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Both cats have lost a tooth

2 replies

MyDarlingWhatIfYouFly · 17/04/2025 02:29

I have 2 female cats that I’ve had since about 10 weeks old - they are now almost 13. They’ve never had any medical issues previously, but in the last week (literally within a few days of each other) both cats have lost their bottom right canine. No sign of any injury and they seem to be fully missing, so I’m thinking they have fallen out rather than being broken - no sign of the teeth in the house.

They visit the vet at least annually for routine stuff and the teeth are always looked at and nothing has been mentioned. We are taking them early next week due to the tooth loss.

I’m feeling so guilty, could their diet be at fault? They get mainly wet food (we avoid brands with grains or added sugars) with a small amount of dried a couple of times a week (again, no grain). My son does enjoy giving them dreamies treats when we let him because they go wild for them but they get only 2 or 3 of them and very infrequently.

At their age should we be cleaning their teeth or giving them something hard to eat that helps their teeth stay healthy? I know the vet will advise us next week, but it would be good to hear any experiences, I’m worried that they will lose more teeth and will be in pain or find it difficult to eat in future. They are rescue moggies (torties) and I know nothing about their parents, but if there are any known pedigree breeds with specific tooth issues then I don’t think that will apply.

I think I’m also a bit irrationally upset because it’s potentially the first real sign of them starting to get old 😕

.

OP posts:
Dilbertian · 17/04/2025 06:56

My vet has explained that this is a normal part of our cats aging. It is called tooth resorption. If it is painless for the cat, then there is no need to do anything about it. If it hurts the cat, or is accompanied by inflammation or infection, then the only thing to be done is to extract the tooth under GA.

My cat had one canine removed under GA because his gum was inflamed, he was off his food and appeared stressed. The dentist also took the opportunity to give MrCat's teeth a good clean and descale. MrCat perked up again very quickly, and was soon hunting and eating as normal. He has since almost completely resorbed another tooth (not a canine), but, as this one is not accompanied by inflammation, we are not putting him through another surgery.

faerietales · 17/04/2025 07:26

No need to go to the vets - as PP has said this is a normal sign of ageing and nothing to worry about.

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