Cat getting dental surgery on Tuesday nervous and question about antibiotics

[Dave8014]

Hello everyone! I’m pretty nervous about my cat getting a dental. Of course being me I read every horror story I could possibly find on the internet. A lot of people complained about how there cats didn’t make it because of lack of antibiotics before or after.
The place I found told me to come for a consultation Tuesday and if he is clear we can proceed with the surgery same day. The place has both a board certified dentist and board certified anesthesiologist. Very good place and very expensive!! I need this because my cat is asthmatic and feel safer with a anesthesiologist. My concern is he was prescribed antibiotics prior. I see a lot of people saying they has to give antibiotics prior to surgery. He has gingivitis and respective lesions and will require extractions according to my regular vet. I’m pretty sure they will inject him with antibiotics 1 hour before surgery and given a plan of antibiotics after. Should I be concerned it wasn’t given 10 days before? Is post antibiotics enough? Ugh I’m so nervous. Who knows tho, perhaps they will tell me on Tuesday he needs to go home and take antibiotics. I just want to hear opinions on this just in case they say he is all clear for surgery Tuesday. The place is called Vetinary Dental Specialist in New Jersey.

 

[kittenmittens84]

Try not to read horror stories on the internet, all it does is make you nervous unnecessarily. No one goes on the internet to post “my cat had a tooth extraction today and it was completely uneventful, nothing bad happened and he was fine” but people definitely go online to post when something terrible happens so you’re really not getting a representative sample.

A well regarded feline dentist and anesthesiologist will know exactly what they’re doing and what’s safe for your cat one thousand times more than anyone on this forum will! They go to school and training for this for 7+ years and have done hundreds or thousands of dental procedures and extractions before - they’ll be able to determine what medications your cat needs and I’m sure he’ll be just fine after the procedure.

 

[suzeanna]

My kitty had very bad teeth (they removed 7) with resorptive lesions and she did not have to take antibiotics ahead of time. They kept her overnight and I was not given any antibiotics to administer when I took her home -- the vet thought it went fine and that she didn't want to mess with her tummy etc. with antibiotics unless needed. She recovered perfectly fine and we did not need to go back for antibiotics.

 

[daftcat75]

Cats don't need antibiotics ahead of time. Yours will be fine. He's in good hands with the specialist. The dentist may (or may not) discuss the use of Convenia, a single-shot antibiotic that lasts two to four weeks. I urge you to decline this. In fact, I urge you to bring this up even if the dentist does not. "No Convenia!" A lot of cats don't have issues with this medicine. But for those who do, it's long-acting and you can't undo it once it's been given. If your cat does have a reaction to this medicine, he simply has to ride it out. I don't like that-- especially for an older cat. The other option to consider is the long-acting buprenorphine (also called Simbadol.) This one will provide up to three days of pain relief. However a lot of cats are restless, out of it, and don't sleep for three days. This can be alarming but it does pass. But if your cat is one who is difficult to medicate, I would prefer a sleepless cat who is not in pain than one who hides for three days because he's in too much pain and doesn't want you anywhere near his mouth to give him pain medicine. If you skip the long-lasting bupe, make sure you give the short-acting stuff on the schedule given to you by the dentist. It's a lot easier to stay ahead of the pain than to catch up to it. Use up what you are given whether he seems to need it or not. By the time you notice he needs it, that's too late. The dentist won't give you too much. Use it up.

1. No Convenia (unless you already know he tolerates it well.)
2. Simbadol (buprenorphine SR). It's up to you. But I recommend it. Better sleepless than in pain.

In both cases, let the dentist know your preferences in the consultation before the procedure.

 

[Dave8014]

Hey I wish I read this earlier. I did not bring it up. He just got home and he seems fine. Just a little doped up. She said I don’t have to use antibiotics. She said she usually doesn’t give it unless the cat has an infection already. She said since I really wanted it and seemed she gave me antibiotics to bring home. But I’m not going to use them. She did give him a shot of antibiotics. Now I am scared after reading this. What should I look for? He seems fine right now. Just struggling to eat.

 

[Dave8014]

Hey I wish I read this earlier. I did not bring it up. He just got home and he seems fine. Just a little doped up. She said I don’t have to use antibiotics. She said she usually doesn’t give it unless the cat has an infection already. She said since I really wanted it and seemed she gave me antibiotics to bring home. But I’m not going to use them. She did give him a shot of antibiotics. Now I am scared after reading this. What should I look for? He seems fine right now. Just struggling to eat.

