Older cat needing possible dental work

[Bowserlovesmojitos]

Bigcat is 16 and in relatively good health, no thyroid or kidney issues and generally happy although has definitely slowed down the past year and now chills out upstairs most of the day.
He gave us a scare mid June with a wobbly phase but a course of anti-inflammatories and he's doing fine (kidneys also dandy after this).
Problem is he is now suffering from feline odontoclastic resorptive lesions (sounds icky) so refusing to eat even super smooth foods.
In himself he is absolutely unchanged and still keen for food but just can't eat it.
Trying a few days on anti-inflammatories to see if that helps but vet has said an operation may be the only feasible choice.
He does have a heart murmur so slightly increased risks but not hugely.
Question is do we put him through the ga, operation and recovery at his age?
Both recent issues aren't necessarily age related but I'm guessing he is at risk of developing more serious issues so would it be cruel to have this done when realistically he may not have long left anyway?
For context we have two preschoolers, one with asd so the house isn't a calm oasis and does cause stress during the day for bigcat.

My cat is 19, has just recovered from radioactive iodine therapy for her massively uncontrolled thyroid, had stage 2 kidney disease and a heart murmur.
She's just had some teeth removed, I just could not let her carry on in pain, I'd rather risk that she died while under than let her suffer from chronic toothache for the remainder of her life.
She was wobbly and subdued for a week but has now completely recovered.

Yes toothache is awful so I’d do it.

I’d do it, it must be so uncomfortable for him. Harry is 15, has a grade 1 heart murmur and early CKD but had a dental in May and was absolutely fine.

Question is do we put him through the ga, operation and recovery at his age?

What is the alternative given he isn't eating though?

What is the likely outcome of a successful surgical treatment?

Yes give it a try poor thing. Toothache is bloody painful.

He needs to get the op done or be pts. I’m sure most of us have experienced horrendous toothache, it’s worse than childbirth imo and he’s in too much pain to even eat. He can’t be left like this. It sounds like his quality of life is still really good, so if the vet thinks he’s got a good chance of pulling through then I’d get it done

Alternative is pts

Vet was definitely of the opinion we need to think if in his best interest to have the op and all done.
I'm very torn because on the one hand he has had no health issues bar gunky ears a few times and is doing so well for his age, however he is at an age where he could deteriote quickly.

Ideally the anti-inflammatories will make a difference but it's so hard to know when it's best for the cat and when it's an emotional reaction.

He is a bit subdued I think due to the heat and not eating but apart from that he's his normal self.

If not clear of course we wouldn't leave him with toothache / in pain / not eating.

Just want to make the best decision that isn't purely an emotional knee-jerk to losing him. He's been my companion through so much and I'm devastated at having to consider all options.

My old cat 13, granted not as old as yours, had most of her teeth out under ga, she recovered well and it gave her a new lease of life.
You've got to try surely? Being pts is not an alternative

I'm assuming you've tried watering down his food and mashing it to a pulp? If he really wont eat at all then you need to decide. I would reluctantly pts I think. General anaesthetic is a huge pressure on a cats heart at any age.
Tbh i think a lot of vets are pushing the dental work, and a lot of other profitable treatments when pts is the kindest and dignified option.

Cats are very stoic and hide their pain very well. He may well be suffering much more than you realise.

I would talk to the vet again - they will help to guide you. Although of course it is ultimately your decision. Going on what you have said, I think I'd go ahead and try the op. It's not an easy decision I know.

I did this with my semi-wild 13 year old cat a couple of years ago. It was very traumatic for all involved at the time but she was like a new cat when she'd had her operation and I think it has helped prolong her life. She's doing very well still.

Good luck

We've tried softening biscuits, cat licky treats, tuna, tuna in cat milk, soft pates, mashing normal wet food etc. He wants to eat but clearly hurts.

I will do whatever to help and care for him but I'm in bits about the thought of losing him so don't want to make a decision that will stress him and put huge demands on him physically if actually it's not so much a kindness.

I appreciate the responses, especially stories of older cats being ok. Vet did say if it was 5 years ago he would just be talking surgery so I feel reassured it's not that they don't care.

I guess the only thing lingering is he's had this wobbly something or other (no definite cause diagnosed, just remedied with anti-inflammatories), now it's his teeth. Is this the start of one thing after another?

Basically I need someone to wave a magic wand and make him be ok and take the decision out of my hands because either way it's horribly stressful.

@Janaih

I'm assuming you've tried watering down his food and mashing it to a pulp? If he really wont eat at all then you need to decide. I would reluctantly pts I think. General anaesthetic is a huge pressure on a cats heart at any age. Tbh i think a lot of vets are pushing the dental work, and a lot of other profitable treatments when pts is the kindest and dignified option.

I disagree, PTS really wouldn't have been the best option for Harry. I believe the majority of vets act in the best interests of the animal. Putting an otherwise healthy animal to sleep wouldn't be ethical.

Is it you don't want the cat stressed OP or is it the money? Sorry don't wish to be blunt but I know our cats op was £££ and it does seem silly to pay out loads on the cat if it's going to die anyway but I think if your cat seems in relatively good health it's probably worth a try.
Poor thing might have years left yet.

God no, we have insurance, savings, credit cards and family if needed. We'd never ever make a decision based on financials at all. He's part of the family, you do what you need to do.

Definitely need to have a think over but will ask more in depth about op and recovery as it seems it's maybe not as extreme as it was made to be.

Thank you for replies and stories.

We've decided that if there isn't any improvement by tomorrow we'll schedule the op.
The risk involved with GA feels lesser than feeling we'd be pts for toothache when he's well in himself.

Keeping all paws crossed and he hangs around for a good few more years!

I think if it was my cat I would seriously consider the dental. Yes, it's risky, but in a measured way. If it would definitely relieve the symptoms and leave him pain free, then I would probably take the risk.
As you say, at this age, he could develop an issue that would be a game changer anyway.

Good luck, op
🤞

Good luck to you and your boy, let us know how he is.

Our old cat had several teeth out under GA. She was as right as rain afterwards and lived a few more years!

The vets can supply this tinned food, like pate to which you can add water, to make a sort of liquid food - maybe for a day or two after the op?

Honestly it's not as risky as you think. I'm a vet nurse and we do old cat dentals all day long, I've never lost one yet (in 25 years!) Just make sure your practice use qualified nurses to monitor their anaesthetics as some still use unqualified lay staff. Resorptive lesions are very painful, in your shoes I wouldn't hesitate. Oh and they usually recover incredibly quickly.

Our amazing old girl (19!) has had lots of teeth removed over the years and had her last dental and GA aged 17.

She took a lot longer to bounce back that time. Quiet for days and lost her purr!

It did help her as she would have been in a lot of pain, but we decided that we wouldn't put her through it again.

Her remaining teeth aren't marvelous but at her age I think another GA is too risky.

What does your vet say? I think at 16 I'd do it. He could have another 5 years.

He's booked in for Monday. Just have to hope he'll take in enough food until then. Any suggestions for easy to eat foods? We've got those tube licky things, pate tins and cat milk plus normal wet food and biscuits.
Big portion of wet cat food with the jelly available be ok?

Fingers crossed!

Will he eat plain fish? It's what the late FatCat had after dental work (so, sore) and he was OK with it. I used to microwave him some cheap frozen fish fillets in water (or cat Milk if I was feeling generous).