Anesthesia anxiety

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Lane&Biddy

Lane&Biddy

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My Biddy is going to need a dental with extractions as soon as we get his other ailments under better control. He has been under anesthesia multiple times with no issues but not since his diagnosis. My vet recommends no food after midnight, pick up the water in the morning, and only administer half dose insulin before the procedure. They also recommend bringing food so he can eat right after (I know he will refuse to eat while at the clinic). How does all this sound?

My other concern is food. I know wet food is recommended but he will NOT tolerate his insulin injection while eating wet food, only dry. If he is not eating, insulin does not happen. How can I work on this in the meantime so he is on 100% wet food before the procedure?

Thankfully, I work at the clinic and will be there the whole time but I am TERRIFIED that something will go wrong.
 
Can you explain a bit more about insulin injections and when Biddy is eating? He will only let you give a shot if he's got his head in a bowl of dry food? Have you tried giving Biddy his shot after he eats?

Just to clarify, in general canned food is preferred. This is because of the moisture content since cats have a limited thirst drive. There is very little moisture content in dry food whereas there's a lot of moisture in canned foods. There are also very few dry foods that are low in carbs so your choices are limited. There are some freeze dried raw foods (you need to add water) that may be acceptable to Biddy.

One option may be to give him a limited amount of dry food at shot time. Since we encourage several small meals, you can follow up with canned food after you've given Biddy his insulin.

My only concern is giving insulin the day of the dental. A lot would depend on when the dental is scheduled -- the earlier the better. In addition, the pre-anesthetic and often the anesthesia can lower blood glucose. A lot would depend on what the numbers look like but I would be inclined to skip the AM shot especially since you're pretty sure Biddy won't eat when at the vet's office. (And most cats don't want to eat after a dental especially if they've had an extraction and are still a bit loopy from the anesthesia and any possible pain meds.)

FWIW, I have two healthy cats. I'm always terrified if they have to go under anesthesia.
 
I typically feed him a full meal of wet food and then do his injection while he is eating about 2 tablespoons of dry food. If he is not actively eating dry food when I try to inject, he takes off 100mph the other direction.

For his dental, he will be at the clinic from 7:15am-4:00pm and the procedure will start at 10am. Over the past couple months he has had various ailments that have caused him a trip to work with me. During his time at the clinic, he hides in the back of his kennel drooling and refuses all food/treats/water.
 
My diabetics get a decent meal just before midnight the night before a dental and no insulin in the morning. Presumably he'll be on fluids throughout the procedure and that along with anesthesia can lower glucose. I'd rather catch up after they're home than risk them going too low, and they always seem to get back to normal within a day or so. Maybe it's the pain meds but my cats always come home demanding dinner, even when there have been extractions, and get a little wet food to satisfy them. If Biddy is really stressed in his cage, maybe a familiar bed/blanket with his scent would help, or leave him in his covered carrier with same until it's time to prep him.
 
The clinic might not be using the latest protocols for a diabetic undergoing anaesthesia, or maybe they gave you the wrong ones. More in this thread, with the second one on anaesthesia. Info on Dental Procedures (including pictures). One of the newer anaesthesia induction drugs actually increase the blood sugars. By "newer" I mean 10 years ago. Best to test kitty when he gets home, then test again at PMPS to see if he's going down. Neko's last two dentals she got food until 6:00AM, then half a shot. One of them I just gave a token cause she was trolling for a reduction.
 
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