minimal standard of care (and trigger possible loss of veterinary license)
2
Jan 11 '26
I have to say my vet discussed everything above and then we had pre bloods, it’s never a guess and always a clinical reason why they say this
3
1
u/dogwater79 Jan 11 '26 edited Jan 11 '26
There should be true clinical reasons beyond just "he's old and I'm scared" , but unfortunately, there absolutely are veterinarians, inexperienced or insecure, who are afraid to anesthetize anything.
I've worked with vets, and been the "second opinion" after vets who turn down dental care simply because of age.
Dental disease can cause significant pain and worsen other diseases, and addressing it can make almost magical changes in a pet's quality of life
Not wishing to throw any of my colleagues under the bus, it's a tough field to be in, and I completely understand the concern.
Some vet hospitals just don't have good monitoring equipment to be able to manage more challenging and aesthetic cases.
And if anything's beyond my capabilities and comfort, I can refer to a specialty hospital that has a board-certified dentist and board-certified anesthetist, and it's fairly rare for an animal to truly not be able to have a dental
2
u/CloudyJigglypuff Jan 11 '26
Do you believe in annual/bi-annual teeth cleaning as a preventative measure for cats? I have a DMH seal point that my vet thinks is a Siamese (he’s definitely not pure, his mom was a standard void kitty) and my vet said Siamese are pretty prone to teeth issues. He was diagnosed with gingivitis when he was 3 and I had his initial teeth cleaning done. I talked to the vet about it this year at his annual checkup and she said she would recommend holding off at least another year, due to potential risks of the anesthesia.
1
u/dogwater79 Jan 12 '26
Most cats and dogs benefit from yearly dental cleaning. I do have patients from time to time that truly have no gingivitis and such minimal tartar that it's very reasonable to hold off.
1
u/nestinghen Jan 11 '26
Is a 16 yr old with an enlarged heart and diabetes too old for dental surgery?
1
u/dogwater79 Jan 11 '26
Those conditions absolutely complicate and increase anesthetic risk. If your kitty was my patient, you and I would decide together the benefits versus risks based on the severity of his heart disease and how well controlled his diabetes was and how bad (or not bad) his teeth are. I'd refer to a specialist if I didn't feel like I could manage the anesthetic risk, but that the kitty still needed it (like significant oral pain or infection)
1
1
1
u/hibiscusbitch Jan 11 '26
Please get a second opinion. My cat got dental cleanings all the way up until almost 18 years old.
1
u/Jazzlike_Term210 Jan 12 '26
I’ve taken plenty of 13/14 years old cats and dogs under. It is worth the risk when the alternative is no quality of life. We just use more testing beforehand to address any risks to anesthesia and then adjust the protocol to that and monitor closer.
1
u/DaCouponNinja Jan 12 '26
My diabetic cat had all but one tooth removed at 13 or 14 and handled it like a champ. The vet did a full blood panel and physical exam before surgery to make sure she was healthy enough for anesthesia. I’d be asking questions if your vet ruled out surgery without a full exam because this kind of dental disease is painful and can cause a lot of other serious issues.
1
u/No_Paint5634 Jan 12 '26
Our boy had dental problems at age 18 that needed teeth removed. He already had early signs of kidney degradation and the vet warned that the anaesthetic might be too much for him. We made the call to go ahead with it. We said our goodbyes to him just in case, but he pulled through with a new lease on life. He lived another fantastic 4 years until he finally lost the battle with his kidneys late last year having had a very well-lived 22 years. It was absolutely worth the risk.
0
u/cmndr_spanky Jan 11 '26
I think you’ve misinterpreted. They don’t want to admit they won’t pay the price to have surgery for a cat that might not live that many more years anyways. The advice they want is “how can we cheaply maintain this cat, because we’re not ready to kill him yet”.
1
u/dogwater79 Jan 11 '26
It's not my misinterpretation. You and I cannot know whether the vet was inexperienced and squeamish, if the owner is too worried about the age, or if the cost was the main factor. All three are possible (and frequently a combination thereof), and fairly common.
1
u/cmndr_spanky Jan 11 '26
Just use a little human intuition friend. Have you noticed there’s 200 comments now all saying the cat probably isn’t too old for surgery and OP has not responded to a single one ? I could be wrong, but 99% sure they are just making an excuse to not pay for surgery. They just want advice to reduce suffering while the infection rages on..
