I'm really upset and could use some advice. I took my sweet cat, Luna, to the vet last week because she was having some trouble eating and it looked like one of her teeth was bothering her. The vet said she would need to remove that one troublesome tooth, and I agreed, thinking it was for the best. But when I went to pick Luna up, they told me they ended up extracting all 16 of her remaining teeth! They didn't call me or explain why this was necessary beforehand. I'm just feeling really blindsided and worried about how Luna is going to cope without her teeth. Has anyone else gone through something similar? How did you help your cat adjust? I want to make sure I'm doing everything I can to support her.
I'm sorry to hear about your experience. That must have been quite a shock for you. In cases where multiple teeth are removed, it's often due to severe dental disease, which can cause significant pain and discomfort for your cat. Cats can suffer from conditions like stomatitis, which can require extensive extractions if the inflammation is widespread and doesn’t respond to other treatments.
At home, you'll want to ensure your cat is comfortable and has soft food that’s easy to eat. Monitor their eating habits and behavior. Look for signs like excessive drooling, pawing at the mouth, or showing discomfort while eating—these can indicate that something isn’t quite right post-surgery. It's also important to check the surgical sites for any swelling, bleeding, or discharge.
Keep an eye on your cat's general behavior as well. If they seem to be in pain, are refusing to eat, or are less active than usual, those could be signs of a complication, and you should reach out to a vet promptly.
I strongly suggest booking a video consult with one of our vets at Dial A Vet. We could help assess your cat’s recovery and guide you on the next steps for managing your cat's dental health.
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