teeth

Question
My 12 yr old part Siamese recently quit eating and gave us a scare when she was vomiting foam and starting drooling. The ER took Xrays and didn't see any abnormalities. The following day our regular vet took blood tests. All test turned out normal, but the vet did notice a gum infection. She's on steroids to jump start the appetite and an antibiotic for the gum issue. She's back to eating now, but the vet wants to clean her teeth. I heard this can also be dangerous since they have to put cats under. How do we know her gum infection is from her teeth and not from a cut in her mouth - perhaps when she was chewing on Christmas ribbon? Not sure what to do...

Answer
Hi Tami,

Anesthesia always has a risk, but today, extremely safe anesthetics are used.  There are different levels of sedation required for different procedures, and a dental procedure does not require the deepest (and riskiest) level.  Additionally, most every veterinary office will use a heart and respiratory monitor to ensure that your cat isn't undergoing any stress during the procedure.  If her heart or respiratory rate seem abnormal, they can give your cat a medication to immediately reverse the effects of the anesthesia.  As a rule, anesthesia is safe for older cats unless they have heart problems or severe breathing problems, and it should be avoided on cats with a very poor body condition (emaciated or debilitated cats).

As for the gum infection, an injury leading to infection in the mouth would generally not cause mouth-wide gum disease, which I would imagine your cat has.  In fact, most cats over the age of three are already experiencing some gum disease, and dental cleanings are recommended even for young cats.  Older cats nearly always have some significant periodontal disease which will require attention under anesthesia, often with tooth removal.  Siamese are among the most prone of all breeds to suffer conditions such as stomatitis and tooth resorption.  Stomatitis is an inflammation and infection of the gums due to a reaction to plaque.  Cats with this condition do best to have their teeth removed, since their teeth will continue to hold plaque and cause the inflammation.  Tooth resorption is a condition where the tooth is essentially absorbed by the body.  The enamel is broken down first, and the tooth is broken down from the outside in.  As the tooth shrinks, it leaves holes in the gums where infection is easily able to enter.  The condition also causes extreme pain, and affected teeth should be removed.  I think given your cat's age and breed, primary periodontal disease is likely the correct diagnosis, and I would recommend dental surgery.  Even if your kitty ends up with few or no teeth, it will improve her quality of life.  One of my cats has been toothless for many years now, and he eats fine - even dry food.

I hope she's feeling better soon!

Jessica