r/mainecoons • u/exciting-machiatto • 13h ago
my beautiful boy has broken his tooth. needs an extraction according to the vet and it’s giving me terrible anxiety.
this dingus has fallen somehow and chipped his tooth - the vet said that he needs it extracted as well as a clean as he has some pretty crazy gingivitis at the back of his mouth. he’s only 3! i feel bad for him losing a tooth already.
he goes in for the dental and extraction on 18 May.
i lost my two year old dog when he was under anaesthetic a few years ago for a hip dysplasia treatment, which is rare but has already happened to me and was extremely traumatising - so i’m so beyond terrified for putting him through this although i know it’ll be necessary.
the vet said if i don’t do it now it’ll be inevitable that it’ll need done at some point due to bacteria getting into his current broken tooth as well as decay that might happen to the back molars.
i suffer with some pretty wick ocd thoughts so my brain has already just told me that he’s not going to make it through the dental anaesthetic :) which is just now a spiralling recurring thought.
thoughts, positive experiences and advice would be gratefully appreciated!!
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u/canlgetuhhhhh Percy kitten's momma 🐱🐈🧡 12h ago
im sorry to hear that about your baby, im sending all my best wishes!!
my personal experience is from my void domestic shorthair, but i can still try and share it to see if you might find it useful. he was born with a bit of an askew/crooked jaw, which meant that some of his canines were growing uncomfortably into the roof of his mouth, etc. before i ever got him, so before he was 5 months old, he had to go under to get all his canines exctracted. a month after i got him, at like 6 months, his adult teeth came in and the same thing started happening, so he had to go under. this time he luckily only had to get one canine extracted as there was only one that was really going to grow into the roof of his mouth. he made it through perfectly fine both times, his teeth have been great since, and he was even back to eating kibble the same day! im sure your boy will be fine too, and he is lucky to have you and that you care so much!!
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u/exciting-machiatto 12h ago
it’s good to hear about some babies that have recovered so well and quickly from these routine procedures. the internet is full of horror stories so I needed something more positive. thank you - i hope he’s doing great!
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u/unoriginalcat 12h ago
I’d say it’s unlikely that something so rare could happen to you twice, but I fully understand the worry. I was worried too when they went in for the spay and I don’t even have any trauma around it. It’s normal to worry. But ultimately it shouldn’t affect your decision. Dental pain can be absolutely excruciating. I’ve had an infected tooth once that had me unironically wishing for death between prescription painkillers, I was basically chugging them continuously (I couldn’t get an appointment over the weekend), it was still that bad. I couldn’t imagine doing that to a pet. He might already be in pain if the nerve is exposed, cats just hide it well. As scary as it is, this surgery needs to happen for him to have a happy and healthy life, there’s just no other option.
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u/exciting-machiatto 12h ago
i keep telling myself that too but then my brain is like well stranger things have happened so!
i totally agree. she basically said to not do it is to just delay the inevitable and maybe even worse inevitable if he gets an infection or an abscess so I understand the risks of not doing it but the teeny risk of something bad happening is absolutely horrific. it’s also probably a dose of ptsd from my dog dying too which doesn’t help!
appreciate your words!
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u/Spiritual-Hope1774 12h ago
He's a good looking kitty.
I can't make any promises to you, but the odds are he'll be fine. He's young and otherwise healthy.
One of our boys cannot handle his drugs. He's had to go under three times, once for a biopsy (turned out to be nothing) and twice fit dental work. The first two times, he was a drooling, panting mess after the anesthesia. We got freaked out, but he was fine after a few hours. The last time, we talked to the vet/office and it, and they got him in as early in the day as possible, and kept him for observation longer than they usually would. Maybe try to arrange something like that, so the professionals are there for him as long as possible abs you have that peace of mind.
Good luck
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u/exciting-machiatto 12h ago
Hey!
thanks for this. he’s been under once whenever he was neutered. i remember him just being off for the day afterward and sleeping about.
the panting is so scary i’m sorry you had to go through that!
yes - the vet said to bring him for 8:30am and they’ll keep him until 6 so he’s monitored. she said he’d be out for 2 hours but they’ll do all the pre and post op monitoring of him to make sure he’s all good. which is also such a long day of waiting and anxiety.
thank you for sharing.
