My 14 year old cat needs dental work. What are the risks involved?

Question

My male cat is 14 and has a slight case of gingivitis. The vet said he needs 2 teeth out and his teeth cleaned. I am reluctant to let him have an anaesthetic because of his age. He is not having any problems eating and I think if I hadn't just taken him in for a check up I probably wouldn't have known. The vet I went to was at a new clinic that I had never been to before. I have 2 cats and they both refuse to eat chicken wings to clean there teeth also they won't eat those dentabite things you can buy for cats. What do you think?

Answer 1

With any anesthetic, there are always associated risks, but without treatment it is likely to get much worse. Unfortunately, even with this intensive care, the disease often progresses and the only way to cure the disease and eliminate the very painful lesions is to extract all of the teeth in back of the large canine teeth (fangs). This may appear drastic, but in almost all cases it is the only alternative. In cases of juvenile onset gingivitis, professional teeth cleaning every 2 months and once- to twice-daily brushing at home for the first year or so of their life, may allow them to revert to a more normal status as they age.
There is no satisfactory treatment for gingivitis in cats. Descaling to remove tartar build up and removal of badly eroded teeth is helpful, but the gingivitis will often recur. Antibiotics and anti-inflammatory or immune-suppressive drugs have all be used and may be beneficial in some cases. Feeding special diets formulated to help prevent dental disease, and regular brushing of the teeth with/without pet toothpaste may also be helpful in these cases. Antiseptic mouth washes have been recommended but they are difficult to administer to cats. Surgical removal of the gum margin, cryosurgery and laser therapy have all been used with variable success, and in the most severe cases removal of all the teeth may be undertaken.

Gingivitis can be a frustrating condition to treat - for both veterinarians and owners, but some cases do resolve with periods of remission between relapses.

When your pet is scheduled to undergo a surgical procedure your first thought may be of the risks entailed in anesthesia. This is perfectly natural – the risks of general anesthesia are usually greater than that of the surgery itself. All veterinarians know this and most of them have a great deal of empathy for your concerns. Veterinarians are fortunate in that older, less predictable, anethesthetics have been replaced by compounds that are very predictable and safe when properly used. Injectable anesthetics now each have their specific reversal agents and the gas anesthetics we use are quickly reversed by ventilation. These agents have dramatically reduced risk to your pet...

Answer 2

Cat Dental Cleaning Risks

Answer 3

The risk is actually greater to not get there teeth cleaned than the anesthesia. There is always a risk when you put any animal under anesthesia just like with humans. Be sure you vet runs bloodwork and and ECG before the procedure. This will make sure all the internal organs are functioning as they should and the heart as well. If they detect any problem in the bloodwork they will not put your cat under. They will probablly want to run these tests anyway but at some places it's optional. It is better to clean there teeth because bacteria build up in the gums will get into there blood stream and also begin to effect the kidneys wihich will eventually cause kidney failure. Not to mention it makes there mouth very tender and sore and loose teeth will be prone to infection. The risks of not getting them cleaned greatly out wieght that of the anesthesia on an older animal

Answer 4

My former employer told people this..."If you do the dental, there is a small percentage that something negative could happen. But if you leave infected teeth/tartar/etc. there is a 100% chance that something negative will happen."

Meaning: Bacteria from tartar and infected teeth/gums are going straight into your cat's bloodstream every hour of every day (gross). This can negatively affect your cat's joints, organs, and even the heart valves.

I would opt for the dental work, but be sure to get bloodwork performed beforehand to check organ function (kidney/liver function). Also, with his age, you will want him to be on an IV drip throughout the surgery for SURE. It may come included in the price of the dental, and it may not. Be SURE to ask. Also, make sure they use an inhaled gas anesthetic and not an injectable one. Gas can be turned off if there is a complication...Injectable cannot obviously...it takes time to reverse the anesthetic agent and if they use an anesthetic "cocktail" there are components which may not be able to be reversed.

If you get bloodwork and it comes back fine, I say go ahead :) Risks with the modern anesthetics are small, and you will actually be prolonging his life by getting rid of an infected mouth.

amanda

Answer 5

I recently worked for a vet, it's okay to take your cat in to get dental work. During the entire procedure your cat is being watched not only by a vet but by the vet assistant. If you still are unsure talk to your veterinarian. He/She will be able to answer your questions better and make you feel safer about the procedure.

Not to mention, if your vet said it was okay to do, then usually they have weighed the risks. They want your beloved pet to live a long healthy life. Gingivitis can be unhealthy for your pet, so becareful.

Answer 6

At 14 I would not put him under anesthesia unless absolutely necessary. A slight case of gingivitis isn't worth the risk to an older cat!

Answer 7

Stop Infections Heal Teeth : http://DentalBook.uzaev.com/?OoqS

Answer 8

dental work isn't that serious. my dog gets a good dental check up from my parents every once in awhile.