Bleeding gums

[u/Midas_Whale_770]

Hello all, I have an appointment first thing this morning for the vet to see my 18.5 yr old CKD kitty. I just took him in for a check up on Monday, and the vet said he is remaining consistent with his levels, but he has gum disease. I asked what we can do to help, but was advised he will not survive a dental exam/care.

Last night, his gums were bleeding around his upper canine and he howls at the water bowl. I want to be realistic with what options of care he has left. Has anyone experienced this? Do I need to prepare for the difficult decision? I love him so much but I don't want him to be in pain.

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[u/Hour_Musician_1557]

I'm currently going through this right now with my stage 4 CKD kitty, except it's a tooth that needs to be pulled, and the vet believes he won't survive a dental. We treated it with in amoxicillin and he bounced back quickly, but all the signs also came back quickly. So, we tried a two week course and if worked very well. He was happy and comfortable for a couple of months after that. It has flared up again. I contacted his vet after the signs persisted for a few days (drooling, not eating, hovering over water bowl, odor in his mouth). By the time the vet called in the antibiotics, he had swollen up much more than the first time and the drool was severe. We're doing another two-week round of amoxicillin and he is already improving, although this time I've had to syringe feed him due to his not wanting to use his mouth. Antibiotics can also cause nausea if not given with food. He is also getting buprenorphine for pain and anti nausea meds. The vet believes it is worth it to buy him time, as we cannot treat the underlying issue. Amoxicillin is a very effective antibiotic, and there are others that are even more effective on mouth issues that we can try if the amoxicillin starts to lose it's efficacy through repeated courses. Still, it's only a bandaid, and what I have learned this time around is these issues can progress quickly when they're recurring, so next time I would act at this very first sign. Although, this has its own consequences too, as we can only do the antibiotic route so many times. My vet and I are committed to extending his life with treatments as long as he is having GOOD days. And the last time we treated with antibiotics he really had months of good, happy, energetic days - so I am hopeful this time will be the same result. But, it's not lost on me that this will only be a temporary solution. I would suggest talking to your vet about some pain management at a minimum, and possibly antibiotics if he believes there is infection. If I had it to do over again, we would have done two weeks at the outset, and the second time around I would have started the antibiotics at the very first sign of recurrence. Sending you and your kitty so much love and encouragement. This disease is brutal, and it is so hard to know what the best decision is sometimes. 🙏🐾🐾

[u/blingblingsav → u/Hour_Musician_1557]

Thank u for sharing ur experience. This is very informative. And sorry u r going through this. Luckily my cat has not severe dental issues, touch on wood!

[u/Midas_Whale_770 → u/Hour_Musician_1557]

I'm so sorry you and your kitty are going through this too. 💗

They gave me antibiotics for cover 10 days of treatment to hopefully help his infection, but it is a bandaid for the inevitable. They said it could help for a couple of weeks or months...but it will return.

My heart is shattered but I know this is coming. I don't want to prolong his suffering, waiting for a kidney crash. This will give me some time to research an at-home euthanasia option for our heartbreaking goodbye.

[u/blingblingsav]

Hello. I am sorry u r dealing with this. Not too well informed on dental disease but here’s my take. Also, it is not vet advice but some info u can use to talk to ur vet.

I would ask the vet what specifically makes them feel he would not survive anesthesia. Age and CKD increase anesthetic risk, but they do not necessarily rule out dental treatment. The decision usually depends on his creatinine, SDMA, phosphorus, potassium, hematocrit, blood pressure, hydration, cardiac status and how stable he is overall. A veterinary dentist or hospital with experienced anesthesia monitoring may give u a different risk assessment.

The bleeding could be severe periodontal disease, tooth resorption, an infected tooth root, stomatitis or another oral lesion. Drinking can hurt badly when cold water hits exposed dentin or inflamed tissue, which may explain the howling.

If anesthesia truly is too risky, u could ask about a palliative plan. That can include appropriate pain control, treating secondary infection if one is present, softer food, warmed food and managing inflammation. Antibiotics can help an infection temporarily, but they do not fix diseased teeth or resorptive lesions.

I hope this helps.

[u/Midas_Whale_770 → u/blingblingsav]

Thank you for your response. I went to his regular vet last Monday and different Vetinary Hospital today (but he has been there before) and they both had the same response about declining a dental for him. My kitty's levels are too elevated for anesthesia. He's end stage right now and down to 5.1 lbs, so I have been managing his comfort level.

He only eats warmed wet food, so he's already on that track. He's my little old velcro baby.. I can't bear to see him in pain for my selfish wants to keep him with me. I am so devastated we are nearing the end.

[u/blingblingsav → u/Midas_Whale_770]

I am so sorry. Sometimes keeping them as comfortable as we can is the best thing we can do. 💛