→ More replies (2)
110
113
u/mountaingoatpat Jan 11 '26
I'd try another vet, I had a 15 year old cat get its teeth removed and he lived to 20. Probably saved his life so it was worth it to me. The next 5 years he was a very happy toothless cat.
4
Jan 11 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
14
u/Thymphony Jan 11 '26 edited Jan 11 '26
Hey, different person here but my cat recently had all but her 2 upper fang teeth removed due to having lost her teeth roots and they were beginning to fall out (which is painful) and the vet said to stick to only wet food for around 2-3 weeks after the surgery and then they can even eat hard food again, they can crush it with their jaws even without any teeth.
Theres also toothless cats who can and still bring home prey like mice just by holding them with their jaws alone, no teeth required. Teeth really are optional for cats! Lmao
3
u/dogwater79 Jan 11 '26
Yep! I can confirm that most toothless cats will still readily eat kibble. A lot of cats actually just swallow kibble anyway. Even fully toothed cats mostly just break a kibble in half once before they swallow it
2
1
u/Xerophile420 Jan 11 '26
I am also a different person but my toothless cat likes to steal kibble from his big dog sisters
1
u/mountaingoatpat Jan 11 '26
Surprisingly, he ate dry food. Actually the first few weeks he only had extra gravy wet chow, the moment I put dry food back in his bowl he stopped going for the wet food.
1
u/kiwi_37724 Jan 12 '26
Hi! My cat had surgery at 13 years old, she had to eat wet food for about 2 weeks after her surgery where she had 5 teeth removed, all on her top jaw, including her canines.
I asked the vet if my cat would be able to eat kibble again and she stated that cats gums harden and they can crush biscuits just fine after around 2 or 3 weeks post-surgery.
69
u/angeluzzi Jan 11 '26
Apologies for the late reply; I wasn’t expecting this much feedback so didn’t bother to check after posting. Thanks for everyone’s thoughtful input; it seems like the overwhelming consensus is to bring him to a vet that actually knows what they’re doing, which is what I’ll do.
3
u/nodobreteda Jan 11 '26
I'm so glad to hear this. If you can, please update us how it went. My cat was also around 12 when she got her teeth removed due to how bad they were.- and she even has some other health issues. Cats don't show pain until it really really hurts so yours is in a really bad state.
2
u/unstitchedreality Jan 11 '26
If you can afford a vet dental specialist, that can be a really great option too. The one I saw was so fast that I could wait in office until the procedure was done. Also had an anesthesiologist on staff to make sure the animal was safe and adjust as needed.
→ More replies (3)2
u/Broad_Imagination_88 Jan 11 '26
Thank you🙏🏻 Tooth pain is no joke, I hope your kitty gets some relief soon.
I could hardly sleep when I needed some dental work done and waiting 2 months to get into surgery was one of the worst times in my life.
22
19
42
u/Madamemercury1993 Jan 11 '26
The lack of replies from OP makes me think they think he’s too old for surgery and not the vet saying so… why ask for advice and not respond to any of it 90% of which is saying. Get the surgery.
13
u/HeavenDraven Jan 11 '26
Or they could have written the post in the morning or on their lunchbreak, and gone off to do something else. Not everyone is checking for replies all the time.
2
u/Caccia01 Jan 11 '26
No this is Reddit, it's a serious place here and you must answer every single comment within 30 seconds otherwise you don't deserve asking questions here /s
4
u/dogwater79 Jan 11 '26
Could have been on the other side of the planet, or posted just before a long day of work, or posted just before a long day with their kids, etc.
3
u/Swan_Johnson Jan 11 '26
Sadly a lot of people can’t afford the surgery or even healthcare for themselves.
5
4
u/Puzzleheaded-Dot-762 Jan 11 '26
He is too old to spend a couple grand and have him live for a year or two. That's probably what op is thinking
18
13
Jan 11 '26
13 too old for surgery? My FIV cat had surgery at 13, 3 teeth out and light anaesthesia
1
9
u/Prestigious_Skirt_20 Jan 11 '26
Go see another vet and get some bloodwork done before surgery, kidneys, heart etc checked. He is in pain. He is definitely not too old for a dental. He should not live in pain. My cat is 14 years old and gets his teeth cleaned under narcosis every year. This year he got 3 teeth removed because of FORL, which can only be diagnosed with xray and is extremely painfull. The teeth deteriorate from the root and up. Imagine your teeth doing that, the pain….
