Cat front canine snapped at the bottom

[MorganneA]

My cat went to the vet for a check up, which we were expecting to be clear, but instead the vet said that one of her front canines has snapped at the tip. We’ve only had her a few months and she’s 4 years old. I’m quite shocked at this news as she’s never been outside and the rescue centre said her teeth were all fine.

The vet wants to sedate her to check the tooth and then extract it if the pulp is exposed. I am not keen for her to lose a front canine because I think they’re important for a cat in everyday life. I’d rather the vet try to seal it to save the tooth but they seem set on extraction. I don’t even want to sedate my cat, as she’s very anxious and wouldn’t cope well being away from us and medicated. She won’t even let anyone handle her. It doesn’t seem to bother her and she is eating and playing fine.

I don’t know what to do. Does anyone have any experience of this kind of thing or any advice?

She will be completely fine, if a little lopsided, without one canine tooth - several of my old ones have been virtually toothless by the end of their long lives and it didn't slow down their eating or any other abilities. In fact, according to my vet, because cats' teeth are prone to disease, extractions actually make their mouths healthier.

I've had experience of both options with different cats - one had a snapped canine which my vet repaired, I believe he did a root canal, so he had half the length of the tooth left. It's quicker and easier to extract but my vet said it was always better to preserve a canine if possible.

By the way he too was 'perfectly happy' beforehand, but the vet said infection was a possibility so action needed taking.

More recently, another of my cats had to have a top canine extracted following an accident. It has made it slightly more difficult for him to pick up food, but despite that he still gnaws his way through rabbits (he's a hunter), so I wouldn't worry too much if the tooth is extracted.

Once she's sedated there will be no worries about her not coping or being hard to handle, she will have no idea what's going on. By the time the sedation lifts, you'll be going to pick her up.

My tortie has one canine left. It's got a broken tip. Two weeks after she had to have the others removed, she brought an entire family of rats (dead!) in, one by one.

Trust me, they can cope... 😂

I’d only had my rescue a few weeks when I took her to the vet and they said she need both top pointy teeth removed. I thought she’d have trouble but honestly she eats etc absolutely fine. She didn’t seem to notice they were gone! I believe they are the first teeth to fall out or get damaged as they get older anyway, they manage just fine.

Thanks for your comments. It’s good to know that a missing canine didn’t affect your cats too much. I was very surprised because I thought her teeth were fine and have no idea how she damaged it.

I will probably book her in to investigate and see if the vet can save it. Hopefully insurance will cover the cost.