Hi, I’m Dr. Karyn! Read my introduction to learn more about me and meet my five funny cats: Clutch, Cyril, Alex, Zelda, and Zazzles.
That probably sounds like a stupid question, doesn’t it? Of course cats need teeth!
But, what would happen without them? Well, that was a question that faced me about my special little guy, Clutch, five years ago.
We don’t know anything about Clutch being a kitten; he was almost a year old when he was brought into my veterinary practice, emaciated, scabby, and in need of some TLC after parking himself in a shopping center car park for several months. With no one coming to get her, I found myself falling in love with this confident, sassy, loving fellow. After I castrated and hacked him, he came home to me, where he lived for over nine years. Among the many things that stand out about Clutch is his little cheesy smile. Her mouth was open a few millimeters, just enough to peek through her little fangs and incisors, and it was adorable. There was no obvious reason for this gap, and he certainly didn’t have trouble peeling food.
After about four years, I noticed that he was a little sad, and was not eating with such enthusiasm, which caused me to take a good look at the inside of his mouth. What I saw was that the gums around most of his teeth around the front of his mouth looked red and swollen, and all four of his canine teeth (fangs) were shaking a bit. It appears that, over time, the constant exposure of his gums to the air caused swelling and weakening of the tooth roots.
Because of the way the gums were affected, and because he was in pain, there was no other option but to see him for a dental and extract all the affected teeth, which was most of them. It’s really horrible, I know, but it’s a procedure I’ve done dozens of times on cats with severe dental disease, and I know how well they’ve done after having their teeth removed. I knew that Clutch could eat without his teeth, I knew that he was fit and healthy, so there was minimal anesthetic risk, and I knew that this was the best way to treat his sore mouth.
I know all this. I am a vet after all, a professional. So why did my partner find me in tears, completely inconsolable, at 11pm before his surgery?
Dr Karyn the vet is a completely different person to Karyn the pet owner.
The conversation went something like this:
Reece: What’s up? I thought his teeth would just come out?
Me: He.
Reece: But you do that all the time. He will be fine! He will be better with them outside.
Me: I know.
Reece: You know better than anyone that he’s going to be okay.
Me: Yes, I know that too.
Reece: ?
Me: I don’t know! It’s different when you’re on your own! What if he’s not okay? What if he is the rare case that doesn’t wake up from the anesthetic? What if he can’t eat?
I found myself plagued by all the worries and concerns that I usually help my clients deal with, without listening to my own advice.
I was completely unprepared for the rush of emotions that hit me, and I realized that, when it comes to treating my own pet, logic and objectivity are out the door and get on the bus to the next one. county This is why doctors and vets should never operate on loved ones, and I was glad I arranged for a colleague to perform Clutch dental.
As you might guess, Clutch’s operation went flawlessly. His pre-anesthetic bloods were perfect, his anesthetic was smooth, and the problem tooth came out with very little resistance, proving that they really needed to be extracted. He was up and about very quickly, meowing loudly about his empty stomach. Which brings me to our original question: Cats need teeth, don’t they?
Clutch’s New and Improved Toothless Appetite
One of the most common observations I hear from owners after their cat or dog gets dental work is how much better their pet is eating.
“We didn’t realize how much of an effect his teeth had on him,” was the frequent comment.
“She looks happier than she has in months!” is another.
This is because, usually, if an animal’s teeth are causing them pain or discomfort, it’s usually been happening for longer than we realize. Cats in particular are very clever when it comes to masking pain; they just keep doing it until it becomes too much. We’re not bad pet parents, but it does mean that if our cat starts showing signs of dental problems, we need to take it seriously. If it’s bad enough that they can’t hide it, it’s usually bad enough to require surgery.
So when you remove the source of that pain, the results are often dramatic, and almost instant.
I prepared a supply of Clutch’s favorite roast chicken as a remedy, cut into small pieces that could be swallowed whole. Many people think that soft and liquid food is best after a tooth, but it is more likely to get stuck in the spaces left by the extracted tooth roots; Soft chunks are the way to go. And boy, did they go!
I think if I had filled his bowl with chicken, it would have disappeared in an instant. The clutch attacked every piece I offered with the ferocity of a hungry velociraptor, and I’m thankful it doesn’t have sharp fangs! Within a few days, he was back to the energetic, energetic character he had been the previous six months. After a week, his gums were completely healed, and after two weeks, he gained ten ounces. And, like other pet owners, I thought to myself: He’s happier than he’s been in months!
Clutch ❤️ Chicken (and pretty much everything else!)
Clutch had been a big fan of cooked chicken before his teeth, but now he’s obsessed. Gone are the little bite pieces; he takes great big chunks and stabs them until there is nothing left. He also eats dry kibble – he still has two back molars to chew on, but usually, cats still swallow the pieces. But this is the most amazing way he uses his gums like teeth!
The other cats in our house, all of whom have full mouths of healthy teeth and gums, still refuse to eat chicken unless it is shredded. Meanwhile, I’m sure that, given the chance, Clutch would sink his lack of teeth into a whole roast chicken. In fact, just the other night he tried to get away with a whole pork chop! He’s also been known to bite the end of a pizza slice, bite into a dropped corn chip, and just the other day he managed to steal part of a pancake! We’ve learned to be more vigilant when Clutch and food are in the same room, but I have to admit that her desperate attempts to grab treats and climb into the fridge are pretty entertaining.
But, cats need teeth, don’t they?
Of course they do, and dental health and hygiene is an important part of caring for your feline companions. Being able to examine your cat’s teeth, and observe how they pick up, chew, and swallow their food, are simple and effective ways for you to monitor their dental health. In addition to that, seeing your veterinarian every six to twelve months can help identify and treat problems before they become serious.
However, there are some conditions and situations where cats need to have multiple teeth removed; sometimes all of them. If you find yourself in that situation, it’s completely normal to feel anxious, worried, and emotional – I’ve been there! But you should also know that if your cat’s teeth are bad enough that they need to come out, you can almost guarantee that they’ll feel 100% when they’re gone. And when the gums heal and harden, they can be just as effective as teeth, maybe even better – just ask Clutch!
