Cat with possible dental issues

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

My cat Stimpy will be 16yo this coming April. Tonight I noticed that she was loosing weight and then saw her trying to eat and she yowled out in pain I tried to check her mouth but she was having none of that. I did manage to get my finger on her back molar and she went nuts so I am thinking the bad tooth is there.

I am waiting for the vet to come in so I can call and take her in to be looked at. I am expecting that she will need to be sedated and have a tooth or even teeth removed.

Is it pretty common for an older cat to have dental issues? Her sister Tigger had a tooth go bad one of her canines and it was removed only to loose her a few months later to kidney failure she was 8. I read that tooth decay can be a symptom of kidney failure and am worried that Stimpy might be starting down that road as well. But if tooth issues are a problem for older cats then maybe there is hope?

I have never brushed her teeth cant imagine trying honestly since she is not the most laid back of cats and isnt afraid to bite. She has eaten dry food her whole life since caned often caused her to throw up when she ate it in the past.

Poor thing is hurting I hope they can get her in today.

[MaWhit]

In my experience, dental issues in seniors are not uncommon. Good luck!

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

Well from what the vet could see she has lost almost all her molars but has 1 on top that had so much tarter it was rubbing her lower gum causing a sore. She removed the tarter and said the tooth under didnt wiggle and looked ok the best she could see. She gave her a steroid shot and an abx shot and told me if she isnt showing improvement by Monday or Tuesday to call and bring her back so they can sedate her for a better look.

She had her hands full with my little sweet heart it took her and her assistant to even get a glimpse into her mouth. Her assistant got her face cat slapped for her efforts. No damage done.

I will modify Stimpy's diet so that she can eat better and keep a close eye on her hopefully she will be ok and gain her weight back.

[MaWhit]

Good news!

[Ola_]

Yes, dental issues are pretty common in seniors especially if they don't chew on bones and stuff (and cats are usually not keen on brushing). If they need to sedate her to do a cleaning I'd definitely have some bloodwork done first just to make sure she's doing well and can handle it.

I hope she improves!

[womenswisdom]

At 16, she would definitely need a full blood panel done before sedation. If she has any existing kidney or liver issues, these could be exacerbated by the anesthesia. Really, I have never seen a 16 year old cat who didn't need a dental cleaning. At our clinic, most cats start needing cleanings around at 6-7 and get them every 2-3 years after that. Dental disease can contribute to the development of heart, liver and kidney disease, since the bacteria in the mouth (which is mostly what tartar is made of) gets into the bloodstream via the inflammed gum tissue that goes along with tartar buildup. This causes heart, kidney and liver disease. If she's already lost all her molars, she's had significant dental disease for a long time and probably also has periodontal disease. I would be wanting to go ahead and have a blood panel and urinalysis run and have a good cleaning done even if this particular issue resolves.