Older cats & anaesthetics

[HoHoHolly]

We have a gorgeous old girl, 17 years old.

She has only had one operation in her life, age 15, and she was terrible with the anaesthetic. She seemed so depressed, it was like she'd lost the will to live for weeks afterwards. It totally floored me - I'd kind of assumed she'd spring back like children tend to. For a good few weeks I was convinced that we had done the wrong thing by putting her through that, and it would have been kinder to have her PTS. She has since had a couple more good years which has reassured me that she benefitted on balance, but she was younger then.

Now, her teeth are awful. They are likely to be causing her significant pain. She can no longer eat dry food - we just buy her wet food that she likes.

Would you put her through another anaesthetic to get her teeth done? We did say it wouldn't be right to put her through all that at this age, but then not doing it also seems cruel. I genuinely don't know what the kindest thing would be. It really isn't about the money, it's what is the best thing for her.

Tough times.
I think it depends on quite how painful her mouth is - if it is painful then I would think it's unfair not to get the dental work done.
There are many different anaesthetics available so you could discuss this with the vet and this time may be better than last time.

Our cat is old and we had her teeth done 6 months ago, it was expensive and not covered by insurance but it needed doing as she got an abscess. I did worry about the anaesthetic but everything went well and I'm sure she is happier to have a comfortable mouth.

Yes I would definitely put her through it. Nothing is worse than toothache. And there is a lot they can do to support older cats through operations. It's absolutely worth the risk.

Get the work done. She cannot carry on in pain.

My 18 year old cat very nearly died due to having a dental anaesthetic, she came round just about, and then had two weeks of appalling diarrhoea, couldn't eat, I took her back several times with a view to having her PTS, looked at the little face and couldn't.

After steroids, antibiotics and good care she did recover and is now all healthy an shiny again with good teeth. I am so glad I had it done and so glad she didn't die.

My cat did have infections afterwards and diorrhea as per madcatladys cat but she did recover and I'm really glad we did it as she couldn't carry on with such a sore mouth.

I would absolutely do the dental, accepting the risks are greater now she is older.
The sooner it is done the better as you risk ber losing weight, going off her food, getting dehydrated etc. the more you wait.
If her teeth are really in a bad way her quality of life is likely poor and it's just not fair.
Even in elderly cats, anesthetics are generally well tolerated.
Be sure to tell your vet about the last experience ( assuming it's a different vet) as they could try altering the anaesthetic protocol.
If not already done, could be worth having a pre anaesthetic blood test to ensure organ function is ok. This is useful as e.g. if kidneys are not working well, she should have a fluid drip during the procedure and certain meds will need to be avoided.
Ideally, the vet should monitor blood pressure during the procedure- many don't, so ask. Periods of low blood pressure during the op can result in a prolonged recovery.
Hopefully all goes well and she will be a lot happier once recovered.

I'm a vet and a pet owner & would absolutely do the dental, accepting the risks are greater now she is older.
The sooner it is done the better as you risk ber losing weight, going off her food, getting dehydrated etc. the more you wait.
If her teeth are really in a bad way her quality of life is likely poor and it's just not fair.
Even in elderly cats, anesthetics are generally well tolerated.
Be sure to tell your vet about the last experience ( assuming it's a different vet) as they could try altering the anaesthetic protocol.
If not already done, could be worth having a pre anaesthetic blood test to ensure organ function is ok. This is useful as e.g. if kidneys are not working well, she should have a fluid drip during the procedure and certain meds will need to be avoided.
Ideally, the vet should monitor blood pressure during the procedure- many don't, so ask. Periods of low blood pressure during the op can result in a prolonged recovery.

Thanks everyone, there's a definite theme in your replies! Just to clarify it's the recovery afterwards that concerns me because her quality of life seemed so low for so many weeks after her last op.

I guess, though, that we won't have to keep her in so long or give her a cone of shame after dental work? She will feel much better if she can go out.

She won't need a cone and will only need to stay in for the first night after the op.

That sounds much better for her. Thank you @thecatneuterer

My cat had no cone and came home the same day