dental + xray tomorrow. so anxious.

[mmin]

Hi, i've posted a thread before on a similar topic, but i'm just so anxious. my apologies for posting so much

my 4 year old scottish fold (he just turned 4 two days ago!), has a dental planned tomorrow along with xrays for his elbows as he has been limping on-off for a year. it is an elective procedure:
- his teeth, while definitely yellow, different vets have said different things. some said he will need a clean real soon, but generally, most of the vets have said did not need a cleaning RIGHT away, but will need a cleaning sooner or later.
- his xrays, the vets feel that its likely more for diagnostic purposes and will not really be changing his management that much as they believe its secondary arthritis from congenital structural deformity. but it is for a baseline xray as i do not have any formal xrays taken for him yet.
it's mainly for the xrays but because his dental is also due soon, i figured to do both together so he will not have to be put under GA twice..

other background issues:
- he is generally healthy but he has gone through a few things in just 4 years
- when he was a baby, he panted easily with activity so the feline specialist suggested for an ultrasound of his heart. found a tiny little hole in his heart but she said it is too tiny and wouldn't explain his symptoms. he has been mostly fine since, nothing new.
- he had a dental done when he was 1.5 years old. i didn't know better then about the dangers of GA and when his then-vet suggested it, i just listened to her.
- he had a kidney scare back then when his FBC revealed increased BUN and CREA but his SDMA and USG are otherwise normal.
- he had a hypercalcaemia scare too but it resolved after i changed his food and monitored it. so far, blood test 1.5 years after has still seem fairly normal.

so.. i don't really know what is my question right now but i'm just so anxious about his procedures tomorrow. the dental/anaesthesia etc will be done by a vet technician but i heard they are qualified and experienced. and a vet will be supervising in the background. the ortho/surgery vet will come in mid way to do the xrays.

i guess i'm just really worried about the dangers/ side effects of GA, especially since he seems fine now with just an occassional limp with reduced walking, but he is otherwise still playful and alert. and if the xrays are going to just be diagnostic and will not help much.. i'm just so worried that by me allowing him to go for this procedure, i'm creating trouble. but at the same time, if he will need the dental sooner or later, then it is an issue i will have to face sooner or later anyway. i'm just so anxious.

i've read up lots about the whole procedure, the dental, the GA etc. tomorrow, before his actual procedure, we have an appointment with both the normal vet and the ortho vet. things i will be checking with them are:

ortho vet:
xrays for hips/ legs/ etc too, as currently its only planned to xray for his elbows? but since he is a scottish fold and at risk of all that, would it be a good idea to get a baseline xray for his other limbs too?

vet:
for the GA:
- check if they will be intubating during the procedure. my impression is that its recommended for intubation right?
- check for what they will be monitoring: BP/ HR/ oxygen?
- check if continuous oxygen will be given? is this a must? or?
- IV Fluids
- Anaesthetic agents that they will be using. ive read so much on this forum regarding no ketamine. i'm honestly not sure what the protocol at that vet is but it is a vet hospital so hopefully they will have other protocols they are experienced in using. what should i be requesting? is the bad rep ketamine gets really reliable? what shouuld i do if that vet hospital prefers/ is more experienced in ketamine?
- what else should i be checking for?

i'm so torn, i feel like just cancelling the procedure because i'm so anxious but at the same time i know that sooner or later i will have to face the issue regarding a dental again. what will you do if you were me? will you let kittygo for it tomorrow?

I've attached latest pictures of his teeth for some impression.

please get back to me soon as i only have a couple hours till his appointment tomorrow and i've worried myself sick

 

[misty8723]

I'm sure others with more experience will come along with advice, but I just want to say I totally understand about being a basket case before kitty going under GA, because I'm the same way and absolutely hate having to do it. You have good questions for them, and hopefully they'll put you're mind at ease.

 

[stephanietx]

FWIW, my vet isn't a big proponent of dentals unless there's a need such as excessive tartar buildup, teeth need pulling, or resorption. When we take our kitties in for their yearly exams, she pops the tartar off with her fingernail! None of my kitties have had dentals, but my RB kitty, Hannah, had resorptive lesions and had to have a dental and 2 teeth pulled when she was around 12 yrs old. She also had a compromised immune system.

