Advice and experiences wanted

[Lisa and little]

Hi all, I took my non diabetic 17 yo cat in for a dental as she had a fractured tooth on Friday. She did not recover well from anesthesia. She is still not walking, needs syringe feeding, and is now blind although it may be temporary. I have gotten a lot of conflicting information on the lasting effects of anesthesia. Some vets say this can take a few days to reverse any damage that may have been done, some say they’ve seen it go 10 days and another said weeks!! And then there are those that say this is totally abnormal and she should be totally back to normal by now. My own vet team is now treating her again as she seemed to be improving and then may have had a seizure last night. Does anyone have any info or experiences they can share? I am in a quandary about what to do depending on her progress over the next few days. Any info or personal experience is appreciated Thank you

 

[Crista & Ming]

Hi Lisa. That sounds horrible and scary and I'm sorry I don't have any advice. I'll tag some members for you though.

@Bron and Sheba (GA) @Sienne and Gabby (GA) @Wendy&Neko @Marje and Gracie (hope it's okay to tag you guys to the Health forum!)

 

[Bron and Sheba (GA)]

I am so sorry this has happened.
Those symptoms of blindness and not walking sound more like she had a hypo event. Did they tell you to reduce the dose before the anaesthetic? And did they monitor her BGLevels?

Is she still at the vet or is she at home with you now?
Following a severe hypo event some cats can be prone to seizures. They can have medication to control the seizures.

I would be asking the vet who did the dental if they monitored the BGLevels and what they were.

If this was caused by a hypo event (and I’m not saying it was... just that it sounds like the after effects of a severe hypo event) she could well improve but it takes time and patience as she relearns to walk, eat etc.
there was a cat recently on another FB page who had a severe hypo event and had those symptoms. He is home now and doing quite well but has a way to go still.

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

I was thinking along the same lines as Bron. You might want to ask how well your kitty was monitored during the procedure. They should have been monitoring blood glucose since anesthesia can lower BG.

 

[Lisa and little]

I am so sorry this has happened.
Those symptoms of blindness and not walking sound more like she had a hypo event. Did they tell you to reduce the dose before the anaesthetic? And did they monitor her BGLevels?

Is she still at the vet or is she at home with you now?
Following a severe hypo event some cats can be prone to seizures. They can have medication to control the seizures.

I would be asking the vet who did the dental if they monitored the BGLevels and what they were.

If this was caused by a hypo event (and I’m not saying it was... just that it sounds like the after effects of a severe hypo event) she could well improve but it takes time and patience as she relearns to walk, eat etc.
there was a cat recently on another FB page who had a severe hypo event and had those symptoms. He is home now and doing quite well but has a way to go still.[/QUOTE
she is not my diabetic cat. She is her normal healthy much older house mate.
Was just hoping the cat lovers here might be able to shed some light. That kind you for the info and responses though.

 

[Lisa and little]

I am so sorry this has happened.
Those symptoms of blindness and not walking sound more like she had a hypo event. Did they tell you to reduce the dose before the anaesthetic? And did they monitor her BGLevels?

Is she still at the vet or is she at home with you now?
Following a severe hypo event some cats can be prone to seizures. They can have medication to control the seizures.

I would be asking the vet who did the dental if they monitored the BGLevels and what they were.

If this was caused by a hypo event (and I’m not saying it was... just that it sounds like the after effects of a severe hypo event) she could well improve but it takes time and patience as she relearns to walk, eat etc.
there was a cat recently on another FB page who had a severe hypo event and had those symptoms. He is home now and doing quite well but has a way to go still.

Thanks for the info but she is not my diabetic cat. It’s her sister who was a perfectly healthy cat before this.

 

[Lisa and little]

I was thinking along the same lines as Bron. You might want to ask how well your kitty was monitored during the procedure. They should have been monitoring blood glucose since anesthesia can lower BG.

I was thinking along the same lines as Bron. You might want to ask how well your kitty was monitored during the procedure. They should have been monitoring blood glucose since anesthesia can lower BG.

Thank you for the info and the reply but this is my non diabetic cat having this issue. Any thoughts appreciated

 

[Charlotte and Lucky’s mom]

Hi! Sorry to hear about your kitty. Was any predental bloodwork done?? Are there any issues with the kidneys?? Sometimes anesthesia can linger in the system and not get cleared quickly if there are any kidney and/or liver issues. Neuro insult while under anesthesia? Hope the recovery is quick as it can be difficult and worrisome to have to watch our fur babies not feel well.

