Dentals: Safe for Older Cats?

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Lydia--(Rosie & Basil) GA

Lydia--(Rosie & Basil) GA

Member Since 2009
What is your experience with dentals (anesthesia) and older cats? Rosie will be 19.5 in February and it worries me. But I am wondering if she would not benefit from a dental especially given that her BG numbers tend to run to the higher side.

Is there an association with infection and bounce?

(Cross-posted from L&L.)

Thanks!
 
Infection can increase insulin needs and cause erratic BG values. My Badger had erratic and relatively high (PS's>300 most of the time) BGs when on about 5-6 units ProZinc. He had ear polyps that would constantly ooze but would clear up on antibiotice but ooze again when stopped. I finally had the polyps surgically removed and had a dental done under the same anesthesia period.
After removal I can generally maintain his BG below 150 with less than half the amount of insulin.
The vet should do blood work and other tests as necessary to determine if Rosie's health is good enough for anesthesia
 
Merlin was 17 (almost 18) when he got his last dental. As Larry states, the vet will perform a pre-surgery blood test to check major indicators and should give you a good idea if a dental can be done.
 
I took my 17 year old to an Animal Dentist, cost a good bit more, but my vet was not comfortable with using regular anesthesia on her since it is hard on them, even though her blood work was really good for her age. The animal vet used gas, he said the good thing with it is as soon as they remove it they animal starts waking up. And since that is all he does, he works a little faster. She had 2 teeth pulled and then he stitched up the holes in about 15 minutes. We pretty much had no choice as she was not eating well and was losing weight fast, she is hyperthyroid so that is also a precautionary issue.
 
Nancey said:
I took my 17 year old to an Animal Dentist, cost a good bit more, but my vet was not comfortable with using regular anesthesia on her since it is hard on them, even though her blood work was really good for her age. The animal vet used gas, he said the good thing with it is as soon as they remove it they animal starts waking up. And since that is all he does, he works a little faster.
Click to expand...
Almost all vets now use gas anesthesia (isoflurane or servoflurance) as the maintenance anesthesia.
In oroder to insert the needed indotracheal for gas anesthesia that animal has to be "knocked out". This can be done wit an injectable, short-acting anesthesia like propofol or can be placed in a box where the gas anesthesia is injected.
 
Bama is only 12 but our vet recommended going to a veterinary dentist to have her teeth cleaned. While our vet didn't anticipate any issues he did consider Bama to be higher risk as her diabetes was in remission at the time. He was worried that Bama could have a negative reaction and his clinic would not have the appropriate resources to stabilize her requiring a transfer to an animal hospital.
 
Larry and Kitties said:
Almost all vets now use gas anesthesia (isoflurane or servoflurance) as the maintenance anesthesia.
In oroder to insert the needed indotracheal for gas anesthesia that animal has to be "knocked out". This can be done wit an injectable, short-acting anesthesia like propofol or can be placed in a box where the gas anesthesia is injected.
Click to expand...

Well not sure what the difference is but even when my vet used a short acting anesthesia my old girl was out of it until after midnight. When she came home from the Dentist she was up and going, almost normal. Which made me feel so much better.

Plus like Bama said they have the resources and equipment to monitor them more closely which is good in case something goes wrong.
 
Ketamine is what my vet used on Dottie, and she did very poorly under it at a previous dental. It took her DAYS to clear everything out of her system. She would drool and stare into space, and persistantly circle. We thought she might have brain damage. It finally went away, but it was touch and go for awhile.

This time around, last week, when she had all her teeth pulled, she was a bit better, but only just. The combination of inflamed and infected gums, the anesthesia, surgery, and enduring massive stress for the past year, has caused her BG to be very erratic. Today she had enough of me and went under the bed. I cannot move it. Nor can I get down on my knees to get her out. So there she is.

She's 13.
 
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