12/18 | Darwin - update on remission.

[Tasha & Darwin]

My friends! I apologize for my long absence from the group - I miss you guys, and think of all the kitties often! Life has, of course, been busy and crazy for us here. Hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season (and not too stressed during this time of year!)

Darwin has been doing excellent in remission, and has continued to have stellar numbers. He has seemed to be happy as can be, and is almost at his ideal weight - YAY!

Got a bit of bad news today though I had sent his dental x-rays to the local dental specialist to make sure they didn't think we needed to intervene sooner with his remaining teeth (diagnosed with FORLs 10/2017), and the specialist called me at my hospital to chat. She believes he is having some early signs of resorption on most of the remaining teeth, and in order to avoid continued problems (and potentially coming out of remission); she is recommending full mouth extractions It sounds like the best option for him, but at the same time it breaks your heart to have to put him through that. He is scheduled for January 2nd (Happy New Year to us, indeed).

While I have seen and treated many cats with this in my job, I have never gone through it with my own pet - any advice for aftercare, etc. is very much welcomed.

Sending loads of vines out to all the kitties

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

Better to get the teeth out than have him experience any pain or be back in diabetic numbers. It's a good thing he likes pate-style food!! Have a wonderful, happy and health holiday season. And let us know how his dental surgery goes. We'll be keeping all appropriate appendages crossed and sending good dental vine.

 

[Christie & Maverick]

Tasha! So nice to see your post, I'm glad to see Darwin is doing so well with his remission, and great job keeping him at his ideal weight, I know how challenging that can be! But poor Darwin...does this mean ALL his teeth will be removed? He's so young . Sending lots of healing vines for the procedure, I'm sure he'll bounce right back like he did the last time, I seem to recall he was barely phased! Merry Christmas from Maverick and me

 

[carfurby (GA)]

I'm glad Darwin's remission is going well. I know it's frustrating to have to have his teeth removed, but he will do so much better afterwards. Sending prayers.

 

[Mandy & Rex (GA)]

Hello, hello! It's good to hear from you!

FORLS aren't fun. I went through the same thing for my civvie Tanner a few years ago. I felt bad for him, having to lose 8 teeth. But I could tell he was happy not being in pain anymore.

Isn't it good you got Darwin onto wet food now before he loses all his teeth??

 

[Alicia & Maggie (GA)]

Hey Tasha! Great news on the remission!! Too bad about the FORLS, but it's better to do them all at once than wait for him to be in pain and have extractions over and over and over.

 

[krazyfourkats]

Hi People.

I havn't been on this forum in almost 4 years. I came on here because I recommended to a person with a diabetic cat to check this site out.

Clarence was diagnosed diabetic 4 years ago this month, and he has been OTJ, January will be four years. He was only on insulin for a few weeks. He continues to have amazing numbers 4 years in, and I can't thank enough the people here, as well as Dr Lisa Pierson for saving my beloved kitty.

I am in a big rush at the moment, so I won't be able to say everything that I want, but Tasha and Darwin, you post caught my eye. Clarence also had all of his teeth behind his canines resorbed. We had them all removed, or I guess removed as much as the verts could do. Since Clarence has been in remission, he has unfortunately been getting acute pancreatitis, about once or twice per year. He had rotted (and resorbed) teeth, and we had them removed this past February (2017) and he has not had a pancreatic episode yet. It's too early to break out the champagne, as he has gone almost a year before without an episode. But it is looking good. His breath used to be able to know buzzards off a sh** wagon, but no more since the dental. I highly recommend getting it done. You definately don't want to lose remission or have pancreatitis to deal with.

 

[Stacy & Asia]

I agree with everyone, he will be the better for it getting rid of nasty teeth and better to just be done with it than to have to get extractions over and over (lesson learned the hard way over here). Now I'm facing having a 21 year old cat get dental extractions. It's sad to imagine them without teeth, but it seems they manage and I'm sure having no teeth is preferable to them than having rotten teeth and pain. Surgery is never fun however, my only advice for after care is make sure they give him something to manage the pain until he is healed. Asia was very happy on the pain meds and all went smooth.

 

[Chubba (GA)]

Glad to hear that Darwin is continuing to do well with remission.
Sending dental vines that the procedure goes smoothly and he recovers quickly!

 

[Bobbie And Bubba]

Hi Tahsa, and sorry for this DX. It is always harder when it's one of our own. I hope the remaining teeth to be extracted keeps you baby OTJ.

 

[Tasha & Darwin]

Better to get the teeth out than have him experience any pain or be back in diabetic numbers. It's a good thing he likes pate-style food!! Have a wonderful, happy and health holiday season. And let us know how his dental surgery goes. We'll be keeping all appropriate appendages crossed and sending good dental vine.

