operating on an old cat
Discussion
so my 20 year old cat has problems with a couple of back teeth, her gums are imflamed because of the teeth.
took her to the vet an she said there were 3 options.
1] do nothing, an she will go off her food an die. not what I want
2] give her an long acting antibiotic, but then after the teeth will just make the gums imflamed again, go off her food an die. again not what I want
or
3] operate an take the offending teeth out.
she had a blood test done to check her organs were working ok an it turns out they are all ok, apart from the urea level was a small amount above normal.
so is there much chance of her waking up again after the operation or am I right in thinking that cause she is so old she just wont make it
took her to the vet an she said there were 3 options.
1] do nothing, an she will go off her food an die. not what I want
2] give her an long acting antibiotic, but then after the teeth will just make the gums imflamed again, go off her food an die. again not what I want
or
3] operate an take the offending teeth out.
she had a blood test done to check her organs were working ok an it turns out they are all ok, apart from the urea level was a small amount above normal.
so is there much chance of her waking up again after the operation or am I right in thinking that cause she is so old she just wont make it
Upatdawn said:
No question, it must be option three, if she gets through it great, if she slips away then youve done your best, she would thank you for it
Absolutely no question in my mind either, 20yo is an amazing age and her quality of life is the most important factor...unless long term antibiotics is an option, but I'd guess forcing an old cat to take tablets every day is really going to stress it out.
Go for antibiotics I think, can be given as an injection last 2 weeks. See what the response is to them if no joy maybe the dental. It's not the anaesthetic itself its the recovery afterwards. It's a tough call but I think I'd be wary with my cat.
The blood results are significant as 70% of the kidney is permanently damaged before the results start showing high. What they should perform next is a urine test to check Protein:Creatinine ratio this gives the best indication of true kidney function (and check specific gravity).
Sorry rushed answer as run out of break time!
The blood results are significant as 70% of the kidney is permanently damaged before the results start showing high. What they should perform next is a urine test to check Protein:Creatinine ratio this gives the best indication of true kidney function (and check specific gravity).
Sorry rushed answer as run out of break time!
hmm, see now Im not too sure, as when the vet opened her mouth and I had a look, the 2 teeth at the back did look quite decayed.
bex, her mum had to be put down due to her kidneys failing, but as she was a rescue we did not know how old she was. an if you say that the kidneys are 70% damaged to show on the results, I think she might not have much time left.
If she doesnt have much time left I dont know if I want to put her through the op as the vet said they will put a line in her leg in the morning and when shes been on a bag of fluids for a while then they will operate.
the thing is, the vet said that if we dont remove the teeth soon, that she will go off her food and will be too week to go through the anaesthetic.
bex, her mum had to be put down due to her kidneys failing, but as she was a rescue we did not know how old she was. an if you say that the kidneys are 70% damaged to show on the results, I think she might not have much time left.
If she doesnt have much time left I dont know if I want to put her through the op as the vet said they will put a line in her leg in the morning and when shes been on a bag of fluids for a while then they will operate.
the thing is, the vet said that if we dont remove the teeth soon, that she will go off her food and will be too week to go through the anaesthetic.
The kidney disease can be well managed at that level it's just something to be cautious about. Fluids will help.
I think you're stuck between a rock and a hard place.
If she is eating well at the mo then giving her a bit longer to trial the antibiotics is worth it, I think, but if her appetite is already poor a ga may be the only choice route. Just be prepared if she doesn't cope well afterwards but don't blame yourself. There is no right decision here and, if she does cope that would be a great result.
I think you're stuck between a rock and a hard place.
If she is eating well at the mo then giving her a bit longer to trial the antibiotics is worth it, I think, but if her appetite is already poor a ga may be the only choice route. Just be prepared if she doesn't cope well afterwards but don't blame yourself. There is no right decision here and, if she does cope that would be a great result.
yeah your right, its not an easy thing to do.
an yeah she is eating pretty well at the mo just keeps 'chewing' occasionally, [like not that often but its noticed], where i think her gums are hurting her.
think I will be giving her the antibiotics to start, cause I really dont think she will survive a GA, but if she goes off her food and doesnt want to eat, I think we will have to try to sort her teeth out, an hope she doesnt die.
an yeah she is eating pretty well at the mo just keeps 'chewing' occasionally, [like not that often but its noticed], where i think her gums are hurting her.
think I will be giving her the antibiotics to start, cause I really dont think she will survive a GA, but if she goes off her food and doesnt want to eat, I think we will have to try to sort her teeth out, an hope she doesnt die.
