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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

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Original poster

loose tooth

48 replies

drinkyourmilk · 08/05/2016 19:43

We are getting our first cat this week, a Devon Rex. Family seem lovely, and are giving him up through for a very valid reason. Owner has text to say that he is loosing a tooth and has a red gum, it may take 2 weeks for it to happen. He is 6 years old, so it seems a strange age to loose a tooth. Can someone more experienced advise please? Is it a breed thing, or do I need to enquire further? I'm a little concerned
thanks

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lljkk · 08/05/2016 19:52

Could it be neck lesions (proper name below).
Which is an autoimmune disorder cats get which cause them to lose most teeth.

There is blank all that can be done about it other than remove the tooth under general anaesthetic (own risks) if the cat is in a lot of pain. It will usually progress until cat has lost almost all but the canines.

Two of my cats have "Feline odontoclastic resorptive lesions", they are living with it ok (very happy & teeth coming out at fast rate). Thought to have genetic risk factors (my 2 with this problem are brothers).

cozietoesie · 08/05/2016 20:23

It sounds as if he has dental issues if it's happening at 6 years old. (Plus what they say about the red gum.) I'd have him into your vet directly he arrives.

cozietoesie · 08/05/2016 20:26

PS - you might find this general guidance of interest.

Dental disease in cats

Original poster

drinkyourmilk · 08/05/2016 20:51

Thanks lijkk and cozie. I think it's dental disease too. I know it's not nice to ask - but is it expensive to rectify/treat? He is an expensive cutie as it is, and while I was expecting costly vet bills as he ages, I wasn't expecting anything this soon! I'm hoping I haven't been taken for a ride!
Also- I'm collecting him Wednesday, but can't get him to a vet until the week after unless it's an emergency. Is it urgent to get him seen?

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Original poster

drinkyourmilk · 08/05/2016 20:52

It would be his 3rd tooth lost. I'm feeling quite wary now.

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RubbishMantra · 08/05/2016 20:56

Fellow Devon owner here.

As far as I know, the only illness they can be prone to is Luxating Patellae, basically a displaced knee-cap. Otherwise they're a robust little breed.

As Cozie says, take him to the vet for a checkover ASAP when you bring him home. 6 is about the age when cats start to get tartar build-up, depending on what they've been fed. Once he's had his tooth removal/scale and polish, you can prevent this with Logic toothpaste. You just pop a bit on their paw, and they lick it off and the enzymes do the job. They like the taste of it.

Good luck with owning a Devon - they're like a cat, monkey and dog all rolled into one. They're a very trusting breed, so if you have a house that opens onto a road, put the cat flap in the back door. They're almost not like cats - they seem to be a species all of their own. Steven Speilberg had a Devon as a child, and he based E.T.'s face on him. Here's a photo of mine, doing an E.T. impersonation.

And tis the lore in these parts to post a photo of him!

cozietoesie · 08/05/2016 21:03

Different practices vary wildly in charges and also, it would really depend what was up and what action they had to take. I would guess, though - and it really is a guess - that you would be looking at the low hundreds for a GA dental procedure. Poor lad. I know how sore I've been with dodgy teeth etc. (And while cats may not actually show pain or mild discomfort, that doesn't mean that they don't feel it - just that they cover it up.)

cozietoesie · 08/05/2016 21:08

PS - I doubt it's urgent to have him seen.

And neither do I think you'll have been taken for a ride on that basis. (Although I was a little surprised to hear that he was 'expensive'.) Many owners don't even look at, or consider, teeth in animals.

RubbishMantra · 08/05/2016 21:09

X posted.

Are you sure he wasn't being used for breeding? Because if I even had an inkling that one of my lads had a sore tooth, they'd be whisked off to the vets. Some breeders aren't so vigilant.

Also I think cats with FIV are more prone to gum disease. FIV - not a problem, as long as they are indoor only cats, or you have your garden cat-proofed.

but insure him before taking him to the vets, so it's not a "pre-existing condition"

Original poster

drinkyourmilk · 08/05/2016 21:23

He's £300. Don't think he's been used for breeding. Advertised as being neutered.

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Original poster

drinkyourmilk · 08/05/2016 21:23

He would be a house cat

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cozietoesie · 08/05/2016 21:24

Have you a decent local vet that you can register him with?

Original poster

drinkyourmilk · 08/05/2016 21:26

Yes, and we travel a hour to see a decent reptile vet - so no qualms about finding a vet we trust.

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Original poster

drinkyourmilk · 08/05/2016 21:27

My husband wants me to withdraw. He's worried about initial vets bills.

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cozietoesie · 08/05/2016 21:33

That's a difficult one. Have you seen a copy of his vet records - or been told who his current vet is? (I'm assuming that his current owners are not going to pick up any future tabs.)

Original poster

drinkyourmilk · 08/05/2016 21:33

BTW Mantra- squeeeeeeee!!!! Such a beautiful looking cat. We've been forwarded we will have to share our bed, and buy lots of toys.

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Original poster

drinkyourmilk · 08/05/2016 21:34

I haven't. Should I?

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cozietoesie · 08/05/2016 21:42

I reckon you need some other views on this, I'm afraid. For myself, if I was in a position where I had to rehome one of my lads, there would be total disclosure of any and all physical issues, including the contact details for his current vet. (Which his new vet would need in any case so that they could obtain - at the least - details of his shots etc.)

I may not be representative though and I can't really criticise anyone for charging for a cat, even though it seems quite a lot in the circumstances.

Original poster

drinkyourmilk · 08/05/2016 21:45

I'm going to ask for vet details. Thanks for the heads up. Appreciate all the views I can get.
Naturally photos will be shared when he is here!

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RubbishMantra · 08/05/2016 21:52

£300 is a lot to pay for an adult cat. I paid £500 for mine as a kitten - the prices of Devons seems to have gone up a fair bit the last couple of years though.

Have the current owners shown you up to date vaccinations, health checks, when he was neutered etc.? Do they have up to date insurance for him?

Have they produced his GCCF registration papers, which should tell you if he is/was on the breeding register? (he could have been neutered at a later date, after being used as a stud, and that's another reason to request his vet records)

Sorry for all the questions, but these are questions I would be asking the current owners.

StopLaughingDrRoss · 08/05/2016 21:54

I'm with Cozie, £300 seems a lot to charge for a six year old cat.. but I wouldn't pay that even for a kitten as there are so many rescue cats out there.

As another point, some insurances don't cover general dental work for cats (although they will cover emergency care) so I would check your benefits quite closely before taking him on if you're hoping your policy will cover him.

Just out of interest, and you don't have to say, but why are they rehoming? If he's lost 3 teeth by 6, does seem like he may have some underlying condition

Original poster

drinkyourmilk · 08/05/2016 21:59

Moving to a country that has a very long quarantine and £3,000 cost to take cat with them.

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cozietoesie · 08/05/2016 22:04

You're right, Mantra. Those are all details that should be to hand if you were rehoming.

Original poster

drinkyourmilk · 08/05/2016 22:05

I've asked to speak to current vet. If the answer is no, then I'm going to withdraw, which is a shame as the family, seem so lovely and he is terribly sweet.
I'm not keen on having a kitten, but job has just changed so I can be home if needed. (Of course I may be looking at 2 so they have company - this one would be happy running around with the beard when I'm home)

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RubbishMantra · 08/05/2016 22:07

Here's another gratuitous one, where you can see he actually does have ears.

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