Why Take Your Cat to the Vet When It Loses a Tooth?

If you suddenly notice that your cat has lost a tooth, then you might not be sure what to do. Your cat might be acting normally; it might not show any signs of being in pain. However, you should talk to your vet if this happens. They might want to run some checks on your pet.

What might be the problem here?

The Tooth Might Not Have Come Out Cleanly

The fact that your cat has a missing tooth doesn't mean that the whole tooth came out. If you can't see the tooth to check if it is intact, your vet should check the wound site. In some cases, parts of a tooth or its roots stay in place even though it looks like the whole tooth is missing.

Your vet will also check that the wound site is clean. If they have any concerns that your cat might get an infection before the hole in its gum heals over, then they might give you some antibiotics.

Your Cat Might Have a Bigger Dental Problem

If you don't know why your cat has lost a tooth, then your vet might want to take a look at all its teeth and its gums. In some cases, cats lose teeth because of a serious underlying dental problem.

For example, advanced gum disease can weaken teeth and make them looser than they should be. If your cat chews on something hard or gets a hit to its mouth, then a tooth can actually fall out.

If your cat does have a serious dental problem, then it will need treatment. The problem will only get worse if you don't take remedial action now. It could lose more teeth or develop more serious dental problems.

Your Cat Might Have Other Injuries

It can take a lot of force to completely knock out a healthy tooth. If you don't know why or when your pet lost its tooth, then it might have been in a serious fight with another animal. It could have had a hard fall or even been hit by a car.

Cats will hide pain and injury, even from you. This is a basic survival mechanism. So, you might not know if your cat is hiding other injuries. Your vet can check them over, and if they do find a problem, they can then treat it.

So, call a veterinarian clinic and explain what has happened. They can talk you through what you should do next.  


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