19 year old Coco Kitty smells & paws at mouth

[satori14u]

Hi,  Coco is 19 now. I have had her since she's been about 4 weeks old.    I seen she was pawing at her mouth about 3 months ago and took her to the vet.  Vet said she had a chipped fang tooth but no infection.  Her bladder was a little enlarged.  Vet said she didn't seem in pain.  She has always been a small kitty at about 5 pounds.   I have always free fed her mostly dry food.   I found that this was very bad for her and now just give her canned food.  She seems to have a good appetite of 2 to 3 3oz. cans a day.   She has been pawing at her mouth more often now and has a horrible odor.   At this age I don't want to do anything to extreme for her health like having her put under for tooth extraction etc.   However,  I want her to enjoy her last days not in pain.  She sleeps more but still get around fine, Suns every day on a tall cat tree she has to make about a 4' jump to get where she suns,  has a healthy appetite, shiny coat,  plays occasionally and uses her litter box.  I brush her and have used a wet paper towel to wipe her face, nose and mouth and I also give her Colloidal Silver drops in food and water.  
1.  How to know if she is in Pain or has an infection?
2.  How to dry groom / clean her to keep smell in check?
3.  Anything else I can do for her?
Thanks for your feedback / help :)!
Kim

[opus88]

welcome to our forum and thank you for the very informative post on Stomatitis.....I agree this is a very painful condition. Also in this category are FORLs that I have posted on previously. both conditions need a qualified Veterinary dentist to deal with these issues properly.

My Sami has these FORLs and has seen one such specialist for removal of some teeth, he now is on an oral cleaning regiment with mommy, and see's the good doctor yearly for xrays to watch for progression...

I cry too thinking of the excruciating pain many kitties are suffering.....we humans know how painful a tooth ache can be. they can't tell us, we have to be vigilant.

thanks again for your post, hope to see more of you and your Furster on the forum:)))

[CML2014]

Hi Satori,

How wonderful to have had your kitty for 19 years! I can only hope mine will live to that ripe old age.

I will tell you this, just because I experienced dental problems with my kitty right after I got her from the shelter I worked at. I knew she had a dental condition called "Stomatitis". She would never let anyone get  near her, especially her mouth. Yes she drooled, had terrible breath and pawed at her mouth.

I had an immediate bond with her and knew she would be almost unadoptable, since she hid away out of pain. Long story short --adopted her , next day took her to a Dental Specialist (Yes they actually have them) and $3,500 later that same day all her teeth were taken out.
I know this sounds drastic, but this is the ONLY way this condition can be cured. The dentist took x-rays and pictures of the inside of her mouth while under sedation--OMG! I cried to see how horrible her gums, teeth,throat looked. I can't even think about how much pain she must have been in.

I truly believes she knows I made the pain go away, because she is devoted to ME. She is always with me wherever I am, and so loving. She again plays, washes herself, nuzzles me all the time and I know I did the right thing. She is most important to me and very much loved ,just like each of us here feels about their little furster!

Please have x-rays taken and a dental specialist is the ONLY one I would trust for a diagnosis. Seems Tartar would not cause that much pain.
Please know I am telling this story only to make people aware of this horrible immune mediated disease called stomatitis. I am afraid her age sets up a number of complication for resolution of her problem. A Dental specialist will ease your fears though and ease her pain with the right meds. You will see, she will be her old self again.

Please others--BE AWARE of this horrific disease that manifest itself orally. You will spare your beloved Furster a great deal of pain if you read up on this condition and watch for the signs.

I am praying for you both satori,
CML

[CML2014]

I completely agree with you Zodiac, and sometimes you have to be just a plain b----, to get a Vet's attention.

Cat's hide their pain VERY well. So if signs of pain are there then she is hurting!!

[zodiacqueen]

Hi, just wanted to see how Coco is doing today!  

I hope she's doing better.

[satori14u]

Is the silver paste something you bought or made?  As I would like to make/get some for Coco as well.  The stuff seems awesome.  Yes, the brand is Natural Immunogenics.  
Thanks again,
Kim

[satori14u]

Hi,
I will check around and see if I can find a Vet Dentist per say...one that specializes in oral care for cats. Thinking maybe this is like when we have to see a specialist and not just a family Dr... I would like to get her teeth cleaned anyway if they can do it without putting her under.  
I of course will still be watching and checking her.  I would really hate to find out the Vet was wrong...and Coco kitty is in pain.  I went around with a bad tooth for 2 yrs (guess I thought I could save it)  before I finally had it pulled. I had no more pain in less than 10 min after suffering for 2yrs.  So, I would Certinally not do this to my Coco on purpose.