Worried

**Sketches** · 8th October 2012, 10:00 PM

Hi guys,

Just looking for some guidance as I’ve just got back from the vets and feeling very confused, and rather worried.

Casco has been eating less and less over the past 3 weeks. Yesterday all he managed was half a pouch of wet food and about two mouthfuls of dry. He is also beginning to feel rather boney.

I checked inside his mouth and noticed his gums were pretty red and sore looking. Presuming it was juvenile gingivitis booked an appointment at the vets. I was expecting to be given some antibiotics and special toothpaste.

Anyway, vet checked him over, agreed he had a bit of gingivitis but that it was common and nothing to worry about. He also said he didn’t think it would be enough to put Casco off his food. I’m bemused because I thought juvenile gingivitis was quite a big deal if left untreated?

The vet asked me a few questions about where I got Casco from and I got the strong impression he wasn’t too keen on pedigree cat breeding/breeders. He suggested that cats who are kept in ‘colony’s’ with loads of other cats often have viruses and such like, hence he has taken a blood test. I would have thought that if Casco had any disease from the breeders it would have shown up by now? Casco is over 9 months old and we have had him for 6 months.

He did say that Casco seems healthy enough in himself, he weighed in at 6.5kg but vet agrees he is boney.

Sorry for the long post, I just feel really confused by the whole thing. What do you all think?

**deovolens** · 8th October 2012, 10:35 PM

Wait fior the blood results, mine is also boney but plays a lot.

**Steve Morgan** · 8th October 2012, 10:39 PM

Little Dot had Gingivitis a few weeks ago. She was off her food with the classic red gums.
A weeks course of antibiotics and she was back to normal.

**terrijane** · 8th October 2012, 10:51 PM

At least by having a bt it will either rule out or confirm hepatitis and calicivirus or anything else. I had this with my girl, she is a year old now but is a lot smaller than the other 2. She has been so under the weather for most of her short life that she hasn't been spayed yet. She was going to be a new breeding queen but obviously as soon as Calicvirus was confirmed, breeding her was ruled out immediately. fingers crossed for you.

**Sketches** · 8th October 2012, 11:32 PM

Thanks guys.

I’m starting to question whether the vet specifically used the word gingivitis now. Lots of things were said very quickly and I think that’s part of the reason I’m confused. He definitely agreed that Casco’s gums were red though.

As you say, at least we will know when the blood results come back. I just hope he is going through a picky phase with food or something.

**goskip** · 9th October 2012, 02:09 AM

Are his gums swollen kind of purplish in spots?

**Sketches** · 9th October 2012, 07:38 PM

Hi Goskip. No they are not swollen and no purple bits. It's a pink/red line along the top of his teeth and a couple of darker red patches at the back.

I've just tried him on applaws tuna and anchovy wet and he's eaten it all! But it's not complete so i'm guessing I can't feed it everyday?

I've also moved his food bowls out of the kitchen to the spare room (they used to be there until about 5 weeks ago when I moved them). I'm now wondering if that's the problem, but surely a cat wouldn't almost starve itself because it doesn't approve of where the food bowl is kept?!

**Puzzles** · 10th October 2012, 08:57 AM

Hi Sketches

We also had problems with both the boys - their gums were very red - exactly as you describe. They were sort of eating most wet food, but hardly any biscuits. When we took them to the vet he said brush their teeth everyday - not easy! However I do manage to put some toothpaste onto the tip of my ring finger and rub it into their gums ... it's made a huge difference ... within a couple of weeks their gums were much healthier looking, nowhere near so red and they were both eating more.
Perhaps it's worth getting some of the toothpaste and doing his teeth whilst waiting for the blood results ... I don't think that it would do any harm ...

**Wivelspiker** · 10th October 2012, 03:05 PM

Poor Casco. I would say that if you've found something that he will eat even if it's not ideal, I'd encourage him to eat it. Once everything is sorted and his appetite is back, then you can introduce things that perhaps provide more complete nutrition. At the moment I'd suggest that anything is better than nothing - and Applaws is high quality stuff. Mine actually do get Applaws every day, supplemented with various bits and pieces. And my experience is that some cats will starve themselves rather than eat something they don't like.

**Sketches** · 10th October 2012, 07:44 PM

I seem to be making some progress, I left hills natures best down this morning and he has eaten a lot of it, yippe. Applaws Chicken and Cheese for dinner...

I have to confess that I’ve never brushed Casco’s teeth, I didn’t realise it was necessary. They sell a toothpaste at Pets at Home which is apparently for dogs and cats. Would this be any good or do I need some special stuff from the vet?