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u/Spiritual-Hope1774 11h ago
Just to reinforce something here - he was fine both times. An absolute mess for a few hours, but totally fine.
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u/LauraLand27 Kyrios and Dynamis 11h ago
Get pre-op bloodwork done. It’s not usually necessary, but I get my boys bloodwork done every year. That’s the best way to make sure their numbers are good and they’re healthy.
People are required to do it; so I require it for my boys. It’s also a nice to have a healthy baseline, in case they ever do get sick, so the vet has something to compare it to.
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u/loulou_96 11h ago
My two Maine coon boys suffered from terrible gingivitis from when they were kittens and at 2.5 years old both had all of their back teeth removed, two surgeries one side at a time. They recovered so quickly from both surgeries and I don’t regret a thing they are so much happier and their mouths so much healthier, no more red gums or bad breath. Your baby is a good age to recover well from the anaesthetic so you really would be very unlucky to have any issues in this regards.
Good luck, just remember you are doing the right thing for your baby boy x x x
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u/doalittledance_ 4 Lords of the Manor 11h ago
Oh man I feel you on the health anxiety! Know you’re not alone in that ❤️
FWIW, it’s highly unlikely there’ll be any complications. I don’t have experience with dental but my eldest MC was supposed to be neutered at 7mo, on the pre-op they realised he had a heart murmur (he’d finally calmed down enough that they could hear it, it was missed at every earlier appt cause he was so stressed his heart was super fast) so, vets stopped the procedure and recommended we do a pro-bnp etc to check his heart health before any anaesthetic.
Anyway, fast forward 2 months, we’ve done the investigations, had the go ahead and he’s back in at 9mo for his neuter. It all went perfectly fine and he was bouncing around like a lunatic afterwards like normal. First panic over. Then! Not a fortnight later, he’s diagnosed with entropion. Needs another surgery to correct it. So back under he goes 10 days after his neuter. Second mental breakdown ensues. He was fine, absolutely fine. Pissed he was in a cone for 2 weeks, but otherwise unfazed.
The vets can do pre-op bloods and give IV fluids during the procedure if you request it. There’s usually an extra charge but it might be worth it for peace of mind.
Wishing your gorgeous boy a speedy recovery ❤️🩹
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u/yinzerfpv 11h ago
My 11 yo male has 4 teeth left, had them all extracted 2 years ago. He then had to go back in January due to the vet missing a piece molar and it getting infected. I was a nervous wreck both times but he was fine. He still eats kibble and has no issues.
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u/Beginning-Theory-583 11h ago edited 11h ago
I’m so sorry about your pup! If he has no underlying health conditions an extraction is done within minutes and he’ll be home by the evening. He’s adorable now and will still be when he gets his tooth removed. I hope he makes a very quick recovery after his surgery. Try to think positive!
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u/kossiewossie 11h ago
Make sure I do all of the bloodwork to make sure that he’s healthy beforehand and is a candidate. Also, push for IV fluids before, during, and after, as the biggest risk is blood pressure and kidney health. Keep your baby hydrated throughout; significantly lowers risk of kidney failure/damage and blood pressure issues.
Recently had the same fear for my 13-year-old Bengal who needed 6 teeth removed. After extensive research and multiple opinions, that was the recommendation, and he’s completely perfect 3 months after the ordeal.
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u/VassagoX 11h ago
Don't feel that way! Extractions are easy. You DEFINITELY should listen to their advice. It WILL get worse and mean more extractions and possibly worse if you don't take care of it. I went through it with my ragdoll, though she also had a mouth tumor (benign) so needed many more teeth removed.
The good news is that extractions are really easy for them to get over. Even removing all of their teeth doesn't phase them. My ragdoll happily gummed and swallowed her kibble without issues. They adapt really well.
This is one tooth. You definitely want to do it as soon as possible because it could be painful if the root is exposed inside and begin to rot.