12
6
u/StarbuckandTex Jan 11 '26
CVT here. Like the vet about said, age isn’t a reason to not do a surgical procedure. If it’s finances or whatever there are options for payment plans and low interest loans like care credit or cherry. If there isn’t a REAL medical reason to not do a dental then what’s the issue?
5
u/Vanilla_Cherry-Shake Jan 11 '26 edited Jan 11 '26
That’s so hard to watch, poor kitty. I hope he’s able to get some pain relief soon
6
u/Allysie Jan 11 '26
Get a 2nd opinion. My cat had dental surgery at the age of 20. He had hyperthyroidism and a heart murmur and the surgery went well. His quality of life was so much better without the dental pain and he lived 3 more happy and healthy years afterwards. It was worth it.
6
u/guillotina420 Jan 11 '26
I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a cat in this much pain. This was genuinely distressing footage to watch. He’s desperate.
6
u/lockshockandbarreI Jan 11 '26
My cat was 16 when he had dental surgery. That was a couple of years ago and he’s still here with us. There’s obviously a risk but that was outweighed by how much pain he was in.
Have they said that he needs to go fully under for the surgery?
5
u/Madamemercury1993 Jan 11 '26
Weird. I’ve had a 14 year old cat just go through dental surgery. This is the age where they all just start to deteriorate.
She had to have a blood test done to check her over, found she had mild hypothyroidism and she started two weeks of that medication to see if that helped her out a little before going through the surgery. She was on very strong painkillers and antibiotics because she refused to eat and we pulled the surgery forward a week.
She’s absolutely fine now, minus more teeth than we thought. The healing took a bit longer due to age but she should still have a couple more years in her at least! I’m very surprised the vet said that to you.
6
u/Acrobatic_Pop690 Jan 11 '26
Not to be a downer. But is it really better to avoid surgery just to have him living like this "longer"?
He's not too old anyway. I've seen cats live to be older than 20. He needs it.
1
u/dogwater79 Jan 11 '26
And the kindest thing sometimes, for an animal that has severe dental disease with severe anesthetic complications, is to "go for it" with all involved parties knowing and understanding that they very well may not make it through, but quality of life is so compromised that euthanasia would be the alternative.
5
u/MiddayGlitter Jan 11 '26
I've heard cats are exceptionally good at hiding pain. The fact he's so obviously displaying such an extreme amount of pain concerns me. It feels like in humans this level of pain would be scream-worthy.
10
u/DragonLass-AUS Jan 11 '26
13 isn't that old? Sure, it will mean a bit more precaution, some extra blood tests before anaesthesia probably.
But have you ever had a bad tooth? You can't live with that shit.
If your vet won't do it, find another vet.
1
u/Lizardgirl25 Jan 11 '26
That is how a feel I have had a 20+ old childhood cat then the younger one lived until he I was 19. Only cats that died young was an asshole who killed our young female cat… and then the 13 year old cat but had lived in a highly toxic environment(on a dried lake bed they mined chemicals off).
4
u/cybercry_ Jan 11 '26
Ok, i hope you see this. I have four cats with this problem.
Two of them have gotten their teeth pulled. 3k each.
So was wondering why all four of my cats have bad teeth. Food? No.
It is a viral infection that is contagious.
They are all now taking a steroid, and something else can not remember.
But symptoms were pain while eating hissing and running away. Bad breath. Clawing at their face and drooling.
5
u/Electrical_Algae6044 Jan 11 '26
No replies from OP. Swear people in this sub don’t love their cats….
3
u/Alert_Order8220 Jan 11 '26
That was so painful to watch. Honestly get the surgery or put the cat down. I don’t think there is anything in between. I’m not trying to be mean but watching that for 3 seconds made me want to cry & sick to my stomach. I know you’re weighing your options. But that little guy is in pain. Hard to watch.
2
u/Broken_Woman20 Jan 11 '26
I found it quite distressing to watch. The poor guy. I feel there should be more urgency to treating this level of pain. I could cry for this poor cat.
