Topic: anaesthetic for 19 year old cat (Read 6242 times)

heather sullivan · « **Reply #27 on:** March 08, 2015, 22:59:55 PM »

Tabby doesnt mind the vet, she justs sits on the table purring

I will try and post a photo of her on here.....

Lyn (Slugsta) · « **Reply #26 on:** March 07, 2015, 21:40:40 PM »

My Chivvy hated the vets so much, I promised that I would let him go peacefully rather than put him through a lot of treatment. He was 19 when he crossed the bridge

You will know what is the best things for your Tabby, whether she will tolerate the vet visits and the treatment or not

sheilarose · « **Reply #25 on:** March 07, 2015, 00:07:59 AM »

Heather, I can't help thinking you may be looking at palliative care for Tabby. 19 is a grand old age.

Gill (sneakiefeline) · « **Reply #24 on:** March 06, 2015, 22:15:04 PM »

Very very hard

heather sullivan · « **Reply #23 on:** March 06, 2015, 19:08:02 PM »

just back from vet, lumps no bigger but no smaller. Going to take her back in a few weeks to check them again. Discussed surgery, anaesthetic risks etc, vet said she didnt even know if it was her cat whether to go for surgery. Also possibility of big wound after. Cost between £700-1300

ah well will just see how she is in a few weeks. Horrible decision to make

.

Gill (sneakiefeline) · « **Reply #22 on:** March 03, 2015, 00:31:47 AM »

So aorry and I found to my cost that camcelling imsurance was a terrible idea.

I hope that she can be helped

heather sullivan · « **Reply #21 on:** March 02, 2015, 20:46:29 PM »

hmmmm results of FNA came back as inflammatory cells and mammary cells, but they think there is possibly an underlying tumour there, so after antibiotic jab she had runs out, next weekend, back to the vet for a check. Its like little lumpy bits around her nipple. Vet said she could do biopsy, but that would need a GA, so she would just remove the lump if she thinks its suspicious

why why why did I cancel Tabby's insurance last year?

she seems to be falling apart.......

heather sullivan · « **Reply #20 on:** February 22, 2015, 18:56:49 PM »

Thanks for the advice, will order some cystease for her. She has perked up now and back doing her tiddles in the litter tray and not on my bed

luckily she sleeps on a fluffy old dressing gown which is quite absorbable! Fingers crossed the tests come back okay next week.

Hope Polly is okay tomorrow and soon feels better

Gill (sneakiefeline) · « **Reply #19 on:** February 22, 2015, 01:26:25 AM »

So sorry for tabby and hope that sheilas advise will help

sheilarose · « **Reply #18 on:** February 21, 2015, 11:28:55 AM »

Oh no.

Poor Tabby. Order some CystEase from Animed for her, its a powder that goes on her food and has helped Pursley (18) tremendously with her stress related cystitis.

Polly didn't have her dental last week, as she's older (14+) I agreed to a pre-op blood test which came back with very high Creatnine levels that could have pushed her blood pressure up to dangerous levels, she needed further tests to ensure she would withstand general anaesthetic.

These have come back satisfactory so she's booked in again this Monday.

Sending huge vibes for poor Tabby, what a time she's having.

heather sullivan · « **Reply #17 on:** February 20, 2015, 18:28:26 PM »

Tabby now has a UTI, so back to the vet for an antibiotic injection and a steroid injection. She has never had a UTI before although apparently its quite common in hyperthyroid cats. Vet also found some lumps around her mammary gland, so for peace of mind did a fine needle aspiration just to make sure nothing nasty going on. She took 3 samples, poor Tabby, it was really bleeding

just given her a sachet of her fave food to cheer her up!

I hope Polly is doing well after her op

sheilarose · « **Reply #16 on:** February 15, 2015, 09:36:06 AM »

Ah, Heather.... wishing you both well.

Polly is going in tomorrow, she has very sore gums that arent due to plaque build up and the vet gave me the choice of keeping her on anti inflammaries or having the back teeth removed.

As she's only 14 and otherwise in very good condion (and gets rather stressed if I have to medicate her) I've plumped for the extractions. Can't see her on a lifetime of medication and still having tooth ache.

At19 the choice is less clear for Tabby.

Gill (sneakiefeline) · « **Reply #15 on:** February 14, 2015, 15:28:05 PM »

Such a hrad deciscion

heather sullivan · « **Reply #14 on:** February 14, 2015, 00:12:58 AM »

bloods came back not too bad, her thyroid was slightly raised but as she had not had her pill that morning, vet thinks it was down to that. One of her kidneys was slightly raised, but her liver which was quite high last time has gone down a bit. eosinophils were raised but usually are. apart from that all the rest were ok. She still needs a dental, but vet said she understood my concern for her having a GA but she had operated on cats older than Tabby. She said it could be worse if in 6 months time if she has a problem she is that much older. I think all the time she is eating ok I will just keep an eye on her.

