Cat Dentalfilter
March 31, 2018 6:10 PM Subscribe
Risks vs outcomes for dental surgery for a middle-aged kitty
I've recently taken up medical responsibility for a beloved, smart, best-of-cats 13 year old family cat that's lived with my family for the past 10 years or so. I recently took her in for the first vet exam in several years, and got a consult for her teeth, which are not doing great-- massive tartar buildup, occasional awful smell, and painful looking gum disease. At minimum I need to schedule a serious cleaning, and the vet-- not a doctor or office who suggests unnecessary or costly procedures for their own sake-- advised me that she would need anaesthesia, dental x-rays, and likely need to have several teeth removed. The parent she lives with, who is somewhat negligent and has always been reluctant about vet care for animals in general, doesn't really want to do this or deal with it, and wants to find a non-anaesthetic cleaner instead because he is more than capable of, but doesn't want to, handle the cost of a full dental workup. I am totally willing and planning to eat the bill for this but I had a young, healthy dog suddenly and unexpectedly die under anaesthesia a few years ago, and because of this, I'm (probably irrationally) terrified of putting her under and having the same thing happen to her; I spent a while crying today at the thought of trying to get helpful medical care for her and killing her in the process. The family has had several other cats who lived to be around 20, without any dental surgical work (or even teeth cleaning iirc), and I'm not sure if this procedure is going to be necessary. At the same time, the cat clearly does need a serious teeth cleaning-- the symptoms I observed are really worrying and not something I've seen in past older cats-- and I want her to get the care she needs. So, cat owners of Ask, what are your experiences with this kind of medical work-- going under, getting x-rays, a cleaning, and likely dental surgery-- for cats of this age? Are there precautions I should take, other than the pre-surgical blood panel stuff the vet is going to be doing anyway? Is this a totally safe and normal procedure that I'm freaking out about unnecessarily? What has this looked like for you and your pets?
I've recently taken up medical responsibility for a beloved, smart, best-of-cats 13 year old family cat that's lived with my family for the past 10 years or so. I recently took her in for the first vet exam in several years, and got a consult for her teeth, which are not doing great-- massive tartar buildup, occasional awful smell, and painful looking gum disease. At minimum I need to schedule a serious cleaning, and the vet-- not a doctor or office who suggests unnecessary or costly procedures for their own sake-- advised me that she would need anaesthesia, dental x-rays, and likely need to have several teeth removed. The parent she lives with, who is somewhat negligent and has always been reluctant about vet care for animals in general, doesn't really want to do this or deal with it, and wants to find a non-anaesthetic cleaner instead because he is more than capable of, but doesn't want to, handle the cost of a full dental workup. I am totally willing and planning to eat the bill for this but I had a young, healthy dog suddenly and unexpectedly die under anaesthesia a few years ago, and because of this, I'm (probably irrationally) terrified of putting her under and having the same thing happen to her; I spent a while crying today at the thought of trying to get helpful medical care for her and killing her in the process. The family has had several other cats who lived to be around 20, without any dental surgical work (or even teeth cleaning iirc), and I'm not sure if this procedure is going to be necessary. At the same time, the cat clearly does need a serious teeth cleaning-- the symptoms I observed are really worrying and not something I've seen in past older cats-- and I want her to get the care she needs. So, cat owners of Ask, what are your experiences with this kind of medical work-- going under, getting x-rays, a cleaning, and likely dental surgery-- for cats of this age? Are there precautions I should take, other than the pre-surgical blood panel stuff the vet is going to be doing anyway? Is this a totally safe and normal procedure that I'm freaking out about unnecessarily? What has this looked like for you and your pets?
You might want to shop around on the cost. One of the very excellent and vibrant up-to-date vet offices near me with excellent docs quoted me $500 to $800 for a treatment exactly like this. Other vets told me $2k at just a glance. Possibly a popular well staffed office simply doesn't need to charge as much for this treatment because they have a larger amount of regular clients?? It's a remarkable difference in price.
I'm also hesitant about the anesthesia, so I'll be watching this thread. Just FYI. Needless to say, I'm happy the office with the biggest practice, most experience, and most up-to-date facility is the one who will do our anesthesia.
posted by jbenben at 6:25 PM on March 31, 2018 [1 favorite]
I'm also hesitant about the anesthesia, so I'll be watching this thread. Just FYI. Needless to say, I'm happy the office with the biggest practice, most experience, and most up-to-date facility is the one who will do our anesthesia.
posted by jbenben at 6:25 PM on March 31, 2018 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I adopted a cat of unknown age (not a kitten, but almost certainly younger than 13) who had stomatitis and had to have ALL her teeth removed. I mean, I was told there were other options but that the best way to ensure her long-term health and happiness was to have all her teeth removed.
So I did and it made a world of difference for her. She went from miserably spending almost all her time in a box under my bed to being a happy, gregarious, lap cat. She hunts stuffed mice, bites string toys, and even eats dry kibble (as well as wet food). I'd do it again in a heartbeat.
Unfortunately I don't remember much about the actual process except that there were lots of vet visits, it was a bit of an issue with work how often I had to leave to pick her up or drop her off. She definitely spent at least a night or two in the hospital, but once she was home her recovery was pretty standard -- she was out of it for awhile, the other cat didn't like her because she smelled like the vet, she hated her medicine, I fretted about every little thing... but I think within a week or two she was totally recovered.
Oh just one more thing re the anesthesia specifically -- this cat is TINY. She was about 6 pounds when she was sick and slightly over 7 now that she's healthy. But the anesthesia still went fine.
posted by mrmurbles at 6:49 PM on March 31, 2018 [3 favorites]
So I did and it made a world of difference for her. She went from miserably spending almost all her time in a box under my bed to being a happy, gregarious, lap cat. She hunts stuffed mice, bites string toys, and even eats dry kibble (as well as wet food). I'd do it again in a heartbeat.
