Fur Kids Foundation 2019 Success Story: Tigger

This fine gentleman is Tigger, a 9-year-old feline. 

His parents noticed that he wasn't eating as much of his food, and upon inspection of his mouth, noticed that his teeth looked awful. His mom said that she thought Tigger’s canine tooth had grown causing it to jab into his bottom jaw, which was causing him to be in pain when he ate.

At the vet’s office, the doctor let them know that Tigger's teeth hadn’t grown longer. Unfortunately what Tigger had was an abscess tooth, causing his gums to swell, which is why it appeared his canine was pushing into his bottom jaw.

According to VCA Pet Hospitals: A tooth root abscess is a severe infection that develops around the root of a tooth. A tooth root abscess forms when bacteria enter the exposed root canal of the tooth. In cats, this most often occurs when the tooth breaks and exposes the tissues that lay beneath the enamel. A tooth root abscess may also develop in association with periodontal disease, an infection of the tissues surrounding the tooth. 

You can read more about periodontal disease in cats here >>>

An abscess is a severe infection, that’s very difficult for the body to fight without the help of medicine. An untreated abscess can sometimes lead to deeper and more widespread infection. Once an abscess is identified, it should be treated by a veterinarian as soon as possible.

The vet put Tigger on some medication to get rid of the infection. Once the infection is gone, Tigger will have to have his abscess tooth removed. 

Please note, all cats should have a dental exam during their annual checkups, or sometimes as often as every six months. 

Fur Kids Foundation was happy to help Tigger’s family with his emergency veterinary care. 

About Fur Kids Foundation
Fur Kids Foundation is 100% run by dedicated volunteers who give their time to help the Foundation raise money with events, take applications, and spread the word about the good work the Foundation does in Campbell County, Wyoming. If you would like to help Fur Kids Foundation continue to help local families with animals afford emergency veterinary care, please consider making a tax-deductible donation via PayPal or signing up to become a volunteer. You can see a list of those who support us on our Supporters page. Check out more Success Stories.
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Credit: Infographic courtesy of the American Association of Feline Practitioners