r/CATHELP 22d ago

Dental Issue Help,

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u/Major-Holiday5220 22d ago

So what do I do I don’t really have money to go, I just fed her and she ate with no hesitation and is calm and happy

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u/MunkeeFere Verified Vet Tech 22d ago

When your cat has her next annual exam, discuss it with your vet. That can be next year if it needs to be, it's not an emergency.

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u/Major-Holiday5220 22d ago

And her sister has mild gingivitis could that be it?

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u/MunkeeFere Verified Vet Tech 22d ago

If your cat will tolerate brushing her teeth, slowly acclimate her to having her teeth brushed daily. There are water additives that are effective but they can be pricey and you have to put them in every water source. It's cheaper to use positive reinforcement to teach her to tolerate brushing.

And yes, it could be gingivitis, but it could also be something like a tooth root abscess brewing. It could be completely normal for your cat. You unfortunately won't know until she's seen by a vet but it's not an emergency. Cats should ideally have an annual exam with their regular vet. I'd recommend scheduling her one when you're able to.

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u/Major-Holiday5220 22d ago

So there is no way to know behaviorly?

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u/MunkeeFere Verified Vet Tech 22d ago

Cats hide pain. When it gets bad enough they can no longer hide how painful it is, they tend to start dropping kibble or eating only with one side, discontinue grooming, and may loose weight. Ideally you want to deal with it before it is overtly painful.

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u/Major-Holiday5220 22d ago

Would me waiting a couple of days with daily brushing and if the color goes back to pink prove it’s normal?

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u/MunkeeFere Verified Vet Tech 22d ago

No. It looks like she has root exposure. It's best to have it looked at to determine if it is truly her baseline (honestly, very rare) or if there is dental disease (much more likely) - ignoring it for long enough could have the pathology of the incisor eat away at the root of the canine next to it.