 

[FurBabiesMama]

I have never had one of my cats have those issues after anesthesia, and I sure hope I never do. (I dropped Mia off for a dental procedure about an hour ago.) I am so sorry your baby is going through this. How scary and sad.

Have they done bloodwork or any testing to try and determine what is going on?

 

[Lisa and little]

Thank you all for the responses and I am sending Mia positive vibes. She did in fact have pre dental bloodwork and all was normal. My vets words to me last night was that they can’t imagine why this would happen to a “perfectly normal healthy cat”. I am so sad and terrified

 

[FurBabiesMama]

Hugs!

 

[Johann_marcel]

My non-diabetic 17 yr old cat had a dental last November with nearly his entire mouth extracted. He has 3 teeth left. His blood work was impeccable beforehand. However, he was under anesthetic for 3 and a half hours. A friend of mine was the anesthesia technician and said that his bp and temp and pulseox was all stable throughout the whole thing. He took a week to recover and experienced extreme senility and what I would describe as blindness. I've read about the mouth pieces being an issue with causing seizures, neuro issues, and blindness post-dental. Do you know if your kitty had a mouth gag in?

http://veterinarynews.dvm360.com/veterinary-dental-experts-warn-about-spring-loaded-mouth-gags

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

Blood glucose levels can still drop as a result of anesthesia which is why a cat should be monitored. It's more of a concern with an FD cat if the cat has gotten a shot at some point prior to surgery.

 

[Marje and Gracie]

I have had a few friends whose cats have had Horner’s syndrome after anesthesia. If you read the link, does it sound like those might be her symptoms?

Because Horners due to anesthesia can take weeks to resolve, I’m assuming that other issues that might be caused by anesthesia could also take time to resolve. I wonder if she had a stroke?

Sending many healing vines and I hope you are able to find out what’s going on and she fully recovers.

 

[Lisa and little]

I have had a few friends whose cats have had Horner’s syndrome after anesthesia. If you read the link, does it sound like those might be her symptoms?

Because Horners due to anesthesia can take weeks to resolve, I’m assuming that other issues that might be caused by anesthesia could also take time to resolve. I wonder if she had a stroke?

Sending many healing vines and I hope you are able to find out what’s going on and she fully recovers.

Thanks for the info and the healing vibes. We need all we can get at this point. Doesn’t seem to fit with what is going on. While she is blind at this point, she has not been able to stand up almost five days post anesthesia and possibly experiencing “micro seizures “ she is currently being syringe fed and getting fluids and antibiotics at the vet but no one seems to be confident to say what is causing or what the prognosis is.

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

Do you live anywhere near a vet school? If you could talk to a veterinary anesthesiologist it might be helpful. Cornell's cat clinic does have a phone consultation service if you think that might be another avenue for answers.

 

[Lisa and little]

I have never had one of my cats have those issues after anesthesia, and I sure hope I never do. (I dropped Mia off for a dental procedure about an hour ago.) I am so sorry your baby is going through this. How scary and sad.

Have they done bloodwork or any testing to try and determine what is going on?

Do you live anywhere near a vet school? If you could talk to a veterinary anesthesiologist it might be helpful. Cornell's cat clinic does have a phone consultation service if you think that might be another avenue for answers.

Do you live anywhere near a vet school? If you could talk to a veterinary anesthesiologist it might be helpful. Cornell's cat clinic does have a phone consultation service if you think that might be another avenue for answers.

Perhaps I can call them in the am. I am in NY I assume they are as well so I think that would be the closest Vet school. Thank you for the info. And thank everyone here for giving their thoughts. Any other speculations are truly welcomed as even my vet team seems a bit baffled.

 

[Marje and Gracie]

Excellent suggestion from Sienne. I’d try a consult with a board certified veterinary anesthesiologist.

Good luck and please keep us posted. I hope this is all temporary.