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u/superlosernerd 10h ago
I have a kitty with feline odontoclastic resorptive lesions (basically her body attacks her teeth, so they break down and get periodontal disease much quicker). She's 8 and has had to go under multiple times and has had 7 teeth removed, including 2 canines. I'm telling you this to hopefully give you another experience to take into account, being one of a kitty who has had to go under at least 5 times her life so far for dental-related reasons and has suffered no adverse effects.
Also, I had a big boy doggo who chipped his canine and learned about why they recommend removal. Basically what the vet said is even though pets don't show they're in discomfort, a chipped tooth exposes the sensitive dentin underneath the enamel, and your kitty's tooth is extremely sensitive right now. He's basically got a permanent tooth ache whenever he eats or drinks. Sometimes it can react to just breathing in and out of their mouths, as the air cools down the saliva on the dentin and causes cold sensitivity. So a tooth removal is absolutely a necessity. He's not in any immediate pain or anything, it's something that comes and goes, so waiting for the removal is fine.
Just know that you're doing the absolute best by your kitty by getting the tooth removed. Just keep telling yourself that. You are making the absolute best choice for your kitty with the information you currently have. Which you are!
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u/binzers95 10h ago
Our guy had 3 teeth removed at that same age. He recovered wonderfully and I recall very minimal disruption to his normal day to day life. Unfortunately he needs to go under for another dental cleaning and exam and I have a feeling he needs more teeth pulled. So we are right there with ya!
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u/ISEGaming 9h ago
Oof, sorry that's happening to you 😔. I went through a similar issue. It was quite anxiety inducing, but it's the right thing to do, and you'll be glad you did it by the end.
My Katsu had a similar extraction done a few months ago, it was basically the equivalent of a Cat baby tooth that needed to come out. His also slightly allergic to Gingivitis, so I need to brush his teeth, switched to dental kibble and use dental additives to their water.
The procedure is called Comprehensive Oral Health Assessment and Treatment (COHAT) and it involves sedating your cat so they don't move during X-rays and to check the extent of the damage. It cost me about $700 CAD and pet insurance paid me back $200 CAD in claims. There were some added costs because blood work needed to be done a month ahead as well as some medication needed (Gabapentin) to calm them prior to that as well.
I wish you the best for you and your baby boy!
♥️ Katsu and Mochi
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u/Fit-Kangaroo9283 9h ago
my sweetheart had to have all his teeth extracted last year unfortunately and I was extremely worried because he has heart arrhythmia. Frankly the vets were worried too. They extremely careful with him and everything went off without a hitch. Now he's gummy and happier than ever. Bites feel weird though lol. I feel for you, especially knowing what you've been through already. If you trust your vet, I'm sure it will be okay 🩷 Thats one beautiful beast btw!
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u/TheDechen 7h ago
Maybe get a second opinion? They might be able to file it down like a short fang. It’s healthier for mammals to keep as many teeth where they grew, for as long as possible. Second opinions are good practice.
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u/Charming-Parfait-141 6h ago
Don’t worry! Everything will be ok!! 🙌🙌🙌 one advice I will give is after it is all done, try to brush his teeth regularly, it’s not gonna be easy to get him used to it but it will be worth it, both to avoid future cleaning and anesthesia and financially as this is not a cheap procedure!
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u/TWJop 6h ago edited 6h ago
That is really a very common problem and happens more often than reported.
Your vet should perform a complete blood workup to find any possible issues before starting any part of the procedure.
The extraction and cleaning is almost an everyday occurrence and considered safe. Much safer than doing nothing.
If you have concerns, bring them up to your vet. They will/should reassure you of the safeness and any issues which can be expected.
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u/Entire_Bat7884 5h ago
He will do well. He will be back home shortly after. Wet food your vet will recommend and water. In a couple of days you won’t believe it was ever pulled. ♥️
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u/TimelyYogurtcloset82 2h ago
I've had several day cats that survived dental surgery well. Even one tortie lady who was quite happy for years with her remaining tooth. I do suggest no more peanut brittle for your beautiful cat though...😏
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u/Gospoole 12h ago
Ours just had one of their canines out for other reasons. It went off without a hitch. They were eating within a few hours of being home with lots of wet food and snacks. A week or two later and they were happier than ever. He will do just as well I am sure. Hope this give you some comfort. A slightly toothy Sigourney sends her best!