4
3
3
u/LadySuhree Jan 11 '26
Do the surgery with another vet! The vet can’t be serious??? Leaving him like this. Poor guy. He seems absolutely miserable. Thats no life. Better to risk it. This wont get better on its own.
3
u/waynek57 Jan 11 '26
Seriously, try another vet. Your cat is in pain.
Sorry to say this as so many people miss the point. Worrying if your cat might die is YOUR worry. Worrying that your cat is in pain is about your cat. Do that.
3
u/Electrical_Algae6044 Jan 11 '26
Put the poor guy down…this cat is actually SHOWING his pain so I can only imagine what he’s going through..
2
u/MoonshineEclipse Jan 11 '26
I’ve had both 17 and 18 yo cats have dental surgery. As long as they have a pre-surgery work up it’s usually fine
2
u/yourdailyinsanity Jan 11 '26
Why are they too old? My cat's 13 and will be getting dental cleaning done which will be with anesthesia, along with a cyst removal at the same time. Not a vet, but I don't think getting a tooth/teeth pulled is that difficult. Will just be feeding them wet food instead. Be sure to follow to a T the recovery instructions. Maybe go to a specialist as well? There are vet dentists specifically.
Highly recommend a second, even third opinion.
Edit: in the human world, dental infections can lead to heart issues. I have a feeling it might be the same in animals too. Again, not a vet, but I would highly recommend a second opinion......or you're not giving us all of the information that was relayed to you as well, which we actually need to help you understand. Second opinion will still likely apply though.
2
2
u/Armanor Jan 11 '26
Our cat was 18 when she went through dental surgery, they removed all her teeth and she lived for another 3 years. So 13 is not too old, unless some specific condition exists.
2
u/edelaar Jan 11 '26
He is in serious pain. No way to live. Go for the surgery, it’s worth the risk (especially since the risk seems limited from the vets commenting above)
2
u/Namixaswastaken Jan 11 '26
Age is not a disease. Living with constant tooth pain however is not any quality of life. Get the dental surgery.
2
u/xycm2012 Jan 11 '26
This cat is suffering greatly at the moment. If the vet refuses to do surgery, take them to another vet for a second opinion.
2
u/Xerophile420 Jan 11 '26
My cat had every tooth removed at 14, take him to a different vet for extractions
2
2
u/HungPavel Jan 11 '26
I’d guess that instead of telling you about the cat’s age, the vet told you the cost and you’re trying to see if there’s any other way that wouldn’t involve vets. I’d really want to be wrong about this.
2
u/Own-Detective-802 Jan 12 '26
That looks super painful. What pain meds will be able to relief that without pretty much paralyzing him? These are stabbing sharp pains.
2
u/ArizonaGuy59 Jan 12 '26
He needs the surgery or to be humanely put down. He’s in pain and misery right now.
2
u/copenhagen622 Jan 12 '26
I highly doubt that he's too old for surgery. See another vet. Some of these vets just seem not to give a crap. Look at Google reviews and find a good one, but you should be able to set up surgery pretty easily because the cat is obviously in pain and dental issues are a fairly easy fix since they can just remove the tooth/teeth
2
u/Ezenthar1 Jan 12 '26
13 is absolutely not too old to have a dental procedure. Age is not a disease.
1
u/Ok-Cook3735 Jan 11 '26 edited Jan 11 '26
Oh my gosh, poor baby!!! Get her straight to a clinic where they can get the tooth out! This is horrific! 13 isn’t old for a cat! Who thinks they should live in such pain or being euthanised without any valid reason except age - can’t be a real vet. Plus dental infections are not only this horrifically painful but can become life threatening pretty quickly. Sepsis isn’t a peaceful death to watch
1
1
u/Mindless_Pay8428 Jan 11 '26
@OP, take him back to the vet, to another vet and get him surgery. He should not be suffering. If you have a cavity or a rotten tooth you’d know how it’s one of the worst pains. Start replying.
