Tooth extraction - senior cat

My 22 year old, Siamie, had started "pawing" at the side of her face after eating. We feared a tooth problem, and took her to the vet today. He confirmed that she had a bad tooth, but was very concerned about putting her under because of her age. She has renal disease and takes daily medication. However, there wasn't much we could do, since she was in pain. Her pre-op labs showed that her kidney disease has worsened. He said he had several surgeries to do today, but decided to make hers the first one.

It has been a very stressful day, but she came through the surgery fine. While she was out they clipped her nails, shaved a matt of hair that she won't let us mess with, and removed the bad tooth. She is home, so drugged up that she is walking sideways, but has already been eating and drinking.

Everything happened so fast that I didn't have time to post here for advice. I'm glad I didn't have much time to dwell on the risks of anesthesia. We've always dreaded something going wrong with her that would require surgery. I'm so thankful that everything went well. On the lighter side, Speck doesn't like her new "vet smell"...he's been hissing at everybody.

I'm glad Siamie got through the surgery so well. 22 years, holy cow! That's impressive, I hope i can take good enough care of my cats to have them live that long.

Since you've owned cats for so long I doubt this is new to you, but a tiny bit of vanilla or talcum powder on each cat will clear up the vet smell and get your other cat back to normal.

glad to hear Siamie made out good!!!. 22 years old..wow....thats fabulous

Thanks for the advice re: the talcum powder. I had my six month old Sophie spayed on Wednesday and my 15 yrs old Lilly is still hissing at her. I'll try that trick and see if it works. Funny, Lilly is the only one who has a problem with her, the other three are just fine.

Originally Posted by rad65

I'm glad Siamie got through the surgery so well. 22 years, holy cow! That's impressive, I hope i can take good enough care of my cats to have them live that long.

Since you've owned cats for so long I doubt this is new to you, but a tiny bit of vanilla or talcum powder on each cat will clear up the vet smell and get your other cat back to normal.

Click to expand...

Originally Posted by nsdragonfly

glad to hear Siamie made out good!!!. 22 years old..wow....thats fabulous

Thanks for the advice re: the talcum powder. I had my six month old Sophie spayed on Wednesday and my 15 yrs old Lilly is still hissing at her. I'll try that trick and see if it works. Funny, Lilly is the only one who has a problem with her, the other three are just fine.

Click to expand...

Thank you both. I am so glad it's over. DH and I adopted Siamie just a few months after we were married. She was our first cat as a couple. She is the only remaining cat from our forever-loved original herd.

It's funny about the vanilla...I have been threatening to "make everybody's butt smell like vanilla" since she's been home. I got the good stuff, too, straight from Honduras. But Speck seems to have calmed down now.

Update: she is still doing great, loving all the attention, and eating like she's never seen food. We are giving her pain meds on schedule and her eyes are so dilated. However, she is now walking straight instead of crab-wise. I know the vet was very hesitant about doing this surgery, but we agreed that there was no alternative. I don't even like to think back to subjecting her to anesthesia. Though, as the vet pointed out, he has seen 6 month olds not wake up. A very sobering thought....

Wow, I had no idea you had a 22 year old cat! Don't think you ever mention her, but I am SO GLAD she made it through her tooth extraction and is now eating heartily.

My old Sven cat has a couple of mats that need a groomers' attention, but I know Darko will start right in with the hissing because Sven will get a nice bath, so I'm thinking maybe I should send Darko in for the same bath! Then they'll both smell the same . The other two never seem to notice

That is an impressive age, and no wonder you and the vet were hesitant about the risks - but I think you made the right choice - she was in pain and you gave her the best chance. Many prayers that you share many more happy times with her.