he is 17yrs old and has been having problems with his mouth (growth or abcess of tooth) I know that they have to be starved 24hrs prior to this but can i give him water as he is desperate for a drink?? I'm really worried about the general anaesthetic because of his age and also he is quite thin, but he had one last year and was fine.
2007-03-19 09:16:45 · 19 answers · asked by stacie_yst 3 in Pets ➔ Cats
My vet said he was going to take a blood sample but he never and just gave him a pain killing injection i dont know if he is planning to do it before the surgery but he took a blood sample about 9 months ago and everything was fine
2007-03-19 09:51:10 · update #1
Hiya, took him to the vet but he could get a general anaesthetic because his kidney levels were too high so they sedated him then pulled his tooth out, bad news is he thinks he has a tumor and has sent away a biopsy of it to be tested, he said he cant treat it with steroids because of his kidneys so we'll need to wait and see what happens. I just want to say a big thanks to everyone who answered you all have been soooo nice and caring, thanks for all your support, I could choose a best answer coz they're all good so I put it to vote. Cheers xxxxx
2007-03-20 06:40:32 · update #2
Vets will let an animal have water up until midnight before surgery. Best of luck to him and try not to worry - your vet know your cat's age and will take good care of him.
2007-03-19 09:22:26 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should only need to starve your cat for 12 hours prior to surgery, and considering his age, water can be given until forst thing in the morning.
A blood sample should be taken prior to the anaesthetic to make sure everything is running ok, as being thirsty is a sign of kidney or liver problems. Even tho he was fine 9 months ago, a lot can happen in a short period of time. He will feel much better once he gets his mouth sorted.
Hope he gets on ok
2007-03-19 10:34:15 · answer #2 · answered by Appletart 20 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When my cat was seventeen she also had to undergo dental surgery. The vet advised me not to give her water from midnight the night before her op. At the time I was concerned about her being thirsty because she was on medication for kidney problems, but she was fine. I don't know what anaesthetic your vet plans to use, but mine used a light one that flushed through her system so as not to sedate her too heavily. (Sorry I don't recall the correct name, but I'm sure your vet will know). She looked a little rough when I collected her, but the vet gave her some strong painkillers and she was fine within a couple of days.
I understand your worries about the anaesthetic as that was exactly how I felt, but try to bear in mind that it would do your cat more harm if the tooth were left untreated. I hope all goes well for your cat.
2007-03-19 09:29:16 · answer #3 · answered by Michele the Louis Wain cat 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know where ya got the idea that they have to be starved 24hrs prior. Your old cat should be fed today. He could have had his breakfast, and lunch already. Don't give him anything after midnight. Let him drink and give him something to eat. That is important especially for aged cats. Their bodies process food totally different then younger cats. That's why they get so thin looking as they get old. Can give him something right now. You are right to worry as when any anaesthetic is used there is always a chance that they might not come out of it. If he doesn't eat at all today, he will be really weakened by tomorrow. But, don't give him anything tomorrow morning. The reason for this is because they don't want him to vomit. Good luck to you and your kitty.
2007-03-19 09:28:42 · answer #4 · answered by peach 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
(advice to uk only).
Your vet will do a blood sample called a pre-anaesthetic profile tomorrow, make sure you mention it on admittance. This will check his liver,kidney and glucose. Your will then decide if he needs i/v fluids (i would ask for this anyway with his age) during and after the procedure to flush his system out. Ask your vet about the anaesthetic used, if possible a for a propofol induction, this is the safest anaesthetic as it is quickly metabolised and removed from the system. You should expect the vet to keep your cat in over night for observation as thin animals take longer to recover (this is normal and nothing to worry about). Cats who have dentals are generally gurgly following the surgery, this is because they dribble a lot after having a tooth removed. Its nothing to worry about. He can drink tonight just remove his water before he goes to the surgery. (we advise that animals aren't fed for 12hours prior to surgery this is ample. 24h is a long time for a skinny cat.) Express your concerns with the admitting nurse/vet. They will take every precaution as I would to ensure his anaesthetic goes as smoothly ad uncomplicated a possible.
2007-03-19 10:42:42 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, you can give him some water. But after midnight to night, no more of anything. Water is quikly absorbed throught the stomach and intestines.
Oh, did you get a bloodtest to chack if all his organs are functining fine? Its advisable you know for senior cats before undergoing anesthesia. And make sure the vet uses Isoflurane as the anesthetic gas - its the safest.
2007-03-19 09:29:33 · answer #6 · answered by Phoebhart 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No food or water prior to surgery. They do that so the animal doesn't vomit and respirate it into the lungs. Bloodwork is usually done that day(if your vet has blood machines in house)prior to the procedure. Most vet clinics monitor the animals respiration, blood pressure and heart while under anesthesia
2007-03-19 13:35:36 · answer #7 · answered by leftygirl_75 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I was allowed to give my cat water up to the night before the op (he was going first thing for the op that all male cats dread) and he was fine.
The vet warned me he might be a bit sleepy afterwards and not to let him out for the next day as he wouldnt be as alert as he should be. However, he came home and straight away was full of beans (and absolutely starving as well)
2007-03-19 21:10:38 · answer #8 · answered by Lady Claire - Hates Bigotry 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
At our clinic we recommend no food after 5 pm but always offer water.
Whether it be for humans or animals there is always some "danger" going under anesthesia. The doctor should have done some bloodwork to see how his organs are performing and to check his blood. If he has a clean bill of health, going under anesthesia shouldn't be a problem. The doctor probably feels not having the mouth taken care of is more of an issue than going under.
2007-03-19 09:25:03 · answer #9 · answered by BVC_asst 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
hello there:
I recently had taken my kitten in to be fixed, and this was my first personal experience with a sedated animal. They were very kind to him there and took well care of him. Honestly, hon, don't beat yourself up over this! I did and it stressed me out, BIG TIME! They doctor does have you fast your animal 18-24 hours prior to any medical procedure. (Just like a human). Don't sweat the small stuff! I would simply say a prayer and put him in God's hands to help him through this ordeal! But it is harder on YOU, yourself than the animal! Best of luck with this!
2007-03-19 11:06:33 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