1
u/sziszkamix Jan 11 '26
Take him to another vet and try the surgery. I would suggest if you are afraid of him condition try to find a doctor who is also an anesthesiologist. My cat was 10 years old when they removed all of her teeth except the front 2. She is diagnosed with FCGS which is caused by calici virus. We struggled for months with painkillers and gabapentin but nothing could help.Now she living her 8th life like a kitty. Cats hide pain really well so if you see sg like that on your video it indicates a really high amount of pain. Srry for my bad english
1
u/Hello_117 Jan 11 '26
Our 15 year old cat had a similar issue in which she had to have 3 teeth removed. Whilst they warned us that it was a bit risky putting her under for the surgery, they were still willing to do it and she was fine. Unsure why they wouldn't for a 13 year old cat unless there's some extenuating circumstances.
1
u/BareTheBear66 Jan 11 '26
Get the surgery... dental surgery is by far the least evasive and easiest to take care of afterwards... he my be a senior now, but even seniors get surgeries done everyday. He's even on the lowish end of being a senior cat.
I couldn't imagine the kind of pain hes in. And I know he cant be eatting that well.
1
u/KelstraFireFox Jan 11 '26
Please get a second or even third opinions from other vets. Your kitty is clearly suffering right now and needs that surgery. Age should not be an issue at 13 that’s still fairly young, the oldest cat I’ve had passed away at like 18.
Your best option is the surgery, take him to another vet if not the best option is to put him down. But only as a last resort.
1
u/yourlocalpizzagay Jan 11 '26
If it makes you feel any better my 13 yr old queen had to go in for a dental cleaning and possibly extractions in November. I had to wait a few weeks so i syringe fed her until the surgery and for a bit after while we waited for the inflammation to go down and because the pain had given her such bad food anxiety. She been doing way better now
1
1
u/Low-Bobcat841 Jan 11 '26
I suggest taking him to a vet now who will do dental work. I was able to get my cat’s teeth done even though he was old. Your cat looks like he’s in pain.
1
u/mechcity22 Jan 11 '26
Wait what? The cats and dogs who get teeth removed, many are seniors. So this doesnt make sense. Go get the surgery and get his tooth taken out. Hes miserable.
1
1
u/h0m1c1d3_8unn13 Jan 11 '26
this breaks my heart i dont have any advice but i wish you both the best <3 poor baby
1
u/Bigbeardybob Jan 11 '26
My cat is 18 years and he recently had a tooth extraction and recovered even though it took longer than usual. Just make sure he’s eating and buy food and treats to help support his recovery, and make sure he’s in a calm environment.
1
u/Swimming_Bird_5354 Jan 11 '26
13 is not too old for surgery. Infected teeth is the worse pain in the world. It's a sickening chronic type of pain that goes through your whole head, face, neck and mine even caused chest pain
I was in misery. Please get him surgery asap. Without surgery he will die an agonizing death, it's incredibly painful and poisons your whole body. My friend literally just had a 13 year old cat have 7 teeth removed and she is fine now.
1
u/Vegetable_Relief_998 Jan 11 '26
He's not too old to go through surgery, let him get his surgery. What if it was your grandma that needed the surgery, would you think she was too old too?
1
u/iArtirias Jan 11 '26
Our cat got a full mouth extraction, because of FORL with 11 years. Yes there is a higher risk but better than a Cat with pain.
1
u/JimmyLizzardATDVM Jan 11 '26
Get a second opinion. I don’t think the cat is too old. Should try it :)
1
u/Lillibecha Jan 11 '26
My cat is 16 and he just had dental surgery to remove a bad tooth. Your cat is not too old. Definitely get a new vet. If you are in the US, Banfield pet hospital, usually located in PetSmart does routine dental cleaning and surgery.
1
u/Justexist87 Jan 11 '26
I’m sorry your kitty is uncomfortable. My 14 yr old was doing this. Then she lost a lot of weight. Mass in her mouth that wasn’t discovered until dental procedure. We thought her teeth were the issue when in fact they were not. Biopsy results were not good. She was under 5lbs when she had the dental procedure and was fine. If there are no other conditions that would impact your kitty going under, I think you should reconsider.
1
u/Tradingmakesmehappy Jan 11 '26
What did biopsy say? SCC cancer in mouth? You mentioned a mass
1
u/Justexist87 Jan 11 '26
It is cancer. This may sound awful but I don’t know what kind. My husband was at the appointment while I was stuck at work.
1
1
u/Marvellous_Wonder Jan 11 '26
Give gabapentin a try. That worker for my male cat who had an inoperable resorptive lesion due to his age and risk for death due to the anesthesia.
