2/15 OT, Kitty Dental set for tomorrow-arthritis X-rays?

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Kathy and Kitty

Kathy and Kitty

Member Since 2009
Have finally committed to Kitty's needed dental -- with the same vet who did it last year. (I nearly talked myself into going to an "expert" -- but on further checking, he uses Metacam, didn't advise about withholding food before anesthesia... Thanks to Sienne and Stefani for making sure I asked the right questions.)

This local vet who did the work last year does NOT use Metacam, DOES monitor heart and oxygen, does not use propofol, does use IV, etc. -- all the right moves.

We had bloodwork done today, then tomorrow for a full set of digital x-rays and cleaning. The x-rays will give us an updated on Kitty's FORL. My wish is to hear that there is nothing that needs immediate action. Fingers crosses. (Vines welcomed!)

Question:

The vet said he could x-ray Kitty for arthritis while he is under anesthesia. If Kitty is in pain, my bet is that it comes from arthritis, judging by the way he pulls up when he starts up stairs.

For those who have had x-rays for arthritis, how do you decide which joints to look at? I don't want to x-ray his whole body... do I?
 
When we had x-rays for Blackie's arthritis several years ago, they x-rayed his front legs, back and rear legs. I don't think they use a full body x-ray because they want the legs in certain positions. I think its a great idea to do it while Kitty is sedated. I know it was a painful process when they x-rayed Blackie and he hated every minute of it. Good luck with the dental - I hope Kitty does well.
 
Miss Emily has severe arthritis. I would X-ray the joints that you suspect (from limping, pain, etc) are most likely affected. The vet may also be able to palpate the joints and feel thickening. Emily's last set of X-rays covered all four limbs and her spine as she was having great difficulty walking, and almost every joint was found to be affected, as well as discs in her spine.
 
I don't know how they see it in xrays. Maverick has hind end arthritis. He favours one leg going up the stairs so he brings both legs up to the same stair, lifts his good leg, then both legs up to that same stair. He also bunny hops down the stairs keeping his back legs together. It helped when we brought a video tape of how he walked up the stairs from above with us. They hide it in the vets office. Maverick clicked for a year before he was diagnosed. Because he didn't click when he walked in the vets office, they discounted it. ohmygod_smile I've learned so much since I found forums.

Maverick has raised feeding stations and water dishes, so he can eat and drink sitting upright instead of crouching down.

And baby stairs in all the rooms of the house to get up on the couch, the kingsized bed, his feeding station.

Also I bought him a petsafe heated bed but he won't use it. Its the kind with the elevated pillowing all around. He prefers big dog beds where he can lie straight back not curled.
 
Kathy and Kitty said:
This local vet who did the work last year does NOT use Metacam, DOES monitor heart and oxygen, does not use propofol, does use IV, etc. -- all the right moves.
Click to expand...
Huh? Propofol bad? How, why?

If Kitty is in pain, my bet is that it comes from arthritis, judging by the way he pulls up when he starts up stairs.

For those who have had x-rays for arthritis, how do you decide which joints to look at? I don't want to x-ray his whole body... do I?
Click to expand...
Meowzi pulls her hind legs up too (eta: like a bunny) when she goes up stairs. And bunny hops as well, like Maverick when going down stairs. (eta: It's actually so bad now on the way down stairs that she doesn't seem to have control and can't stop at will.) I may have a video somewhere; I posted one on the old board a couple of years back.

In our case, we didn't have to identify which joints. The vettybean actually caught it on the rads taken for a different problem (sprain) - we had no idea she had arthritis back then and were caught completely by surprise.
 
Thanks for all the input!

Hmm, propofol. I think it's okay to ease induction, but not as an anesthetic? I forget. I'll research what I thought I knew.

The vet asked why I didn't want Convenia, and I forgot. I'll have to research that too.

Kitty seems to boost his way upstairs with his hind legs, rather than pull with the front. He has a slight front limp, so I suspect that -- but heck, it could be everything. I'll get as much done as I can without prolonging the anesthesia.

THis all begs the question, what can be done for arthritis, once you've diagnosed it. He gets Cosequin, rejects Dasuquin.

Karrie, I will PM you to see whether you can suggest a raised feeding station.

As for the beds, Kitty also rejects the tufted pillow, so we got the heating pad with cover: http://www.google.com/products/cata...og_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CC4Q8wIwAg# Kitty loves it.
 
Oh, Kitty also bunny hops DOWN the stairs!

Choy-Foong, which joints did Meowzy end up having arthritis in?

I am beginning my major stress-in for tomorrow:

- I will drop him off, even though I am allowed to keep him home until they're ready, because he will wonder why I'm not feeding him, and I can't bear it. I figure if he's there a) maybe they'll take him earlier and b) he won't be thinking about food. Bad mom?

- I have specified that unless there is something emergent, I want to have time to get a consult on the x-rays.

- Do I need special food to feed him tomorrow?

- Vet says if there are no extractions, he should not need more pain meds to take home.

Have I forgotten anything to worry about?? :YMSIGH:
 
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