Cats don't need antibiotics ahead of time. Yours will be fine. He's in good hands with the specialist. The dentist may (or may not) discuss the use of Convenia, a single-shot antibiotic that lasts two to four weeks. I urge you to decline this. In fact, I urge you to bring this up even if the dentist does not. "No Convenia!" A lot of cats don't have issues with this medicine. But for those who do, it's long-acting and you can't undo it once it's been given. If your cat does have a reaction to this medicine, he simply has to ride it out. I don't like that-- especially for an older cat. The other option to consider is the long-acting buprenorphine (also called Simbadol.) This one will provide up to three days of pain relief. However a lot of cats are restless, out of it, and don't sleep for three days. This can be alarming but it does pass. But if your cat is one who is difficult to medicate, I would prefer a sleepless cat who is not in pain than one who hides for three days because he's in too much pain and doesn't want you anywhere near his mouth to give him pain medicine. If you skip the long-lasting bupe, make sure you give the short-acting stuff on the schedule given to you by the dentist. It's a lot easier to stay ahead of the pain than to catch up to it. Use up what you are given whether he seems to need it or not. By the time you notice he needs it, that's too late. The dentist won't give you too much. Use it up.

1. No Convenia (unless you already know he tolerates it well.)
2. Simbadol (buprenorphine SR). It's up to you. But I recommend it. Better sleepless than in pain.

In both cases, let the dentist know your preferences in the consultation before the procedure.

If she gave me antibiotics to bring home I’m assuming she didn’t administer one that lasts 3 weeks? She provided me with Clavomax. She is a board certified Specialist if that makes a difference. I am just happy he’s home. I was on edge all day today. I feel like I’m gonna faint how much my heart was racing today.

 

[Dave8014]

Cats don't need antibiotics ahead of time. Yours will be fine. He's in good hands with the specialist. The dentist may (or may not) discuss the use of Convenia, a single-shot antibiotic that lasts two to four weeks. I urge you to decline this. In fact, I urge you to bring this up even if the dentist does not. "No Convenia!" A lot of cats don't have issues with this medicine. But for those who do, it's long-acting and you can't undo it once it's been given. If your cat does have a reaction to this medicine, he simply has to ride it out. I don't like that-- especially for an older cat. The other option to consider is the long-acting buprenorphine (also called Simbadol.) This one will provide up to three days of pain relief. However a lot of cats are restless, out of it, and don't sleep for three days. This can be alarming but it does pass. But if your cat is one who is difficult to medicate, I would prefer a sleepless cat who is not in pain than one who hides for three days because he's in too much pain and doesn't want you anywhere near his mouth to give him pain medicine. If you skip the long-lasting bupe, make sure you give the short-acting stuff on the schedule given to you by the dentist. It's a lot easier to stay ahead of the pain than to catch up to it. Use up what you are given whether he seems to need it or not. By the time you notice he needs it, that's too late. The dentist won't give you too much. Use it up.

1. No Convenia (unless you already know he tolerates it well.)
2. Simbadol (buprenorphine SR). It's up to you. But I recommend it. Better sleepless than in pain.

In both cases, let the dentist know your preferences in the consultation before the procedure.

I just checked the receipt. No Convenia. I see Ampiccilin

 

[daftcat75]

If she gave me antibiotics to bring home I’m assuming she didn’t administer one that lasts 3 weeks? She provided me with Clavomax. She is a board certified Specialist if that makes a difference. I am just happy he’s home. I was on edge all day today. I feel like I’m gonna faint how much my heart was racing today.

Don't you have an itemized receipt? I don't think she would give the Covenia and also send you home with antibiotics. She probably gave him a shorter acting shot. Call her office tomorrow and find out if you can't find it on the receipt.

He'll probably be loopy for awhile today as he may still have anesthetic, nerve block, or other drugs in him. Later tonight, he might finally feel the pain. If you were sent home with pain medicine, use it on the schedule provided whether he looks like he needs it or not.

 

[daftcat75]

I just checked the receipt. No Convenia. I see Ampiccilin

You're good. Any reaction to that one will be short-lived.

 

[Dave8014]

Don't you have an itemized receipt? I don't think she would give the Covenia and also send you home with antibiotics. She probably gave him a shorter acting shot. Call her office tomorrow and find out if you can't find it on the receipt.

He'll probably be loopy for awhile today as he may still have anesthetic, nerve block, or other drugs in him. Later tonight, he might finally feel the pain. If you were sent home with pain medicine, use it on the schedule provided whether he looks like he needs it or not.

