Safety Of Undergoing General Anesthesia Twice In Two Weeks?

[Sandy Beach]

This is going to be somewhat long, so bare with me.
I posted about a cat (Moon) I rescued about a month and a half ago with a large abscess on her face. She spent 30 days on antibiotics & Since then, the abscess has cleared up, but, Moon still suffers from Periodontitis disease. She has an appointment scheduled with a Veterinarian Ortodontist Specialist in 2 weeks.
Here’s the thing: she was just spayed on Monday. At the time, 2 vets insisted the dental work could wait and to get her spayed first. (We used the local spay & neuter clinic to save money, so doing dental work at the same time was not an option) While she was under anesthesia they were able to get a better look at her mouth (as she can be unruly) and we were told to make an appointment with a specialist because it’s in it advanced stages and needs to be done soon.
The specialist wants us to come in on Oct. 11th for X-rays, more blood work, cleaning and full mouth exam while under anesthesia so that he can give me an estimate on any further work that needs to be done.
He originally tried to book us for next week, but I wasn’t comfortable with that due to her having just been put under Monday, so I made it for the 11th instead.
Are the risks of being put under twice in two weeks too high? Should I wait longer? I wish I would have been able to afford both surgeries simultaneously, but it wasnt an option. The vet says this is fine, but I’m not familiar with him so I’m being cautious. She’s been through a lot in the last month and a half. Thoughts?

 

[neely]

Bless you for rescuing Moon and conscientiously treating her health problems. I would also be concerned about putting her through the dental procedure and anesthesia so soon. I think age might play a factor in my decision. How old is she and how did she respond to the anesthesia after her spay? If she has FORL she may need to have teeth pulled. Here is an Article which may help regarding information about gingivitis in cats:
Gingivitis And Stomatitis In Cats

Although you went to the local spay and neuter clinic for financial reasons do you have a regular vet you can contact and discuss your concerns with in more detail?Did your regular vet recommend the dental specialist?

Sending special thoughts your way for Moon. Please keep us updated on her progress.

 

[Sandy Beach]

Thanks for your reply!!

We are unsure of her actual age. The person we took her from says she is 2 years old, the vets disagree due to the advanced stages of tooth decay and estimate that she is anywhere from 8 to 13 years old; although they did say, although unlikely, it’s possible for a young cat to have advanced periodontitis if genetics and neglect are involved.

And Yes, I actually have 2 vets I work with on a regular basis who care for all of my pets. I emailed my #1 vet right before I created this post, and I’m just waiting for a reply back at this time. I came here for peace of mind LOL while I wait. (You guys rock!) My #1 vet said he doesn’t feel comfortable performing any work on her mouth and suggested the specialist, but told me getting her spayed first was fine. The S&N Dr suggested the same specialist.

Moon did absolutely great with anesthesia and is recovering well. However, surgery was “complicated” as she was bleeding more than usual and they said her uterus was twisted...they had to make a longer incision than normal due to these issues. They said there was continued bleeding after they removed her reproductive tract and they were concerned because her hematocrit Tested extremely low after surgery. 30 then dropped to 15....She is now on antibiotics once again (Clavomax) and pain meds (Buprenex) but seems to be adjusting well. She is using the litter box regularly, eating/drinking just fine and is confined to an xtra large kennel wearing The Cone Of Shame while she heals.

 

[neely]

Thanks for the additional information, it helps a lot. I will be anxious to hear what your regular vet has to say when you receive a reply. Obviously there's a big difference between what the person who surrendered her said about being 2 years old vs the vet's estimate of 8-13 years old. I think sometimes people are hesitant to tell you the real age if the cat has entered their senior years because they think you won't adopt/rescue an older cat.

Poor Moon has been through so much, a new environment, a complicated spay surgery, and medication(s). I am not a vet and cannot tell you what to do so I'll be interested to learn your vet's opinion. However, since I err on the side of caution I would wait a bit longer. Unfortunately dental problems are not uncommon in cats and I would ask your regular vet if waiting another month or two would really make that much of a difference.

Best of luck and please keep us posted.

 

[Willowy]

As long as she's still eating well the dental work isn't an emergency.

Poor girl! She's been through a lot! I don't want to imagine what a twisted uterus feels like. . .

 

[Sandy Beach]

I’m second guessing my decision to spay her first. I feel like I should have done her mouth first now. Ugh. What’s done is done, but damnit...

She also has protruded 3rd eyelids that are most likely due to the infection still present in her mouth. Her eyes have been that way since I picked her up. We’ve been to 4 or 5 vets (I’ve lost count) at this point for second opinions and emergency care when the regular vet was closed...no one could give me a direct answer about her eyes. They were hoping the first month of antibiotics would clear it up. It helped, but wasnt a cure all. Most info I have received is from my own research on the topic. I’ve asked the same questions at every visit and have gotten different answers almost every time. Ahhhhhhh!

Ok so my vet responded with “The current anesthetics are very safe and should be completely out of her system in 48 hours. I would think that by the 11th things should be fine.“
They will be doing bloodwork prior to any treatment, so i guess we will play it by ear. I’ll leave the appointment set for now, but I’m going to follow my gut on this one when the time gets closer.

Her mouth is so bad that she can not chew food. Dry food is not an option at all. We make soup from wet food...has to be pate because even the chunky wet food is tough for her to chew. So the sooner I get this done, the better, as long as it’s not “too soon”. It’s quite the conundrum. Oy vey.

Sorry guys, I know I’m rambling...thanks for listening to me.

 

[Sandy Beach]

My 1st and secondary vet said the teeth could wait & to spay first. The Dr at the S&N clinic had the opinion to have it treated ASAP but after she’s healed, she even mentioned that I probably should have done the teeth first when we spoke after surgery, while the specialist is pushing to do it right meow. My head hurts. One day at a time.

 

[neely]

I’m second guessing my decision to spay her first. I feel like I should have done her mouth first now. Ugh.
I’ll leave the appointment set for now, but I’m going to follow my gut on this one when the time gets closer.

Trust me, we all second guess ourselves. I think it's human nature and you're not alone. When something doesn't go as planned or there are complications we all feel responsible and agonize over it.

I agree with you on following your gut. Moon lives with you, you see her every day and know her best. Listen to your vet but ask a lot of questions.

Regarding the 3rd eyelid, has anyone suggested consulting a veterinary ophthalmology specialist? I understand the expenses can add up quickly. Do you live within driving distance of a university veterinary medical school?

P.S. Don't worry about rambling, that's what we're here for. Thinking of you.

 

[Sandy Beach]

No they haven’t mentioned it. I’ll check into it though. Thanks for the advice! And yes...it adds up quickly lol. All that “extra” money I had saved for a tattoo is gone