Unfortunately I don't remember much about the actual process except that there were lots of vet visits, it was a bit of an issue with work how often I had to leave to pick her up or drop her off. She definitely spent at least a night or two in the hospital, but once she was home her recovery was pretty standard -- she was out of it for awhile, the other cat didn't like her because she smelled like the vet, she hated her medicine, I fretted about every little thing... but I think within a week or two she was totally recovered.
Oh just one more thing re the anesthesia specifically -- this cat is TINY. She was about 6 pounds when she was sick and slightly over 7 now that she's healthy. But the anesthesia still went fine.
posted by mrmurbles at 6:49 PM on March 31, 2018 [3 favorites]
Best answer: I took a bunch of my cat's teeth out at the exact same age. They did a bit of extra testing, she was fine, the teeth came out fine, the only issue was that she had no bladder control that first day when she came home.
posted by jeather at 8:06 PM on March 31, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by jeather at 8:06 PM on March 31, 2018 [1 favorite]
If you want, you could ask different vet practices a) how they monitor/gauge anesthesia, and if there's anything they can do to minimize risk, and b) about costs, in case there are great non-justifiable reasons for cost differential.
However, yes, there's always some risk. You as an adult human sometimes have to accept risk, and realize that, after you've done your best (your best) to decide whether the risk is worthwhile, and to minimize the risk as much as you reasonably can, sometimes there will be bad outcomes. If you've done your best, you can bear a bad outcome knowing that you've done your best.
As for your parent who wants to find a non-anesthetic solution: pain is a harm in and of itself, especially if the being who is in pain is also terrified because he's being restrained. Terror is a harm in itself as much as, or maybe more than, pain.
posted by amtho at 8:55 PM on March 31, 2018
However, yes, there's always some risk. You as an adult human sometimes have to accept risk, and realize that, after you've done your best (your best) to decide whether the risk is worthwhile, and to minimize the risk as much as you reasonably can, sometimes there will be bad outcomes. If you've done your best, you can bear a bad outcome knowing that you've done your best.
As for your parent who wants to find a non-anesthetic solution: pain is a harm in and of itself, especially if the being who is in pain is also terrified because he's being restrained. Terror is a harm in itself as much as, or maybe more than, pain.
posted by amtho at 8:55 PM on March 31, 2018
Best answer: Dental work for cats isn't like dental work for people. Getting it done without anesthetic is more often than not vastly more stressful for the cat, less efficient, and not nearly as thorough. And for a cat with bad gum disease you're probably looking at her needing surgery regardless once they get in there and have a really good look. There aren't too many very good vets that do non-anesthetic cleanings for cats except in very special circumstances because it's so much harder for the cat and they can even hurt themselves while fighting against the procedure.
There's always risk with anesthesia but you should be able to assuage some of your fears by having a conversation with the vet - they might even connect you to the anesthesiologist directly. If they're not willing to do that, find another vet who is.
posted by Mizu at 8:59 PM on March 31, 2018 [1 favorite]
There's always risk with anesthesia but you should be able to assuage some of your fears by having a conversation with the vet - they might even connect you to the anesthesiologist directly. If they're not willing to do that, find another vet who is.
posted by Mizu at 8:59 PM on March 31, 2018 [1 favorite]
Best answer: My cat is 18 and has been under anesthesia several times and is no worse for wear. Anesthesia is a risk for everyone but I don’t think you would hold back your kid from getting needed surgery because you were scared. This is no different.
posted by bleep at 9:02 PM on March 31, 2018
posted by bleep at 9:02 PM on March 31, 2018
Response by poster: Thanks, everyone. I came here hoping for a kind but firm kick in the ass to get over my fears and do what's right for my cat, and you all delivered. <3
posted by moonlight on vermont at 10:47 PM on March 31, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by moonlight on vermont at 10:47 PM on March 31, 2018 [2 favorites]
When my elderly cat needed anesthesia for teeth cleaning, they did some preliminary blood tests to make sure he was healthy enough that the anesthesia would be relatively low risk. I don't remember what exactly they tested for -- organ function? -- but you can ask your vet about it.
Hurty teeth leads to eating less, and weight loss can cause all sorts of life-threatening problems in older cats. Please get the dental work done.
posted by Jacqueline at 2:02 PM on April 1, 2018
Hurty teeth leads to eating less, and weight loss can cause all sorts of life-threatening problems in older cats. Please get the dental work done.
posted by Jacqueline at 2:02 PM on April 1, 2018
I'm taking care of a 9-year-old kitty kind of long-term for a friend, and we just did this last week! They did a blood test, for which they shaved a bit of her neck, and then I took her in a week later for the cleaning. They shaved another little bit on her paw for the IV, and she's on liquid antibiotics for a week. Whole thing cost about 600 dollars, and it feels really good to know she's up-to-date on stuff. Other than a bit of bumping around while she was coming off the anesthetic, all is well. Good on ya for taking care.
posted by lauranesson at 8:02 AM on April 2, 2018
posted by lauranesson at 8:02 AM on April 2, 2018
« Older Finding someone in Chicago to do a relatively easy... | Weird letter with cash "refund." Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
I would definitely spend the money to go to a board-certified veterinary dentist if you can afford it. My general vet friend takes her pets to a boarded dentist because she feels it’s money well spent. I’ve been doing it for the last decade or so and agree. In addition to having much greater expertise, they also have all the most advanced equipment and that will make a difference to the anesthesia risk.
posted by HotToddy at 6:18 PM on March 31, 2018 [8 favorites]