gums

Question
I have a 16 year old male cat  named Binky. He has gingivitis. I cannot afford a vet at this time and wonder is putting baby oragel on hisgums safe, or any innards of a vitamin gelcap wouldhelp. Baby aspirin for pain?? He eats  Fancy Feast fish flavored canned food, he cant handle dry.His appetite is good. I love him more than words can say, and he returns my  love. Iead the day he will die, for a part of me will die also.  Thank you!

Answer
I do not recommend you use oragel. Aspirin has to be used very cautiously in cats as they cannot break it down as well as humans so it hangs around longer in the body. We do not usually recommend aspirin for pain management in cats. However, we sometimes use it for heart problems at a very low dose of one baby aspirin every three days. There are many reasons his gums are inflamed including FIV virus, dental disease, kidney disease and lymphocytic/plasmacytic gingivitis. Sometimes antibiotics can help, also a dental cleaning. If you have a vet, they may be able to dispense an oral rinse that will help without having to spend money on an office visit.

Dr. G.