Dental Cleaning and Blindness

[sunflower99]

On Friday (4 days ago) my cat went for her first ever dental cleaning. She had only one vet visit before (a year prior) for a physical in which everything was noted to be good except mild tartar buildup.

Anyway, I dropped her off as well as my other younger cat (she was having a physical and annual) and waited patiently for a call when to pick them up. Around mid-day I got an update from the Dr that everything was going ok and my cat is doing well after the dental and to call him back for an update. Around 3 minutes later I called back but a tech picked up and told me to wait and they’ll call us back.

I didn’t receive a call for 30-40 minutes so I decided I’d just go there myself. After picking up some new treats and toys for both my cats (I thought everything was fine) I arrived there and the doctor took me to the back all hushed and told me my cat was seizing after the dental and not waking up! I didn’t know what to do and I just started crying as I watched them try to wake her up and inject things in her. I maybe spent 30 minutes there and at some points it looked like she would wake up (the tech also told me she is trying to wake up) but she had maybe 2 more seizures as I was there and her legs were twitching

Her temperature dropped drastically so the vet told me she was in critical condition and I had to take her to the ER. According to the vet she could suffer severe brain damage and needs to be on anti seizure medications for the rest of her life I was so scared something was going to happen to her in the car without a warmer and any medicines but I took her immediately to a nearby ER.

At the ER, they immediately took her to the back. I was so stressed and crying because my cat was so young and healthy before all this. She never had any problem, ever.

After waiting 3-4 hrs at the ER, the vet attending her came in and told me some good news. My cat is out of critical condition and all her vitals are stable. She is eating and acting normally.

However, there were some bad news.

She cannot see anymore. She is now blind. The doctor didn’t know if it was temporary or permanent I started crying and I didn’t know how to respond but at the same time I was so happy she was alive. They wanted to keep her overnight for observation which I allowed because I was scared she might seizure with us. Before leaving her we got to see her and she started meowing as soon as she heard us and felt us petting her. However it was obvious she could not see as her head and eyes kept looking everywhere.

Thankfully she had no seizures over night, and I called early in the morning for an update. Another doctor told me she is still doing fine and eating. However she is still blind. Her pupils are dilated more than normal however they do constrict and can react to bright light.

After researching, I realised it’s due to hypoxia of the brain. They gave her some medication for brain swelling in the morning and said we could pick her up.

I didn’t know how severe it is. When she got home, she took a while to adjust and was wobbly walking however eventually she began to go to her food and litterbox albeit slowly. It’s been 4 days and she is still kind of the same however sleeping a lot. She is honestly normal except for her eyesight.

Anyway even though I am grateful she is alive I am still incredibly devastated she has lost her eyesight. I’ve been trying to find an ophthalmologist and neurologist since then and I scheduled an appt for an eye doctor tomorrow. I fear I will spend a lot of money to be told the same thing but I have hope.

Does anyone know if there is anything I can do? Maybe give her some supplements or medicines or eye drops? At this point I am simply waiting but I am so stressed because I love her so much and it pains me to see she can’t see our faces or do things she loved.

I’ll try to book a neurologist appt but there are barely any near me and the closest ones (which are still quite far away) have bad reviews. So I’m not sure what to do. I just want to help her get better.

I know this is extremely rare but I’m wondering if anyone has ever experienced this and seen their cat improve over time? It’s all I wish for.

Btw the docs at the ER did say this was probably a reaction to the anesthesia and you do not need to keep her on seizure meds the rest of her life. They did radiographs and labs and nothing came up.

My other cat is also being so mean to my now blind cat! She keeps hissing and trying to swat at her. I have to keep them separate. This makes me so sad because they used to play with and clean each other…

I am just so sad…

I am sorry for the long post btw

 

[Alldara]

I'm so sorry for your experience Is your cat's eyes darting back and forth? How is her balance now?

I've never heard of this happening but do know that there are low risks of adverse reactions for vet dental cleanings.

Because she was at the hospital for a few days, your other cat might be having what's called "non-recognition agression". This must be adding to your stress. I'm so sorry. Some people have had good experience rubbing a towel or blanket on the vetted cat and then on their other cat and then rubbing the towel on places where they usually frequent. Another tip is dabbing a bit of vanilla on them.

 

[FeebysOwner]

I am so sorry this has happened. Do your follow up appts. for your girl to see what they say. I don't think I would try anything in terms of supplements or meds until you have a chance to talk to the specialists about her overall condition.

In the meantime, as noted above and posted while I was typing this, your second cat is probably not reacting to the blindness so much as a lack of recognition of your first cat (sorry, you didn't give us their names). It happens a lot, even with a simple vet visit, not to mention staying overnight at the ER and being given various meds that all could make her smell differently. To start off with you can take towels/blankets to wipe down your second cat and then rub them on your first cat to help make them smell more like each other. Brushing works in a similar manner. In your case, you may have to keep them separated if you don't find your second cat relaxing after a bit more time. Most cats do come around fairly quickly. There may also be some hesitancy from your first cat that the second cat is sensing too, so that should also change in time.

Btw, if the blindness is permanent, your cat will adapt to it much easier and quicker than you!