Ah really thats interesting about Animed. I pay £64 for 100 tablets

sheilarose · « **Reply #13 on:** February 13, 2015, 10:29:01 AM »

How's Tabby getting on Heather? Did you get the blood results after all?

If she's on Felimazole you can buy them much cheaper from Animed, ask your vet for a prescription, even if he charges you for this it will still work out considerably cheaper.

heather sullivan · « **Reply #12 on:** February 09, 2015, 20:20:44 PM »

thanks. Yes i will get a copy and can compare it to her last lot.

Gill (sneakiefeline) · « **Reply #11 on:** February 09, 2015, 01:29:05 AM »

Hope test results come back OK and get a copy

heather sullivan · « **Reply #10 on:** February 08, 2015, 22:11:08 PM »

tabby went for her check up yest, had more bloods taken, a geriatric screen and thyroid check, she had a worming tablet and also had her nails clipped and got another 2 months supply of thyroid pills. Vet looked at her teeth and said they are still bad but she can understand why i dont want to risk her having an anaesthetic as she is 20 this year! Bill came to £217, gulp!

things we do for our cats!! get blood results by wednesday.

heather sullivan · « **Reply #9 on:** February 02, 2015, 19:45:40 PM »

its this coming saturday she is going, will let you know. fingers crossed

sheilarose · « **Reply #8 on:** February 02, 2015, 11:24:49 AM »

How did Tabby get on Heather?

heather sullivan · « **Reply #7 on:** January 29, 2015, 20:17:42 PM »

Tabby off to the vets 7 feb for her check up and a blood test, we will discuss the teeth issue then

sheilarose · « **Reply #6 on:** January 05, 2015, 09:36:28 AM »

I wish you well with Tabby's teeth, Heather.

Do let us know how she gets on and what the vet's say about her bloods.

heather sullivan · « **Reply #5 on:** January 04, 2015, 21:53:42 PM »

thank you for all the answers, fluffybunny thats very encouraging,thats the sort of story I wanted to hear

I will be speaking to my vet in the next week or so to decide on what to do.

fluffybunny · « **Reply #4 on:** January 03, 2015, 22:42:39 PM »

If it genuinely looks to be teeth and I had confidence in the vet, I would do it without hesitation. My previous old boy had a dental at 18.5, we had put it off for so long that it eventually got to the point where it was a choice of risk the operation or have him pts, so we felt we had nothing to lose.

He had pre-op bloods which showed his kidneys were a little (but not a lot) on the dodgy side, so he spent the night on a drip to make sure he was very well hydrated before the op, and then he had the op with all the drugs suitable for older moggies. Not only did he bounce back very well from the op, but he gained a new lease of life. It was only afterwards that we realised how much his teeth must have been bugging him for ages and how much better he must have felt as soon as they were all sorted. His heart murmur also cleared up - apparently bacteria from bad teeth can travel around the body and cause problems in other organs like the heart, so again it's good to get the teeth sorted to help keep the other organs in order.

It's a tough call I know, but with hindsight and seeing how much difference it made to him, I'd have had Sooty's op done sooner rather than leave it until we had no choice. He had another good quality year and a half after that final dental (which left him with no teeth at all!)

Good luck with your little one x

sheilarose · « **Reply #3 on:** January 01, 2015, 22:33:14 PM »

I'd be inclined to get a second opinion here, my vet is disinclined to anaesthetise cats unless there is no other option but my previous vet was not so genuine with his motives and frequently stung me for dental treatments I now believe to be unnecessary.

I also wonder if your vet mentioned the Thyroidectome? If she's being put under GA for her teeth it would be a simple enough procedure to remove the offending thyroid at the same time and she won't require the Felimazole any more.

Has the vet said she is in distress? Is she still eating well? Don't get me wrong your vet may be totally trustworthy and she may indeed be suffering but at 19 it's more likely her teeth have begun to resorbing, and she's rubbing because of this. It's a very big decision and at her age you are right to have concerns and need to ask more questions. If the vet isn't convincing, please ask elsewhere.

Rosella moggy · « **Reply #2 on:** January 01, 2015, 21:34:53 PM »

Only comment I have is that hyperT can mask underlying kidney problems. I assume chin rubbing isn't the only sign of teeth probs? Is she having regular blood tests to keep an eye on things?

heather sullivan · « **Reply #1 on:** January 01, 2015, 21:27:48 PM »

My geriatric cat Tabby needs a dental done, as her teeth are pretty manky. I have the money for it, but am worried about her surviving the anaesthetic. She is hyperthyroid on Felimazole and she drinks a fair bit, although her blood tests last year showed her kidney function not too bad. She is eating well but always rubbing her chin on things, which I have read is a sign of toothache. Do I put her through the operation or shall I just leave her for the time being? Such a big decision and the op is going to be around the £350 mark

Author Topic: anaesthetic for 19 year old cat (Read 6242 times)