My Cat's Dental Emergency: A Harrowing Experience and a Happy Ending
add_circle Pros
- The vet was super knowledgeable and helped us figure out what was going on with our cat.
- The dental surgery was a total success - our cat's mouth sores are gone, and he's eating like a champ.
- We were able to get our cat the care he needed, and he's doing great now.
- The antibiotics we tried did work for a little while, even though they weren't a long-term solution.
- Our cat's build quality (aka his overall health) was pretty good, considering what he went through.
- The customer support at the vet's office was top-notch - they answered all our questions and put us at ease.
remove_circle Cons
- Calcivirus is a real pain in the neck - it's a nasty bug that can spread fast and cause some serious problems.
- The antibiotics we tried had some pretty unpleasant side effects, like diarrhea and vomiting.
- The dental surgery was expensive, but we knew it was necessary to save our cat's life.
- Our cat was in a lot of pain after the surgery, and it took him a while to recover.
- The whole experience was super stressful - I was worried sick about my cat's health.
- We had to deal with some unexpected expenses, like the cost of the surgery and follow-up care.
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Editor's Summary
I'm a cat dad, and I'll do whatever it takes to keep my furball healthy and happy. Last year, our orange cat came down with a nasty bug called calcivirus, which can spread fast and cause some serious problems. By the time we figured out what was going on, it had already infected his gums and throat, giving him a bad case of mouth sores. We tried antibiotics, but they only worked for a little while. Our vet said some of his teeth were beyond saving, and that they'd have to be removed. It was a tough call, but we knew it was for the best. Our cat's been through a lot, but he's a fighter, and he's eating like a champ now.
Specifications
Hello everyone!
We had a pretty rough patch with our cat a year ago. He came down with calcivirus, which is a pretty rare disease in dogs but more common in cats. Our orange furball wasn't immune.
I'm a cat dad, and I'll do whatever it takes to keep him healthy and happy. He's always been a pretty low-maintenance pet, but this time we were in for a surprise.
Calcivirus is a nasty bug that can spread fast. By the time we figured out what was going on, it had already infected his gums and throat, giving him a bad case of stomatitis. It's a real pain in the neck for cats, and it's no fun watching them struggle to eat.
As time went on, our cat started getting really uncomfortable while eating, and eventually he just stopped opening his mouth altogether. We were worried sick, and it was clear we needed to do something.
We tried a bunch of different antibiotics, but they only worked for a little while. Our vet said some of his teeth were beyond saving, and that they'd have to be removed. It's a tough call, but we knew it was for the best.
We were told the exact number of teeth to be removed would be determined during the surgery, since our cat wouldn't let us take a look at his mouth beforehand. The situation was pretty dire - his breath was awful, and he was constantly drooling. It was clear our poor furball was in agony.
It wasn't an easy decision, but we knew it was the right one. The vet said the procedure was pretty straightforward and wouldn't be a big deal. I'm not sure if he was just trying to calm us down, but it worked!
We didn't feed our cat for a few hours before the surgery. We'd run some tests and done an ultrasound of his heart beforehand, just to make sure he was healthy enough for the anesthesia. The vet gave him an IV injection, and we waited until he fell asleep. Then, they took him away, and we were told to grab a snack or take a walk - they'd call us when it was over.
The procedure took about 40-60 minutes. When we got back to the clinic, our cat was still pretty out of it, but he started coming around gradually. Eight teeth were removed in total. The vet only charged us for seven, since one of the teeth had fallen out on its own, and he didn't charge us for that one.
Honestly, we were expecting a much bigger bill, but it turned out to be only a bit more than our usual vet visit. I was super relieved.
We got some post-op instructions and sent home. We were told to keep an eye on our cat's behavior and watch for any signs of complications.
We also picked up some painkillers and other meds for the recovery period, including Onsior, which I've reviewed separately. We followed all the instructions to the letter, of course.
The recovery process.
As soon as we got home, our cat started coming around, and he even tried to stand up and walk around. He was a bit wobbly, his mouth was bleeding, and he was still pretty drowsy. If you've ever had a cat spayed or neutered, you know what I'm talking about.
We could feed him again after three hours. We bought some liquid food, and he ate it up eagerly. We laid out a blanket on the floor for him to sleep on, since he wasn't quite coordinated enough to jump onto the bed without falling.
At 4 am, we were woken up by our cat's pitiful meowing. I was a bit worried, thinking he might be in pain, but it turned out he was just hungry!
The next day, our cat was still a bit lethargic, but by evening, he was back to his old self. By the next day, he was fully recovered, and there were no complications or side effects from the procedure.
We were super relieved to find that there were no long-term consequences from the procedure. Our vet said it was a textbook case, and our cat was lucky to have such a great outcome.
As our cat's kidneys aren't too happy with liquid food, we consulted with our vet and the surgeon, and they agreed to switch him back to dry food after a week. He took to it like a pro and is now eating without any issues.
I highly recommend this procedure if it's medically necessary, but make sure to get your pet's health checked before the surgery to avoid any complications from the anesthesia. It's a big decision, but it's worth it in the end.
By the way, I've written a separate review about the cat food I don't recommend to anyone who cares about their pets.
Thanks for reading!
Have a great day!
