Artie Dental Today

It is 6:00 AM. Artie is scheduled for his dental today. I am aware of at least one extraction. It is an upper molar. The gum above it is bright red. It does bother him when he bites down on his dry prescription "treats'. I think there may be another.

He is 11 years old. He had a dental 2 years ago. 

I had to re-schedule it 3 times because of major snow storms; his Vet has surgery only on Mondays. Of course, it snowed again last night!! This time only about 2-3 inches...

I had to withhold his food from midnight last night.. It is breaking my heart. He is meowing, looking all over the apartment for something to eat. I feel really bad. He is really hungry.. When he gets really hungry, and does not like the food that is out there, is when he starts eating anything~~ string, etc. I have cat proofed the house, but he always finds something.~~~~~He was just on top of the stove, looking for food....

He has been eating and being so good the past several days...sigh

He has gone over to his food area, every few minutes, since I got up...

I tried to give him a lot of food yesterday, but he just ate his regular amount. 

I have been giving him a daily pepcid lately. He has very early kidney failure (from a urine specific gravity) and some gastric stomach acid...

I gave him one before I went to bed last night, to hold him over today.

He also gets constipated, so I gave him a bit of laxatone last night also..

I know the pain meds with constipate him also.

Artie also has a heart murmur. I took him for an ultrasound of the heart, after I adopted him. The cardiologist told me it was a common murmur that cats have. Was not causing him any problems. He classified it as a 'Functional murmur". Artie has not had any issues with it at all. Runs, plays, does not pant, so I am really not that concerned about it. The Vet can barely hear it now. She said that sometimes happens, but he is older so who knows. Maybe because he is much more relaxed and knows he is in his 'forever' home...

For some reason, I am very anxious about the dental this time. I do not know if it is because I am so attached to him or just my general anxiety.

Last time, I had him for only a year. It has been 3 years now since I adopted him. I have been through a lot of badness over the past year and have been home, not working~~due to injury and stuff. I think I am afraid something will go wrong. 

I am sorry that I am rambling...I get that way when I get stress. Just needed to vent my feelings a bit. 

I am now off to try to play a bit with him and then jump in shower, clean car off, warm it up and leave.

I will be able to pick him up after 3:30pm and the Vet will call me after surgery....

Thanks again..

Cyn

Sorry for monopolizing you time with the above long post....I really like his vet..

@Artiemom   I hope all goes well with your Artie's Dental, today. 

(my cat Spotty (14 yrs old),  had his first dental last year, and I was a nervous wreck, just waiting for the call back.  The only thing that made me feel better was distracting myself, with spending time on TCS, reading and posting.  He also had a grade 3 heart murmur, and so I was extra worried.  All went well, though, but he had six teeth extracted, and stayed overnight, on I.V. fluids, and came home the next day. 

He ate soft food for a while, and slept.  Vet game some extra pain meds for home use for three days. Spotty (14yrs) seemed to recover quite quickly and started to act like a kitten again.  I could not believe the difference, and felt bad that I had not noticed earlier, or taken him in earlier to have the teeth removed.  They also found that he had early stage kidney disease, by running pre-op blood-work.  Being controlled by prescription diet, now.)

You are right about how difficult it is to 'fast the cat' before the procedure.     Especially, when they expect their breakfast to be on time, and wonder why their human is acting strangely.

I think it is normal to be anxious about any medical procedures that involve anaesthesia and some risk.  And yes, it's hard not to worry.  (After I had taken Spotty to a cat cardiologist, for an echo-cardiogram, everything was fine, but I finally managed to realize that "me feeling bad or good, had absolutely no bearing onto Spotty's heart or kidney conditions". So I try to worry less, and accept things as they come up...but it's easier said, than done.)

I don't think you are rambling at all, and it is often really good to vent and let out those worrisome feelings.

Again, sending good vibes, thoughts and prayers that everything works out well for Artie's dental, and overall health.     

Thank You, Cat Nap.

Artie is 11 years old. In addition to the bad teeth, and his Grade 3 heart murmur, he also has IBD and early kidney disease...

He had to have a complete senior screen before the dental. At that time the Vet said it was good and his urine specific gravity did not change. It was the same value.

I asked for a copy of it today~just to have on hand.

I was looking at it and found one level abnormal and flagged..

It was the Anion Gap.

I do not know what that is and wonder why the Vet did not mention it to me..AT the time she did say he was in early kidney failure, definitely,,,,

sigh....it is so hard to be a parent....

I am keeping busy today with the computer, vacuuming (Artie is afraid of it) and going to the noontime Mass at Church....

I really like his Vet. I have to have faith in her. Because I have been there so often, the staff knows me quite well.. several of them, whispered to me that my Vet is the best one there.....so that says something.

I heard from a couple of other people that they had bad experiences at the office with other Vets (there are several). I have met all of them and love the one I picked.. It is just that they are so darn expensive...one of the most expensive, but they are accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association... and my Vet told me that they really use sterile technique during surgery. I was surprised to hear that some, more inexpensive practices do not..I mean gown, mask, gloves, the whole deal....That was the main reason why she decided to join this group....she graduated about 4-5 years ago.

Ok, I am now rambling and stressing...so off to clean out my bedroom!!! dust and vacuum!!

Thanks again....

Keeping busy is a great thing to do, and going to Mass, praying, meditating, is all helpful.

Yeah, my cat hates the vacuum too, and ends up running for the hills.  He does like the swiffer, though, which is strange.