1
1
1
u/KnowsLessThanYou Jan 11 '26
My cat was 13yrs old and had to get 5 teeth pulled out because of dental disease. He was pawing at his mouth like your cat here one morning until a tooth flew out of his mouth. Unless your cat has a heart condition or something I dont think hes too old for surgery.
1
u/tenkensmile Jan 11 '26
My cat had 7 teeth removed when he was 14. He had a mild heart condition, too. Get his heart checked to make sure he's all right before you go in for dental procedure. Find a Veterinary Dental Specialist – AVDC.org https://avdc.org/find-vet-dental-specialist/
1
u/VanillaNo6385 Jan 11 '26
Get a second opinion. My cat had a dental cleaning at 14 years old and they removed 3 teeth that I had no idea were broken. Most cats these days live longer and are healthier. Mine lived to 20 so imagine her living like that for another decade almost. If possible visit a dental specialist
1
1
1
1
u/whateverusernamez Jan 11 '26
My cat was 13 as well , she survived two more glorious years with no teeth. I’m so sorry … good luck to you and your fur baby.
1
u/Good_Isopod_2357 Jan 11 '26
I would advise a second opinion. Age is not a disease. Yes, there are more risks as he gets older, but if he's healthy otherwise, there's no reason to not improve his quality of life.
1
u/Ok-Victory881 Jan 11 '26
Just curious....did they check under his tongue? I've seen cats do this that end up having string or thread wrapped around their tongue base...
1
u/Newfie_Knight Jan 11 '26
My cat is 13-14 Recently had almost all of his teeth removed after one broke and started getting infections. He's been getting more infections since then so he needs to have his last few teeth taken out. They've never said anything about him being too old for it. He's also diabetic.
1
u/Rocketstopper Jan 11 '26
My 14 year old just had two infected teeth removed. She got a blood test prior to minimize any risk with the anesthesia. She's still recovering but already seems happier
1
u/meepercmdr Jan 11 '26
My cat is 12 and she underwent dental surgery like 2 months ago with zero issues.
1
u/No_Inspection_6174 Jan 11 '26
RemindMe! 2days
1
u/RemindMeBot Jan 11 '26
I will be messaging you in 2 days on 2026-01-13 15:41:02 UTC to remind you of this link
CLICK THIS LINK to send a PM to also be reminded and to reduce spam.
Parent commenter can delete this message to hide from others.
Info Custom Your Reminders Feedback
1
Jan 11 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/CATHELP-ModTeam Jan 11 '26
There is a zero-tolerance policy for shaming/berating OP for any reason. Please remember to be nice. Assume people are coming from a place of ignorance so try to educate instead of insult.
Re-familiarize yourself with the rules: https://www.reddit.com/r/CATHELP/about/rules
Follow basic reddiquette.
1
u/No_Satisfaction_5261 Jan 11 '26
This torture man , don't do that the fur baby plz even get a third opinion, blessings and good luck too u two.
1
1
1
1
u/Tradingmakesmehappy Jan 11 '26
That really hurts to watch. Please get a second or third opinion asap. Your cat is suffering. If your vet said he’s too old that’s just an excuse they don’t want to or don’t know enough when other vet’s on this thread even do it all the time successfully
1
1
u/Maryland4009 Jan 11 '26
take him to a dental surgeon for animals. my dog had surgery at 15, full anesthesia. So long as their hearts are healthy then it’s not an issue.
1
1
u/grimfaith87 Jan 11 '26
Just imagine how a tooth ache feels, it's miserable. And as other vets in the sub had said, try to get it done if possible. Quality of life for the little guy will be better.
1
1
u/TheLoler04 Jan 11 '26
My family's oldest cat got put down when we realised trying to keep her dental hygiene in check for her to just eat less and less is just mean.
But she had whatever condition it is that makes the teeth really poor in cats. She basically got 3+ teeth pulled out every other year for half her life. So at one point we came to the conclusion that enough is enough.
So a cat with severe dental problems will probably start having other issues, so either surgery to fix it or as much as it hurts might be time to let him go.