 

[Noah & me (GA)]

Sorry if this doesn't help. I've been down the Rabbit Hole of all things neurological myself with a lot of unresolved issues.
I opened up a second window in Google to search Horners Syndrome in PetMD (my go to place for mysteries, very slow to load though) and by mistake typed in "Horners Syndrome FDMB". There are two very old threads about this but some of the members are still active.
The list of members is not complete but at least you'll know you're not alone in this.
http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/horners-syndrome-a-complication-of-diabetes.65073/
http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/todd-has-something-else-wrong-horners-syndrome.29354/
ToddyTiger last posted 2014
Catannc last posted 2012
Sue and Oliver (GA) last posted 2017
dian and wheezer last posted July 2019
jldnvjld last posted 2011

and what I was originally looking for
https://www.petmd.com/search?Q=horners+syndrome
and in humans, from the Mayo Clinic
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/horner-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20373547

 

[Lisa and little]

Sorry if this doesn't help. I've been down the Rabbit Hole of all things neurological myself with a lot of unresolved issues.
I opened up a second window in Google to search Horners Syndrome in PetMD (my go to place for mysteries, very slow to load though) and by mistake typed in "Horners Syndrome FDMB". There are two very old threads about this but some of the members are still active.
The list of members is not complete but at least you'll know you're not alone in this.
http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/horners-syndrome-a-complication-of-diabetes.65073/
http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/todd-has-something-else-wrong-horners-syndrome.29354/
ToddyTiger last posted 2014
Catannc last posted 2012
Sue and Oliver (GA) last posted 2017
dian and wheezer last posted July 2019
jldnvjld last posted 2011

and what I was originally looking for
https://www.petmd.com/search?Q=horners syndrome
and in humans, from the Mayo Clinic
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/horner-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20373547

Appreciate the research but what she is going through is far beyond Horners on the numerological spectrum. They suspect she has some seizures as a result of what could be many things from encephalitis, a stroke etc. she is taking syringe feeding without being forced and is moving but still not able to stand or see. Her reflexes when pinched poked or prodded are basically none from the head down but when I stimulate her legs she is strong as an ox. I am told that some of this could resolve but it really depends on what it causing it to be sure. Again. Thank you so much for caring enough to research and I am still open to any info or ideas anyone wants to throw out there. The more input the better.

 

[Wendy&Neko]

How is her blood pressure now, and compared to before the procedure? Too high BP can be damaging.

My bad experience with anesthesia was with a heart condition, different symptoms.

 

[Noah & me (GA)]

On the assumption that human and cat brains are on a very basic level wired the same way:
The positive side...I had a brain bleed and a number of TIA's before coil and stent surgery for an aneurysm. Because of an administrative screw up I never had to put the square peg in the square hole but mammal brains have an amazing capacity to self heal, I did. Check out the work of and books by Norman Doidge, keeping your cat engaged is very important. My downside was a sympathetic response that made my blood pressure a real problem and honest doctors will tell you they can only guess why.
The negative side...We learned a painful lesson with our cat Jasper. In desperation we put him through a spinal tap and an MRI and in the end it was all for nothing. What I'm saying is to not let your cat become an object of fascination for the neurology department like we did. Some things neurological leave as quickly as they came.

I find it encouraging she does not need to be force fed. She's not fighting you on this at all? It seems contradictory that external stimuli has no effect below the neck yet her legs have strength, those are not symptoms of paralysis. Encephalitis and meningitis in this case would be the result of poor hygiene in the O.R. or an incredible coincidence.
You asked for input and mine is only from my own experience and the cats I've had in my life. I agree the next step is a veterinary college or it's equivalent.
Whatever path you choose I wish you and the little one the best of luck, safe journey.

 

[Johann_marcel]

Is there anything wrong with asking for the surgical/ dental record in itself? I've done this before with my cats. You can comb through and see what they monitored and see if there were a increase/ decrease in pressure or body temp, for example. I don't think it's out of line if the vet, themself, said that they couldn't understand why this happened to a perfectly normal cat (in so many words). It's a strange outcome for a feline dental. Also, i just want to mention that some practices have the techs do the dental cleaning and the doctor only comes in to perform the extractions. I hope your kitty improves. I've been thinking a lot about you and your kitty's situation. <3

 

[Lisa and little]

Is there anything wrong with asking for the surgical/ dental record in itself? I've done this before with my cats. You can comb through and see what they monitored and see if there were a increase/ decrease in pressure or body temp, for example. I don't think it's out of line if the vet, themself, said that they couldn't understand why this happened to a perfectly normal cat (in so many words). It's a strange outcome for a feline dental. Also, i just want to mention that some practices have the techs do the dental cleaning and the doctor only comes in to perform the extractions. I hope your kitty improves. I've been thinking a lot about you and your kitty's situation. <3

Thank you And yes a tech did the procedure but I am told by more than one vet that’s common practice. So very sad