There's nothing automatic about being old that makes a GA dangerous as and of itself... its the age-related stuff like dicky heart and so on that tends to cause problems if there are problems to cause.
Sort the teeth and you're successful - job jobbed. Mog may have many years yet to enjoy.
Attempt GA and unsuccessful - mog doesn't wake up from the anaesthetic. You are bereaved, but she hasn't experienced any of the bad stuff.
Either of those outcomes seems better than the other options to me?
Sort the teeth and you're successful - job jobbed. Mog may have many years yet to enjoy.
Attempt GA and unsuccessful - mog doesn't wake up from the anaesthetic. You are bereaved, but she hasn't experienced any of the bad stuff.
Either of those outcomes seems better than the other options to me?
My cat had 2 teeth out in August under anasthetic. He's 15, so not quite as old, but he came through it fine. He's had 2 ops on his teeth previously and also another op on his bladder about 8 years ago where he was getting some crystals forming in his urine. He's a tough cookie bless him...
Although its a hard choice for you, you have to do whats best for the cat. Personally I'd go with option C if this is (and sounds like it is) only gonna cause your cats problems and/or pain.
Good luck
Although its a hard choice for you, you have to do whats best for the cat. Personally I'd go with option C if this is (and sounds like it is) only gonna cause your cats problems and/or pain.
Good luck
I anaesthetised our 20 yr old moggy last week, she's got a new lease of life as a result of the op. As for the statement from the OP's vet or his interpretation of the options, your cat will not necessarily die with options 1 or 2, cats tolerate bad teeth very well, but can do so much better when they have been cleaned or removed, so it is a hard decision as we do not know exactly how the cat will respond to the op and hopefully fluid therapy. Unless the mouth/teeth are awful, I have never known a cat die of this, but I have seen many cats and dogs bounce back from dental work with astonishing vigour. As already said, difficult decision, but not a black and white choice either way.
well shes had an antibiotic and an antiimmfalamtory jab, and is on metacam since about 2 days ago, and has been on my lap for about 4 hours, twitchig in her sleep, as she does when shes deep asleep.
has only done the weird chewing thing once since, so it seems to be helping her out, not too sure if a GA is a good idea as bex what bex said about her kidneys.
but at the same time I'm not to sure if she will die when under now as i have bad kidneys and have been under 5 GA since i found out about my kidneys, and they are really bad, like might have to have one out bad.
but she seems happy, has been moving about more and even sat in the window for about 3 hours [used to do this when younger, shes a bit strange watching cars go by, an the birds] but i think the moving about more is cause metacam is also a painkiller aswell as a antiimflam
has only done the weird chewing thing once since, so it seems to be helping her out, not too sure if a GA is a good idea as bex what bex said about her kidneys.
but at the same time I'm not to sure if she will die when under now as i have bad kidneys and have been under 5 GA since i found out about my kidneys, and they are really bad, like might have to have one out bad.
but she seems happy, has been moving about more and even sat in the window for about 3 hours [used to do this when younger, shes a bit strange watching cars go by, an the birds] but i think the moving about more is cause metacam is also a painkiller aswell as a antiimflam
Glad she's is responding to the tx 
.
I doubt she would die under the actual anaesthetic (which I said before), its more the potential impact post anaesthetic. However if they have prescribed her metacam they can't be too concerned about her kidneys?!
I think if she has responded to the medication, it may be another good reason to consider the ga. Esp if she has gained weight etc
We nearly always put animals on antibiotics before dentals, usually means te healing and recovery will be far quicker etc.
Is she due for a ck up? They'll be ale to see how well er mouth is looking now she's had some tx and see if dental woud still be advised.
. I doubt she would die under the actual anaesthetic (which I said before), its more the potential impact post anaesthetic. However if they have prescribed her metacam they can't be too concerned about her kidneys?!
I think if she has responded to the medication, it may be another good reason to consider the ga. Esp if she has gained weight etc
We nearly always put animals on antibiotics before dentals, usually means te healing and recovery will be far quicker etc.
Is she due for a ck up? They'll be ale to see how well er mouth is looking now she's had some tx and see if dental woud still be advised.
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