Cat not handling dental surgery well.

[Dmmetler]

My sweet senior cat who has problems with her mouth ongoing had two teeth removed, some gum overgrowth removed (when her teeth start to go, her gums grow these big, bleeding sores that make it hard for her to eat), and her other teeth cleaned yesterday. It all apparently went bad during a 5 day trip, and I took her in on Tuesday, when it was obvious she was hurting (clingy, drooling blood tinged stuff, etc). She is also hyperthyroid, and her thyroid levels and BP on Tuesday were very high, so we'll be adjusting/changing her medication after she recovers a bit. Since I've been out of town 3 week of the last 4, I don't know for sure her medication has been administered correctly, and the vet felt the dental was more important to address first.

 

I'm used to a cat springing back amazingly fast after surgery of any time, but this morning she is still very limp and out of it, has caked blood on her face and tongue, and just looks awful. She did drink overnight and may have eaten a little, but not much.

 

Basically, do I need to haul the poor thing into the vet again today, or is it simply that she's recovering more slowly and I need to give her time? She is on antibiotics and pain medication.

[Critterfixer]

Get in a call in this morning. She might just be having a hard time coming out of it, but they need to know that as well, and it may be that she could do with some fluid support today.

[ktgrok]

Agreed, call if she is lethargic, not moving, not eating. If cat's go more than 48 hours without food they can get fatty liver disease, and she was already fasted yesterday. Sometimes a bit of Karo syrup or something like Nutri-Cal can help perk them up, get the blood sugar up, and then they feel better. You can put it right in the mouth. 

[Dmmetler]

I dropped her off at the vet. They're going to put her on fluids while waiting for the vet to see her. According to the vet tech that does dental stuff normally it's very unusual for a cat not to perk up pretty quickly after dental work, even a senior one.

[goldberry]

My younger cat had quite a few teeth removed and perked up the next day.  In fact, she seemed happy to feel better after the bad teeth were gone.  Glad you took her in.

[happi duck]

(hugs)

[JFSinIL]

How old is kitty? :-( it may well be that time....what does the vet think?

[SparklyUnicorn]

I hope kitty is ok.  Poor thing.

 

 

[Dmmetler]

Just talked to the vet. She's perked up some, and her blood glucose and electrolyte levels look good, but still isn't eating on her own more than a few tentative licks of food. They did some syringe feeding today. We're going to leave her there and on fluids overnight, and see if she starts eating on her own.

 

 

[StephanieZ]

I'm very glad you took her in! And take her to a new vet for a second opinion if things are looking up quickly. Something is wrong. That's NOT a normal recovery from dental surgery.

 

Ask to see the pre- and post-op dental x-rays and ask about how to procedure went. Ask if they were able to extract the entire teeth or if they had to leave parts in (sometimes that happens). Ask if they think your cat would benefit from seeing a dental specialist for further work. If they don't have dental x-rays, then I'd go ahead and find a second opinion -- ideally by a dental specialist (as in a board certified veterinary dentist -- someone who only does dental work), or for sure at least by a veterinarian who has and uses dental x-rays, etc. 

[chocolate-chip chooky]

Wishing you and your precious kitty all the best.

 

Our furry/feathered/scaly/exoskeletoned babies are so, so precious.

 

Thinking of you.

[Dmmetler]

Just talked to one of the vets, and she's eating and doing better. They would like to keep her on IV fluids for a few more hours to build her up a bit, and we'll pick her up this afternoon.

[ktgrok]

Yay, glad kitty is doing better!

[happi duck]

Yay!

[Dmmetler]

She's home, and complaining a lot. Which is a good sign, since yesterday my normally vocal cat wasn't talking much at all,,which was a real sign she was out of it. She came home, stalked to the litter box, and is now curled up under the bed.

[TravelingChris]

Glad she is okay

[ErinE]

She's home, and complaining a lot. Which is a good sign, since yesterday my normally vocal cat wasn't talking much at all,,which was a real sign she was out of it. She came home, stalked to the litter box, and is now curled up under the bed.

 

If she feels good enough to be upset, I say it's a good sign. I was always worried when my cat wasn't her normal, cantankerous self.

[Dmmetler]

She made it up onto the bed to cuddle with me by this morning, which is her normal spot. :) she's definitely feeling more herself again.