 

[fionasmom]

It seems that you have all your questions in order, which is very proactive on your part. As for the ortho vet, I would ask if any xray that might possibly be needed in the future, foreseeably, be done at this time, if possible. It will prevent another round of anesthesia later if something comes up.

As for the GA, definitely ask all your questions. If something is said that concerns you, ask for an explanation. You may find that the doctors and techs have an anesthetic procedure that they follow routinely, but you still have a right to know what it is.

 

[Astragal14]

I think you'll be fine to keep the appointment tomorrow and I definitely understand your concern. I'm always concerned any time my kitties are sedated! The logical part of my brain knows everything will be okay and that a talented team of people will be monitoring them the entire time, but it's just human nature for us to worry until we get the call saying everything went well.

Has your cat had pre-anesthesia blood work done within the past 60 days? Our vet requires current blood work prior to any procedure involving sedation or anesthesia.

- when he was a baby, he panted easily with activity so the feline specialist suggested for an ultrasound of his heart. found a tiny little hole in his heart but she said it is too tiny and wouldn't explain his symptoms. he has been mostly fine since, nothing new.

This information is extremely important and you need to make sure your vet is aware of this before your cat's procedures.

First, you need to ask your vet if this changes any part of his dental and x-rays. Specifically ask if this changes his anesthesia protocol. It may be completely fine so please don't worry!! My concern here is solely about awareness - your vet needs to be aware of anything relating to the heart before any and every procedure.

Second, does your current vet have the results from the cardiologist who performed the ultrasound?

Third, was any further testing done, either to explain his symptoms (panting) or better understand the hole in his heart? Did he have both an electrocardiogram and an echocardiogram? If yes, then make sure your vet is aware of this. If no, then ask your vet if the panting or hole in his heart indicates a need for further evaluation by a specialist and, if so, when should that be performed?

To summarize, I think your cat should be fine for his dental and x-rays tomorrow as long as the vet is aware of the issues relating to his heart.

 

[mrsgreenjeens]

The pre-op bloodwork is a must! Our Vet only lets us do it 30 days prior, but for one cat who is so difficult to get in the carrier, she does it on the morning of the dental, to avoid more than one trip to the Vet. If the bloodwork shows anything untowards, they just don't do the dental (but thankfully that's never happened). My Vet knows I'm such a worrywart that they usually call me at stages all along the way to keep me informed. I did what you are doing the last time and had an ultrasound done at the same time as the dental to avoid too many GAs.

 

[LTS3]

- when he was a baby, he panted easily with activity so the feline specialist suggested for an ultrasound of his heart. found a tiny little hole in his heart but she said it is too tiny and wouldn't explain his symptoms. he has been mostly fine since, nothing new.

Panting after vigorous play is normal for any animal or person. It's the body's natural response to try to slow down the heart rate. Even athletes pant after playing a hard game or a marathon or whatever their sport is. With cats, just give them a break for awhile before resuming play.

 

[mrsgreenjeens]

M mmin , what did you decide to do? If you went ahead, how did it work out?

 

[mmin]

M mmin , what did you decide to do? If you went ahead, how did it work out?

i went ahead with it in the end.
the procedure itself, according to the vet, went smoothly with no complications. he said it was straightforward.
when mocha came home though, he was groggy and i was really worried cause he also had noisy breathing and a loud cough, but i googled, and it seemed that's normal post anaesthesia? it got much better after like day 2-3, although he still occassionally has a cough (soft ones) now and then even till now. (day 4).

he's alert now and even playful at times. however as a whole, he still does seem more lethargic and sleeping more than pre-procedure. is that normal? his toileting and eating is still fairly normal though so i'm hoping i'm just being paranoid again and he just needs more time to get back to how he was previously.

 

[mrsgreenjeens]

What all did they do during the dental? Did they pull any teeth? Is he on antibiotics? If he is on any meds now because of the procedure, that can cause lethargy and other things, sometimes complete loss of appetite, diarrhea, etc. so if he's still eating the toileting fairly normally, that's a good sign.

If you have any questions at all about how he is doing, give your Vet a call to discuss as they know his background and should be able to alleviate your concerns.