Can I file down my cat's lower canine tooth to stop lip irritation?

I would definitely recommend leaving it alone because you could cause some pain and injury by wiggling on it. However I would consider having your vet take a look at it because safe extraction if the canine tooth may be recommended to avoid having a huge hole left behind for foodstuffs to then get clogged into. If your vet extracts the tooth instead of just letting it fall out, the vet can then close the hole with suture. This is the best approach when dealing with diseases canine teeth especially, because this is the only tooth that can leave a hole that directly communicates with the nasal passages (oronasal fistula), so we take extra precautions with this tooth in particular. Schedule an appt with your local vet soon and I hope everything turns out well for your cat Zoe.

Cats normally have a thickened area on their lower lip where their upper canine teeth hit it. It is a way for the body to protect the lip. If it appears the same on both sides, this is likely what you are seeing. You didn't mention how old Prim is. If a cat has an abnormal jaw they can have problems with where their upper teeth hit their lower lips, but this will be present from birth and will normally be noticed when they are young. If you think you are seeing something abnormal with Prim, please feel free to post again with a picture, and we will be happy to look at it for you. I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Many cats have one or more canine teeth that are overgrowing, fortunately it does not usually cause them any issues and they can live with it. i admit Tiger's tooth is extremely long though so if you think it is bothering him it might be a good idea to consider having it removed surgically by your vet.

So sorry that your cat is having this problem. You could take him to a veterinary dental specialist and see if the specialist will remove his tooth. Or find another vet in your area and take him for a second opinion. If his blood work is normal and he is in otherwise good health, then the risk of extracting a bad tooth is low. Here is a link to search for a dental specialist in your area. https://www.avdc-dms.org/dms/list/diplomates-map.cfm

Unfortunately brushing will not resolve the problem as there is quite severe tartar accumulation and gingivitis. Descale procedure would be ideally needed. It may be possible that this tooth needs to be extracted as possibly affected by FORL (https://www.petcoach.co/article/tooth-resorption-in-cats-feline-oral-resorptive-lesions-for/).

If he swallows it, it will likely pass through him in a day or two. Ideally, he should be physically examined by your veterinarian. There may be a degree of periodontal disease or infection that should be addressed to prevent spread or discomfort.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This looks like it is due to the tooth causing pressure on the gum causing this ulcer/lesion. I would agree with your veterinarian in that they probably need to sedate or put under anesthesia to be able to better evaluate this region. Then they can treat it accordingly. If it is found to be dental disease, they can correct it then. Best of luck!