Thanks so much - I absolutely agree! I am SO thankful my little stubborn guy finally made the switch to canned - this would be so challenging otherwise!
Hope you also have a very happy holidays!

 

[Tasha & Darwin]

Tasha! So nice to see your post, I'm glad to see Darwin is doing so well with his remission, and great job keeping him at his ideal weight, I know how challenging that can be! But poor Darwin...does this mean ALL his teeth will be removed? He's so young . Sending lots of healing vines for the procedure, I'm sure he'll bounce right back like he did the last time, I seem to recall he was barely phased! Merry Christmas from Maverick and me

Thanks! The weight is such a challenge - he was a BIG guy, but is looking (and feeling) like a new cat!
Unfortunately, he will have the rest of his teeth extracted, but it is definitely for the best. I have met many kitties with no teeth that are happy and comfortable, but it's rough when it's your own! I am crossing all limbs that he does as amazing as he did after his first procedure!

 

[Tasha & Darwin]

I'm glad Darwin's remission is going well. I know it's frustrating to have to have his teeth removed, but he will do so much better afterwards. Sending prayers.

Thanks! I just feel so bad for the little guy, but I did for his first procedure too, and he was like "mom, I feel GREAT" so I know he'll be a trooper (and possibly much less nervous than me )

Hello, hello! It's good to hear from you!

FORLS aren't fun. I went through the same thing for my civvie Tanner a few years ago. I felt bad for him, having to lose 8 teeth. But I could tell he was happy not being in pain anymore.

Isn't it good you got Darwin onto wet food now before he loses all his teeth??

Hello!! I so hadn't planned on being absent this often - I miss the daily posting! I just passed some major vet tech exams, so I have freed up some much needed time! Yay!
FORLs are definitely no fun, but he'll feel a lot better as the specialist does think he is potentially still in some discomfort! I am SO SO glad he's on the canned food!!!

Hey Tasha! Great news on the remission!! Too bad about the FORLS, but it's better to do them all at once than wait for him to be in pain and have extractions over and over and over.

Agreed! I would so much rather have them all extracted now since she feels it is likely to continue...

 

[Tasha & Darwin]

Hi People.

I havn't been on this forum in almost 4 years. I came on here because I recommended to a person with a diabetic cat to check this site out.

Clarence was diagnosed diabetic 4 years ago this month, and he has been OTJ, January will be four years. He was only on insulin for a few weeks. He continues to have amazing numbers 4 years in, and I can't thank enough the people here, as well as Dr Lisa Pierson for saving my beloved kitty.

I am in a big rush at the moment, so I won't be able to say everything that I want, but Tasha and Darwin, you post caught my eye. Clarence also had all of his teeth behind his canines resorbed. We had them all removed, or I guess removed as much as the verts could do. Since Clarence has been in remission, he has unfortunately been getting acute pancreatitis, about once or twice per year. He had rotted (and resorbed) teeth, and we had them removed this past February (2017) and he has not had a pancreatic episode yet. It's too early to break out the champagne, as he has gone almost a year before without an episode. But it is looking good. His breath used to be able to know buzzards off a sh** wagon, but no more since the dental. I highly recommend getting it done. You definately don't want to lose remission or have pancreatitis to deal with.

That's amazing for him to be in remission for four years - woohoo! I am going to do my absolute best to have Darwin follow suit!

Fingers crossed that your Clarence breaks his pancreatitis cycle with his extractions! It is amazing how much their teeth and oral inflammation can wreak havoc on the rest of their little bodies! I see it all the time at work! It's actually why I went ahead and emailed his dental x-rays to the specialist for interpretation - I'm glad I did! It's such a shame for his little teeth, but his body doesn't want them anyway (that's how I explain it to people!)

 

[Tasha & Darwin]

I agree with everyone, he will be the better for it getting rid of nasty teeth and better to just be done with it than to have to get extractions over and over (lesson learned the hard way over here). Now I'm facing having a 21 year old cat get dental extractions. It's sad to imagine them without teeth, but it seems they manage and I'm sure having no teeth is preferable to them than having rotten teeth and pain. Surgery is never fun however, my only advice for after care is make sure they give him something to manage the pain until he is healed. Asia was very happy on the pain meds and all went smooth.

Thank you!! This is definitely too true! It's always hard when they are older and a bit more of a risk when a problem arises! I'm thankful to have found this problem with Darwin now! He is going to the specialist so he'll have the best care - they will send double strength Bupe as well as do full mouth nerve blocks. He may even have to have a feeding tube placed (although they only warn of that as a precaution - more for kitties with stomatitis).