When I see evidence of early gum disease in a cat, keep a close watch on it.


Mid June 2010 had Yoda in for a checkup by our most trusted Veterinarian. Yoda had been a bit under weight for the past 2 years and there was also lingering concern over that episode of a saddle thrombosis she suffered but recovered from in early December 2008. I thought she could be in early stage hyperthyroidism or possibly hints of a heart disease. But she checked out fine. She was judged to just have a lean body conformation like her male sibling and the Dr told me that we should think about having Yoda in for a dental cleaning before the new year. She had some mild gum disease at that date.

Three months later in mid September I thought to check on Yoda's dental condition myself. To my horror I discovered that her back teeth were mostly broken and dissolving on both sides top and bottom of her jaw. She had only 3 front canines remaining in good condition. A terrible gum infection on one lower side too and she had never complained. She had been eating very normally but had been favoring the softer foods recently.

Late September 2010 Yoda goes into the Clinic for dental surgery. She had been on a antibiotic the previous week to calm down the infection in her mouth. The Dr extracts what remains of her teeth, drills out the root sockets, cuts into her gums to remove any remaining broken teeth roots and stitches all around. He injects a new long acting antibiotic with just one days pain management. We go home.

October, November, December 2010 Yoda 's recovery was slow at first but beginning late November she is better but only wants the soft foods. By the last week in December I find she has a inflation and swelling on one lower side of her jaw. She goes to see the Dr and I start a 3 week course of an antibiotic on her.

Mid April 2011 and Yoda has a reoccurrence of inflammation with infection on that same side again. Another 3 weeks on the antibiotic.

End of May 2011 and Yoda has another reoccurrence of inflammation with infection on that same side again. We do another 3 weeks on the antibiotic. All this time I report to the Dr that Yoda is becoming fearful of food and goes into hiding at feeding times which is very out of character for her. She eats yet but only slowly after all the other cats are done with their meals.

Mid June 2011 I find something new going on with Yoda's lower jaw. I take her to the Dr and he thinks its a growing mass different then the previous inflammation on the jaw. A surgical gum biopsy is scheduled the next week. Also at the same time the Dr will cut into that lower gum line to check for any root fragment that is remaining but if the histology lab report is bad Yoda is in serious trouble.