Here are some articles that might help a bit.
How To Deal With Non-recognition Aggression In Cats - TheCatSite Articles
Guide to Life With a Blind Cat: Tips and Advice | Great Pet Care
How To Prepare Your Home (And Life) For A Blind Cat (iheartcats.com)

 

[sunflower99]

I'm so sorry for your experience Is your cat's eyes darting back and forth? How is her balance now?

I've never heard of this happening but do know that there are low risks of adverse reactions for vet dental cleanings.

Because she was at the hospital for a few days, your other cat might be having what's called "non-recognition agression". This must be adding to your stress. I'm so sorry. Some people have had good experience rubbing a towel or blanket on the vetted cat and then on their other cat and then rubbing the towel on places where they usually frequent. Another tip is dabbing a bit of vanilla on them.

no her eyes are normal except she doesn’t follow my finger or seem to notice things in front of her. But sometimes I feel she can see faraway things? If that makes sense. I’m not sure. She can navigate well and doesn’t bump into walls. She can also already climb up and down the stair

& yes this is what I believed. I think my other cat does not recognise her and is acting aggressive because of this. It just makes me scared to leave them alone together. Thank you for your advice.

I am so sorry this has happened. Do your follow up appts. for your girl to see what they say. I don't think I would try anything in terms of supplements or meds until you have a chance to talk to the specialists about her overall condition.

In the meantime, as noted above and posted while I was typing this, your second cat is probably not reacting to the blindness so much as a lack of recognition of your first cat (sorry, you didn't give us their names). It happens a lot, even with a simple vet visit, not to mention staying overnight at the ER and being given various meds that all could make her smell differently. To start off with you can take towels/blankets to wipe down your second cat and then rub them on your first cat to help make them smell more like each other. Brushing works in a similar manner. In your case, you may have to keep them separated if you don't find your second cat relaxing after a bit more time. Most cats do come around fairly quickly. There may also be some hesitancy from your first cat that the second cat is sensing too, so that should also change in time.

Btw, if the blindness is permanent, your cat will adapt to it much easier and quicker than you!

Here are some articles that might help a bit.
How To Deal With Non-recognition Aggression In Cats - TheCatSite Articles
Guide to Life With a Blind Cat: Tips and Advice | Great Pet Care
How To Prepare Your Home (And Life) For A Blind Cat (iheartcats.com)

I know but it makes me so sad this has happened because she’s still so young. Thank you for your advice though. I will go to her appts and hope for the best.
I did read some articles about the brain recovering slowly from hypoxia in some patients so maybe I will just need to pray and wait.

 

[Furballsmom]

Hi, here's a little more detailed guide, either with vanilla or raw coconut (which still has fragrance) ;

From valanhb
You put a dab of vanilla extract under the chins, at the base of their neck (by the spine) and at the base of the tail (again, on the spine not the underside of the tail!) of all of the cats to make them smell the same. Cats recognize each other by scent, so if that kitty smells the same as "me", then he must be a friend. Kitty logic at it's finest.

This trick works when introducing cats into the household as well, or during a reintroduction after a redirected aggression event.

Also, it's possible that calming products and low volume Cat Music now and then might also help both cats to be calmer.

 

[silent meowlook]

Cats communicate allot with their eyes and pupil size. If your cat's eyes are constantly dilated, it may look like a threat to your other cat. They will adapt and figure it out. Best they aren't allowed to be together if they aren't supervised.

Normally I think the thing with making them smell the same would be okay, in this case I don't think it is a good idea because your cat needs to have every sense working overtime right now to make up for the blindness. She has to navigate your house. and her environment.

Have you spoken to the vet who did the dental to let them know that most likely it was a lack of oxygen to the brain that caused this? Because that is a real problem.

When a cat has a dental there is a tube in the trachea that is how they get the gas anesthesia, it is mixed with oxygen and delivered directly to the cat. All of the vitals should be monitored constantly during and after an anesthetic procedure. The blood oxygen saturation is monitored so I don't see how the cat wasn't getting enough oxygen. Was she on oxygen when you went to see her? Did they have her in an oxygen cage?

I am confused by the vet saying what they did about being on meds the rest of her life because of seizures. It isn't epilepsy. But I am sure they were all stressed.

I would ask for a copy of the medical records, including the anesthesia monitoring sheets. You will need all that for the neurologist. It would also be nice to know what anesthetic agents were used to prevent this from happening. This all happened after the procedure. With the low temp I am wondering how she was supported after the procedure. Most anesthetic deaths happen in recovery. Do you know who was actually doing the dental and who was monitoring anesthesia?

I am so sorry this happened to your cat. This entire situation is tragic. You try to do the right thing for your cat, and this happens. I am so sorry. I think a neurologist would be the one to see before seeing the ophthalmologists. Since this is a brain thing as opposed to an eye thing,

 

[fionasmom]

All medical records are yours and have to be handed over to you in a very timely manner or sent, in their entirety, to whichever doctor you designate. Definitely get all records regarding this incident.

I would probably go with a neurologist first as well. It is very likely not an eye problem, per se, and you and your cat will probably receive more help by seeking the neurologist first.