General Anesthesia/Senior Cat: Advice Needed

I would do as the vet advises; I would also share with him my concerns about the general anesthesia. I had similar concerns when my 17 y/o kitty needed dental work. The vet assured me that if her health was good otherwise, the anesthesia shouldn't be a problem. Of course, it can be risky for a cat at any age, but it does sound as if your girl has a problem that needs to be checked out.
I sincerely hope the growth turns out to be benign. If you don't have it removed, I would think odds are it's going to keep growing and affect your kitty's eating habits. Sending lots of (((healing vibes))) to your girl.

I would ask the vet what kind of anesthetics they will be using. Some, like ketamine, tend to be harder on the kidneys. Others, like propofol and isoflurane or sevoflurane, are much easier on the cat's body. Also ask what will be given for pain--torb or butropine (sp?) are better than metacam because metacam is harder on the kidneys. Most vets will give IV fluids during and sometimes before the procedure to help the kidneys as well. Many, if not all, older cats have lost some kidney function, but kidney failure doesn't show up on tests until they have lost approximately 60% of kidney function.

I've had two seniors go throw anesthesia. The first, Spot, had ketamine and atropine for his anesthetic. It took him longer to return to normal. Odo has had two dentals with propofol (for induction) and isoflurane (for maintenance). He woke up faster and returned to normal much more quickly.

http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Con...S=0&C=0&A=1607
http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Con...&S=0&C=0&A=963
http://cats.about.com/cs/anesthesia/a/understanding.htm

my raven had to go under for a biopsy last month. i just made sure they did the mini blood panel to make sure everything was ok. he had had a full panel for his dental a few months previous. since all of my cats are 7 yrs and older, i always do at least a mini-panel, if not the full blood panel when they go under.

i hope the growth is benign.

I'm sure in today's medicine the vets are more careful with older cats and having to put them under for surgery.

I remember long time ago when I had taken Mitten in for teeth cleaning (he was 10 or 11 at the time). Seemed to have a bad reaction to the anthestia after he came home - took longer then I wuold think to get back to normal! Scared me so bad I vowed that only if necessary would I put him under again.

Sadly he got cancer and I had to put him down at age 13 (hardest thing I ever had to do).