08/19 Grandpa staying red and now black at PMPS.

[Beck and Philly]

Last post

After reading so many posts about the impact bad teeth can have on BG, I'm wondering if we are fighting a losing battle. No vet will consider a dental on Grandpa's few remaining teeth because they say sedation is too risky. All vets say he has at least one really bad tooth. It's a catch-22. They just give him Convenia. At 2U we saw some blues and yellows, but at 2.25 we are back in the red for the most part. Of course I'll keep trying, but I'm feeling discouraged.

We've had two dentals done on two other cats this month. One resulted in only a few teeth left and the other on Friday was a full mouth extraction. He's still in the hospital because he won't eat. Yesterday he spent the day in an incubator because his temp was low. I love these old critters, but somedays it's tough.

He isn't an FD cat, but if anyone has any spare good wishes for Blackie, he (and we) could use them.

 

[Phoebes (GA)]

Sending you prayers and vines all around. these furbabies do take their toll. But just to look at those smoochie faces just brings it back around for me. They are such devine creatures. Hang in there momma bean.

 

[tiffmaxee]

 

[Kris & Teasel]

Sending healing vines your way. I'd continue the gradual dose increases. Those reds could be in reaction to blue. They can do a lot of "wobbling" when they're not yet in optimal dose territory.

 

[Sandi and Toby]

Oh, poor Blackie. And yes, running a "feline senior citizens home" can be very draining, I feel your pain. Best wishes for you both.

For Grandpa, isn't it @Noah & me (GA) that gives/gave bupe regularly for an old man with dental disease? Fforgive me if I am remembering that wrong and I don't have time to look it up at the moment. Maybe you've already considered that, but I wanted to throw that out there in case you haven't.

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

Is there a dental specialist that your vet can refer you to? A specialist is more familiar with working with special needs animals.

 

[Noah & me (GA)]

@Sandi & Whisper That "old man" is Noah but that's okay, he is the old man in the house. He needed all his teeth pulled years ago but only had a 10% chance of making it through surgery and absolutely detested the oral BUPE so the transdermal saved him from a shortened life of misery. Every sedation is risky no matter what they tell you. Humans are easier but when you're dealing with a body mass 5% that of a human with an already sick cat you're playing with fire.
Beck and I have PM'd about this, I'll give the details again if needed. I've also read that cat's do not get as addicted as we might think and withdrawal is not really an issue if you miss a dose.
My viewpoint is that I'd rather have a drug addict cat than one who is in constant pain. It doesn't affect Noah's balance, appetite or mental awareness. Noah has some other serious conditions and is well past his "best before" date but he still walks with his tail in the air and loves having his tux brushed. Like Grandpa he is our little miracle boy.
We didn't get ours from a specialist, it comes from a compounding pharmacy with a prescription from our vet.
As for Blackie there are many cats here who live quite well without any teeth. I sometimes catch Noah at the kibble bowl (the one we shouldn't have). You're not fighting a losing battle Beck, you just have some old cats. You all get this anyways

 

[Susan&Felix(GA)]

Many vines for Blackie and for Grandpa to get to a good dose. Vines of well-being for your whole family.

 

[Beck and Philly]

@Sandi & Whisper You're not fighting a losing battle Beck, you just have some old cats. You all get this anyways

Thanks as always! I guess my losing battle comment was more about lowering Grandpa's numbers if we can't do a full dental. He hasn't shown any indication that his mouth bothers him, but the numbers are so high even with a dose increase. The old folks here who have had extractions were obvious in their discomfort with head tilts while chewing to constantly having their tongues protruding. Grandpa eats voraciously whether wet or dry when we fed that. But if he has bad teeth, I wonder if consistent lower BP numbers are possible?

As far as Blackie, I expected him to be mostly toothless. He'll join the others who gum their food when he gets home. The concern right now is his unwillingness to eat and low body temp. He isn't reviving well post-surgery. This will be night four in the hospital, one of which was pre-surgery. I'm hoping the old guy can find a burst of will to throw off the effects of surgery and recover. It's scary. They called pre-surgery and said that if they didn't do the extractions right then, I would need to euthanize. It is a tough week, but we'll get through.

 

[Noah & me (GA)]

"If they didn't do the extractions right then..."
What kind of vet is this? Pretty soon Uber will offer this service, if the driver doesn't shoot you first. That's whacked!

 

[Sandi and Toby]

@Sandi & Whisper That "old man" is Noah but that's okay, he is the old man in the house./QUOTE]

Thanks...I couldn't remember if it was Noah or one of your others. The nanosecond after I hit "post reply", I reread it and was afraid that you'd think I was calling you the Old Man, so i'll take it.

Oh wow, Beck. I didn't realize how slow of a go Blackie was having. [And yes, what in the heck kind of pre-surgical comment is that] But no matter now...yes I hope Blackie can dig down deep and shake this off. Hopefully you are able to visit him a bunch so that he can hear your voice and kickstart the urge to get back home to you asap. And I assume you already have something that smells like you and home there with him, but wanted to mention it.

 

[Beck and Philly]

This is our "rescue" vet office. My regular vet is wonderful and local but the owner of the clinic where she works is not willing to discount services to rescues. We have to go more than an hour away to get to our rescue's vet clinic. The good thing about them is they are 24 x 7.

I'm really tired of vets who use euthanasia so easily or as an ultimatum. This one really got me because I took two cats to this vet a couple of months ago for a dental evaluation. She told me what priority I should do them in and that both may need total mouth extractions.

The first, Ash, spent a week on antibiotics pre-surgery and two weeks on meds afterwards. As soon as she was recovered, I made Blackie's appt. We took him there expecting him to lose all of his teeth. So for the tech to call me and tell me the vet said if I deny surgery we need to euthanize him, I was speechless.

I just hope at this point he starts eating and can come home.

 

[Noah & me (GA)]

@Beck and Grandpa You should either get that in writing or get a recording. I'm sure the veterinary college would like to hear that. Maybe it's part of an older farm practice where "euthanasia" was having a 22 in the back. I know this is no joke, I'd be steaming mad if that happened to me.

Poor Sandi, guilt is a terrible thing when you make fun of old people isn't it?
I really need to change the code on the wireless camera at the front door. Is it 1234 or 0000?