Help......how long can my cat go without food and water prior to surgery?

[Debbie White]

Hi everyone, this is my first message. I have a diabetic acromegalic cat who is having a lot of issues atm with a middle eat infection that has caused facial paralysis.
He was due to have a TECA-BO today to try and remove the infection but developed swellings under his tongue on Saturday. So instead he eas booked into my vets tiday for xrays and a dental if required as they felt the problem was from his teeth.
My issue is I was told to withhold food and water from midnight last night. He was give a half dose of insulin at 9am. He is still sat in a kennel waiting to be done! He had high urea a few weeks ago and I had asked for him to go onto fluids to help with the anaesthetic. I am now sat here worry8ng myself to death that he must be dehydrated by now after 15hrs of no water or food. He is also being tube fed atm because of his jaw so its even worse. I am debating going to collect him as I don't think its safe to leave him any longer.
I am ex vet nurse so probably more neurotic but has anyone else experienced this? I was worried enough about him before this

 

[Wendy&Neko]

Hello and welcome.

Fluids should help prevent him from being dehydrated. Sorry to hear that your super sweet kitty is having surgery. And that you had to withhold food since midnight last night. The current anaesthesia protocols for diabetics say that isn't necessary, more details in the second post in this thread: Info on Dental Procedures (including pictures) He's probably OK for now as long as he's getting fluids. I don't know what time zone you are in, but how many hours has he been without food now?

 

[Debbie White]

Thank you for your reply. We are in the UK so he has been 15hrs with no food or water and they hadn't put him on fluids despite my request. They have finally now started his xrays and I am hoping out him on fluids. I did ask for bloods so I am assum8ng they were ok as tuey have gobe ahead with the g/a. Just hoping his blood pressure doesn't drop now.
I find it so frustrusting I am so careful with him, making sure he has his meals at the correct time (which has been 4 hourly 5 times a day for the past 5 weeks since the tube so life has revolved around it) and insulin exactly 12 hours apart and all that is thrown out the window now. He is a very poorly cat atm and this just wasn't necessary. Hopefully if he comes through today I will be able to get him stabilised again

 

[Wendy&Neko]

My acrogirl had a number of anaesthesia's, for a few dentals as well as for radiation therapy for her pituitary. I think the longest she went without food/water was about 12 hours. And her blood sugar numbers were still pretty awful at that point (first dental) so she would have been thirsty. Most vets are willing to let them have water here, and I was happy when we went to a dental specialist cause he said she could have a small meal at 6AM morning of surgery. As per the guidelines I linked.

If you haven't already, I would call ask again about putting him on fluids.