Please, do not let just any vet do any procedure on their teeth unless they are a bonafide dental specialist.
That means special training in order to save your cat's life.
Vets can call themselves specialists ---just like I can call myself Cleopatra.
Do a search in your zone now to be prepared, and find a clinic/hospital that does only pet dental. It takes special equipment. A bonafide pet dental specialist will xray/scan before and after to make sure an infection does not remain. Plus it is not as expensive as you might think.
I speak from experience. I trusted my vet. Had 5 teeth pulled. For 4 months, my beautiful cat declined because it was too painful to eat. My vet did not address the issue every time we presented to her. He developed a bump on his jaw. Took him to a 2nd vet who gave him an antibiotic and the bump disappeared.
Willow's jaw also started to move to one side making it even harder to eat and drink. Fractured or broken jaw bone I understand is common and can be dealt with when diagnosed by dental xray equipment---To my chagrin...the operating dentist did not have that type of equipment.
A biopsy at the time of tooth removal was done---no cancer. Later diagnosis without testing----we were told cancer of the mouth.
I tried to take him to 2 bona fide pet dental clinics.
1 needed a referral from the operating vet---who would not give it to me until we had a CT scan.2-3,000.
I would have spent it on the CT Scan, but the referred Dr. was not a dental specialist...specialty neurology.
Then, it had to be approved by the dental specialist based on the operating vets prognosis. More time lost. We needed help now!
I found another pet dental specialist 5 hours away. Made the appt. No referral was needed...but it was too late.
So...with a heavy heart, my beautiful Willow passed away this morning. He couldn't eat and drank water less and less. He lost tons of weight.
I have to share this in his name so that you don't make the same mistake due to a lack of knowledge and misguided trust.
Please, don't approve dental surgery without finding a specialist who does pet dental only.
That means special training in order to save your cat's life.
Vets can call themselves specialists ---just like I can call myself Cleopatra.
Do a search in your zone now to be prepared, and find a clinic/hospital that does only pet dental. It takes special equipment. A bonafide pet dental specialist will xray/scan before and after to make sure an infection does not remain. Plus it is not as expensive as you might think.
I speak from experience. I trusted my vet. Had 5 teeth pulled. For 4 months, my beautiful cat declined because it was too painful to eat. My vet did not address the issue every time we presented to her. He developed a bump on his jaw. Took him to a 2nd vet who gave him an antibiotic and the bump disappeared.
Willow's jaw also started to move to one side making it even harder to eat and drink. Fractured or broken jaw bone I understand is common and can be dealt with when diagnosed by dental xray equipment---To my chagrin...the operating dentist did not have that type of equipment.
A biopsy at the time of tooth removal was done---no cancer. Later diagnosis without testing----we were told cancer of the mouth.
I tried to take him to 2 bona fide pet dental clinics.
1 needed a referral from the operating vet---who would not give it to me until we had a CT scan.2-3,000.
I would have spent it on the CT Scan, but the referred Dr. was not a dental specialist...specialty neurology.
Then, it had to be approved by the dental specialist based on the operating vets prognosis. More time lost. We needed help now!
I found another pet dental specialist 5 hours away. Made the appt. No referral was needed...but it was too late.
So...with a heavy heart, my beautiful Willow passed away this morning. He couldn't eat and drank water less and less. He lost tons of weight.
I have to share this in his name so that you don't make the same mistake due to a lack of knowledge and misguided trust.
Please, don't approve dental surgery without finding a specialist who does pet dental only.