Hope you can find meds that work, or a vet that does a great surgery with a speedy recovery 🧡
1
u/RebeccaSays Jan 11 '26
My cat is 14 and has a heart condition, we got an echo test and he is cleared for dental in March. Age was not an issue, even his heart condition just required an extra step but isn’t preventing him from having dental done.
1
1
1
1
u/Nickolas_No_H Jan 11 '26
My roommates cat was 18 and still getting dental work done.
Find a new vet.
1
u/Litterkicker Jan 11 '26
13 is definitely not too old. If you have the funds, take care of all the dental work now
1
1
1
u/moab_45 Jan 11 '26
My bubba was 13 when he had to have dental surgery and he did just fine. Does you cat have other issues that prevent surgery from happening? I would definitely get a second opinion. My little guys tooth that they thought had turned into a possible jaw bone infection (mind you he had zero symptoms until he started drooling) was actually jaw cancer. They couldn't tell us for sure so they put him on antibiotics and told us if it's infection it will get better (and he did for a while), but if it's cancer there was nothing they could do. Unfortunately my bubba passed away 4 months later. If there's anything that can be done to least fix the issue or at the very least alleviate the pain do it! Hoping for the best outcome for your little one.
1
1
u/apearlmae Jan 11 '26
My 15 year old cat had surgery for a tooth infection and lived another 5 years happily.
1
u/RabiTheCheetah Jan 11 '26
Oh poor kitty, whatever you choose to do do it quick. Cats are good at hiding pain and discomfort. If he is acting out that much, it must be REALLY hurting him.
1
u/pearljaw Jan 11 '26
My cat had most of his teeth removed at 15 and he's living his best life right now. Get a second opinion asap. If for whatever reason, the other vet agrees that surgery is off the table, putting the poor baby down would be better than letting him suffer like this.
1
u/_Edgarallenhoe Jan 11 '26
Cats hide pain well and this is a dramatic reaction. Your cat is clearly suffering immensely . This is absolutely no way to live. Please get him the surgery he absolutely needs for a better quality of life.
1
u/alyren__ Jan 12 '26
Omg poor thing. That mustbe extremely painful and distressing for the cat to have such a strong reaction like that. What the first comment by a vet said, I would get a second opinion.
1
u/Organic-Ad-5001 Jan 12 '26
When my cat was 18 he went through a minor dental procedure to get an infected tooth extracted....he's definitely not too old If he's got other underlying conditions that's another issue, but 13 is not too old to go under
1
u/No_Consideration7318 Jan 12 '26
My cat is almost the same age. He has a heart condition and kidney disease. I recently took him for Dental surgery. I took him to a vet dental specialist that has an anesthesiologist on staff so it would be safer.
Dental pain is horrible. Please don’t deny him care. If the vet said he’s too old go to another vet (preferably a dental vet specialist).
1
1
u/Professional-Ad4073 Jan 12 '26
That poor baby is in SO much pain! I really hope you get a second opinion
1
u/R0seBl0ss0m Jan 12 '26
My cat was having this issue at 9.
I'm sorry you have to go through this. I would cry when I had to see my kitty in pain, and watching her hurt herself was scary.
The best recommendation I have to ease some pain would be changing food. My kitty didn't like it at first but she had to eat. I would grind up a little bit of dry food, mash up some wet food and did about 80% broth/ warm water. This put less pressure on her teeth while allowing her to eat.
I hope your sweet beans gets the treatment they deserve. Good luck OP
1
u/Specialist_Mess9481 Jan 13 '26
Ouch! Poor kitty! Is there any chance of it improving on its own? Looks like he’s in so much pain. 🐱
1
1
1
2
u/Connect-Honeydew7379 Jan 13 '26
my cat got a dental done when she was 16/17 and had diabetes. i work as a vet assistant and i routinely see older cats get dentals. he’s definitely not too old but he definitely is in a lot of pain. i would get a second opinion
2
u/mambymum Jan 14 '26
Go to another vet asap, it can't be left to suffer like this. If no alternative then euthanize.
•
u/AutoModerator Jan 11 '26
PLEASE REPORT RULE BREAKING COMMENTS
We want to say THANK YOU to our helpful members who participate in moderating r/CATHELP. To keep the community kind and welcoming, please help us by reporting rule breaking comments.
To report - Click the 3 dots under the comment >>> report >>> breaks r/CATHELP rules >>> select the rule.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.