Yeah she gave me pain medicine. She gave me it for every 8 hours. She said next dose will be 2 am but she said if ur not up first thing in the morning. I will try to be up. It’s been a long day since 7 am. I also don’t want him to be in pain. I just see him struggling to eat. He doesn’t seem to be in pain. He’s very loopy and relaxed and curling his feet. He’s just struggling to open his mouth. I see that he’s hungry because he keeps trying. I feel so bad. Thank you for the response

 

[daftcat75]

Set an alarm to wake at 2am. Waiting until morning for his next dose will be too long. You could probably even give that next dose at midnight if you won't wake at 2am. Give the morning dose at 6 or 8 am. I have given bupe every six hours before. (I think they say 8 hours because they don't want to dispense more than they must.) He'll likely want to sleep during the day. That's when you can get him back onto an every 8 hours dosing schedule again. If the pain medicine is buprenorphine (it usually is), you will want to squirt that between his cheek and gum. It is meant to be absorbed in the mucosal layers in the mouth. It doesn't get absorbed well (or at all) if it is swallowed. It's always easier to ambush a sleeping kitty with this as you can peel back a lip and squirt it before he can protest. If you do have to give it while he's awake and he's not being cooperative, aim forward and down as if you are trying to get it in front of or under his tongue. Or aim for the space between cheek and gums. Don't aim for the back of the throat.

 

[daftcat75]

I'm not saying that your cat will have the same pain as my Krista or react the same way. However, this was what happened when I turned down the long acting buprenorphine shot and had to wait until morning to pick her up. She was in pain and seriously unhappy and I don't think she let anyone near her overnight to get a bupe dose until I picked her up, calmed her down, and got her home. Fortunately, I had transdermal bupe so I only needed to catch up to an ear and give her a wet willy rather than squirting liquid bupe into her angry mouth.

Stay on top of the pain schedule.

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[suzeanna]

I'm glad the dental went well!!! Take a minute to rejoice.

My kitty had the buprenorphine long-acting shot, and they also gave me a few Onsior tablets for the first couple days and some buprenorphine to squirt between her gum and cheek every 8 hours for 3-4 days. We stopped giving it after 2 days with the vet's approval because Susan's ongoing reaction to it was not great and we supplemented her with Gabapentin. Just be aware that your kitty might have issues sleeping if he's on buprenorphine -- mine was very tired but didn't sleep for 2-3 days after we got home.

 

[suzeanna]

Oh, and I fed smaller/soupier/more frequent meals for the first couple weeks afterward to make eating easier and keep her full-ish. I'm sure they warned you at the doctor's office, but absolutely *no* dry kibble/treats (for 2 weeks?)! I didn't give any for a month bc I wanted to be sure she was fully healed and she also needed/needs to lose weight (much easier on solely wet food -- fuller and more nutritious).

 

[Dave8014]

Oh, and I fed smaller/soupier/more frequent meals for the first couple weeks afterward to make eating easier and keep her full-ish. I'm sure they warned you at the doctor's office, but absolutely *no* dry kibble/treats (for 2 weeks?)! I didn't give any for a month bc I wanted to be sure she was fully healed and she also needed/needs to lose weight (much easier on solely wet food -- fuller and more nutritious).

I actually feed him only wet food. His entire life. I think I will add water to it to make it soupier. I feel so bad when he try’s to eat it. I actually giggled for a second because he was loopey that he started cuddling with the food. He layed his right side of the face

I'm not saying that your cat will have the same pain as my Krista or react the same way. However, this was what happened when I turned down the long acting buprenorphine shot and had to wait until morning to pick her up. She was in pain and seriously unhappy and I don't think she let anyone near her overnight to get a bupe dose until I picked her up, calmed her down, and got her home. Fortunately, I had transdermal bupe so I only needed to catch up to an ear and give her a wet willy rather than squirting liquid bupe into her angry mouth.

Stay on top of the pain schedule.

View media item 422562

thanks for all the info and your cat is beautiful! I stayed up till 2 am and gave him the pain med. I’m glad I did. He ate all his food this morning like a damn champ! The only thing is I am an idiot. Last night when I got home I was so focused on him that I forgot to put the Clavomax antibiotics in the fridge. I can’t believe it. I called my vet here to see if they have it but they said it’s fine and just shake it up and put it in now. I’m waiting for a response by the specialist now. But damn it how can I be so dumb