Jimmy Had Dental Issues 2025

Jimmy had a few problematic teeth last summer but we had to wait until he recovered from his April lung surgery and got through most of his chemo treatments during the summer before making sure he was ok to have dental surgery. He had one broken upper canine that was chipped at the bottom but which exposed the nerve. He had a resorption lesion on a molar that we knew about. He had lost many teeth to resorption over the years. 

He had two surgeries-in August and then in October because they could not complete everything in August because of his heart rate increasing and his blood pressure dropping. He saw the cardiologist before each surgery and got the ok to have surgery. 

He also had lesions in his mouth and we were concerned that they could be a sign of cancer-secondary to his lung cancer. The lesions were growing and were bleeding. The dentist determined the cause was other teeth hitting the gums where teeth were missing, causing an irritation. Grinding down the lower teeth, and then in October removing another bad tooth, would help the lesions to heal. 

At one point, his regular vet heard extra heart beats and he was eventually put on heart medication. I’ll post about that in a separate post.  

He recovered fully from both dental surgeries but eventually became run down after the October one. There are various factors that could have caused this: his heart medication, recovery from chemo, the stress of anesthesia on heart patients (he does not have HCM which would have likely not allowed him to have anesthesia because it causes stress on the heart and can lead to severe CHF.) He had been on ondansetron until the end of September for chemo (it relieves nauseousness post chemo) so we decided to continue it and he remains on it. It helped him feel better and to eat well. He eventually recovered. 

Because he only has one canine and six teeth overall, he had to slightly mush his Royal Canin Glycol Balance chunky food, and we also began to give him Hills’ Glycol Support stew and pate’ which he does also love to eat. He is prediabetic since 2011 and food is one way to keep his glucose levels in check. He does not need medicine for diabetes so far. (The food listed is what we use and is not a paid endorsement nor is Chewy-you can buy it at the vet's office or order from anywhere online with a prescription from your vet.)

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8/20/25

Jimmy Stewart-last Wednesday saw the dental surgeon for a cleaning and biopsies of lesions in his mouth. We were afraid that those were cancer because lesions often primarily are signs of cancer, along with bleeding gums, loss of appetite, drooling, and bleeding from the lesions. 

Because he is a heart patient (but not HCM) he received from his cardio an anesthesia protocol-a list of medicines to avoid, what to use, and instructions on how to handle any issues. 

She extracted a tooth, grinded down other points that were bothering his mouth, cleaned, and biopsied. He has a canine tooth that is broken and will need to be removed at a later date this year. His blood pressure was falling towards the end, so they did not do the canine extraction. 

BUT-the lesions are NOT CANCER! Biopsy showed inflammation. All of his issues cleared up immediately with the extraction and cleaning (not the lesions themselves per se.) His appetite came back. He seems more comfortable. 

She thought his problem teeth caused the lesions because of where they were placed in the mouth next to the problem tooth or above the problem tooth. (He's had many teeth removed or lost through resorption lesions-the root melts away-not a rot or a broken part. Some teeth had aggravated the gums over the area.)

So we are relieved. He has his last chemo tomorrow for his lung cancer (removed in April). He'll have another CT in January as a follow-up. 

Our summer has been busy with cat health issues and some for us so I've not had the time to write but I hope to catch up soon.

10/18/25

Jimmy had his hopefully last anesthesia procedure. He had two teeth removed today. A broken upper canine. And a molar that was resorptive in the back lower jaw. 

He had low blood pressure at one point and because he has a slight heart condition instead of giving him fluids because that would be bad for the heart they instead gave a medication which increased his blood pressure. I do not know what it is. 

He now has only six teeth remaining. One upper canine to lower canine. One molar on the lower jaw on one side and two molars on the lower jaw on the other side. 

He's of course recovering in the bedroom with me the smaller guest bedroom with the very low bed and cat beds. Since Lizzie was released from confinement now it's his turn. But tomorrow he gets to be released. 

He's a little loopy. He's sleeping next to the litter box or standing on me because he's not a lap cat. But he does want to be petted. 

Upper left canine and lower right molar removed.

Upper left canine missing

You can see the chipped upper left canine before removal.