It's good that you trust and like your vet, and can ask her any questions and write down some answers, plus get copies of the blood work and findings. I also wish they were not as expensive, but base my decision, on my vet being able to explain things, and trusting their diagnostics and experience. I can choose to go to a younger and/or a middle age vet, because they are both good,(same clinic) but different in their recommendations for tests. So I get different info, but basically they address all my questions, and then I'm less nervous.  Actually, the younger vet, told me that it is often the cat guardians who are more nervous when going to the vet, so she recommends that I write my questions down, beforehand.  It helps.

I'm not sure what that "Anion Gap" is.

But maybe when you are not feeling so stressed, at another time, you can ask about it in Health...or do a search online. 

At least today, your whole place will be cleaned.  That usually feels good after it's all done, but then you have to rest, to not overdo it. 

Artie is Home!!! Both the Vet and I were surprised that he did not need to have any extractions!!! Happy Dance!!

He had his teeth scaled. The Vet said she was also surprise that his teeth were not that bad. Last dental was 2 years ago..So he should be good for a while.

The Tech said that he was 'feisty'. Would not let have access to his paw for the pre-meds (mild tranquilizer), So they had to use his leg/bum area! And he so strong and wriggly! They can't believer hows strong he is...

The Vet explained the Anion Gap to me. It is complicated, dealing with chemistry. What it really comes down to is: it is important when looking for toxicity (antifreeze ingestion). When it is elevated in a relatively normal screen, it is disregarded. It has to do with negative ions~~ head spinning now...

The Vet also stressed that Artie has IBD. He is such a fussy eater. She wants to eventually try him on novel proteins. I did try a couple years ago. He does not like them. I will try again. In the meantime, She has prescribed a compounded liquid pepcid. It should be easier to give him than the pepcid which he spits out...

This cat is so smart that he now puts his tongue on the ROOF of his mouth when I try to pill him!! Last night I had to push his tongue down with my index finger while I got the pill gun in there!!

I will pick up the script tomorrow afternoon....

thanks again for your patience...

Yay!!    Happy Dance for Artie (11 years old...and still 'feisty', 'strong' , and 'wriggly')  for having such a good update on his Dental Exam/Scaling today.)      

I love it when these senior cats do well on their procedures...and no teeth extractions...what a bonus.!!  

I did go and google 'Anion Gap,' and you probably already know about this website...which explains CKD.  http://www.felinecrf.org/metabolic_acidosis.htm#anion_gap

  I find it helpful, but have not thoroughly read it, and only do so in short spans, because I seem to get overwhelmed with info, and then need to take a break from it. 

(I'm also like you, and would rather my own vet explain the findings, because they never seem to be overly concerned or freaked out by the results.  I'm sure it's because they are trained to see the important differences, and have the experience of seeing so many cats.  Plus, my own vets put me at ease.  I still do further research, just to come up with new questions for them...and to make myself feel better...in understanding things.)  Though my head spins, too....     .

Artie sounds similar to Spotty, in that they are both 'fussy' when it comes to trying new foods.  Spotty is eating Hills K/D chicken, and  the ocean fish one, but I would prefer him to try different canned foods, too. Spotty still likes his dry food, so he gets Hills K/D dry as well, even though I have read that it would be better for him to be on all wet.  His last vet appointment he had lost some weight, so the vet did not want him to lose any more.  (I think it was only 1/2 pound in six months...but she did not like him losing any more.)

I did read on this Site about many members trying their cats on limited edition protein diets, and novel proteins...and keeping a detailed record or spreadsheet, with everything they had tried.

If you just do an 'Advanced Search' at the top of the page, you will come up with many threads about it.

Ha...so Artie is a reluctant pill swallower, too.   My goodness, these cats do have to be difficult, so we have to try and outsmart them.

That Compounded Liquid Pepcid, sounds like such a good idea.

I tried Pill Pockets, for meds, but Spotty will not touch them....so in the future...I will have to ask for those liquid or compounding meds.  Great Idea.  Thanks.

The only thing that works for me, too, is the pill gun...but sometimes Spotty still manages to see it coming or spit out the pill...so I just try to pill him fast and chase it down with a syringe of water.

Right now, he is not on any meds...so we are okay. 

Thanks for the Update, @Artiemom   and for that other useful, added information.

Tell us how he does, over the coming days, too, if you have the time.   

SO glad things went well.  I always worry anytime mine have to go I in for anything where they need to be sedated.  It's just the nature of the beast  (i.e.,I'm a worrywart, and I love my furbabies SO MUCH!) 

Thank you so much, mrsgreenjeens! Yes, it was a stressful day...I get very anxious when it comes to him..

He is still 'stoned' and 'tripping' from the pain killer~lasts 3 days...

I did try to give him his new med this afternoon.. Wow, what a struggle! I do not know which way is better....the liquid or the pill gun.

I literally have to sit on top of him, to pin him down... 

Cat nap, I do give Artie a water chaser after giving him a pill. I even put the pieces in an empty gelcap. I use the pill gun and have a small baby medicine syring to give him water.. sigh, 

Such a strong cat---strong willed and strong physically. and stubborn. Just does not like you to do anything to him, unless it is HIS idea!!

So glad things went well with Artie too!  LOL, those stubborn, feisty ginger Tabby's!       I have one too, so I know what you mean. Angel is 11 yrs old too.  (but also sweet as can be!!)

 My vet uses gas instead of anesthesia. It's what's recommend for senior cats. I read an article about it, & emailed it to my vet, & she confirmed that they use gas.

You may want to ask your vet about it, if he ever has to be put under again in the future.