lol

Miko  Rule of thumb unless you trust your vet completely  get a second
opinion

Ask your vet if you can use a light anesthesia.

Cats do need teeth pulled sometimes since, besides pain which they do
feel but hide, resulting infections can kill them. I don't know why
seven at one time on a three year old cat though. Were there symptoms
that caused you to bring the cat to the vet?

General anesthesia is a real cause for concern but of course most
animals recover just fine. There are different kinds that are used but
it has definitely gotten safer over the years. Google General
Anesthesia Cats and you'll find plenty to read. I've had several cats,
including very sick ones, tolerate anesthesia very well. Or, at least,
they lived through it.

I adopted one very elderly cat with major mouth problems and had to
have all of her teeth pulled. Many were broken off below the gum line.
If that tough old bitch made it through (Jackie for those that
remember her), then your cat should also.

So, two questions. Why do seven teeth need to be pulled? and, Do you
have reason to believe that this vet isn't too good with anesthesia?
Maybe even one more question. My vet didn't have experience with that
kind of dental surgery and I couldn't even take her to my "normal"
specialty vet because they didn't have a dentist. I had to take her to
the specialty vet that did have a dental program. Is your vet also a
dentist?

It was worth the money when Jackie started eating and seeming to be
happy.

Any anesthesia carries some risk, for pets and people. When it comes
to tooth problems, though, where are many reasons why you *should*
have this taken care of. One obvious reason is pain control for the
animal. A pet whose teeth hurt won't want to eat, may drool, or
otherwise act uncomfortable. Second, the teeth can can become infected
and the infection can travel through the body. Third, the tartar can
travel through the body and go to the heart and/or kidneys. (This is
also the case for humans. There have been a series of ads on tv about
this very thing.)

I know it's a bit scary, but if it were my cat I would take the risk
and have this done. If you are not comfortable with this vet, get
copies of your records and go elsewhere.

In article <37616310-850e-4618-bf6d-6b3b280f5101
@e4g2000hsg.googlegroups.com>, bruin70@mail.com says...

Disclaimer: I am not a veterinarian.  I just play one on Usenet.  LOL

Cats get toothaches, of course, but they also have a MUCH higher pain
threshold than humans.  This is probably why they can have rotten teeth
and not act as if they are suffering.  HOWEVER, bad teeth will lead to
infection and that will cause more serious problems.

I believe some vets can just give the animal a muscle relaxant so it
won't struggle and hurt itself during procedures such as tooth-pulling.  
The cat will not be able to move and they'll probably have to intubate
it so it can breathe, but it won't be "out" as it would under general
anesthesia.  So that may be an option.  I don't know if that's any safer
than general anesthesia or not; a real vet should know.

Did those cats have gas or a shot? My vet changed over to gas several years
ago, I think because it was safer. She also offers pre anesthesia blood work
for older cats. Since the gas is more expensive than a shot and safer I
usually pass on the blood work, unless I want blood wokr to look into other
symptoms.

If you've lost 2 there maybe its time for a new vet.

I have several older cats with few or no teeth. I feel really bad for them
but at Least I know there not haveing tooth aches and they seem to eat ok.

ron

A cat can live perfectly well, and PAIN FREE, after having their teeth
pulled.  They usually leave the big fangs.  Cats do not chew.  They tear off
chunks of meat and swallow.  A "toothless" cat has no need for teeth.

Condemning a cat to chronic lifelong pain is simply cruel.  By all means
have it done and if you aren't sure get a second opinion from another vet.

Paul

Although not common, I have heard of young cats having severe dental
problems that have required extractions. In one case it was a cat under the
age of 2 who needed all her teeth pulled. We rescued another cat who was
around the age of yours who needed all of his pulled as well. He did fine
without them and was adopted and last I heard was doing well in his new
home.

If you aren't comfortable with your vet you should start looking for a new
one. Get recommendations from others you know who have pets. If you have a
pet supply store with an adoption center, ask the volunteers if they know
which vet practices in the area have a good reputation.

Wendy

Find a vet board certified in dental care. Gives you a little extra
chance he/she might actually KNOW what the hell they are doing. Takes
special skills to be a dentist. http://www.avdc.org/

You don't specify whether both of your prior cat's died from
veterinary intervention for tooth extraction, so I assume it wasn't
for that precise reason; Perhaps other reasons? If your main concern
is trusting your vet, you *would* be best off finding another one as
fast as you can. The best way to find a good vet, is to ask a friend
or colleague who they take their cats to. It's the best way to find
one that is good @ their job, & does care for your cat as much as you
do. ( It is in his / her interest to do so!) As soon as you have found
one, register your cat & get over there ASAP with your cat & wait for
the second opinion.

If, as I guess they might say, that she does indeed have this
procedure done ASAP, for the cat's sake because they do feel pain just
as much as we do. Make sure to tell them how concerned you are about
it....(putting her to sleep whilst she has the dental work done, I
meant),- they *will* make sure that your feelings are taken into
consideration & adhered to as much as is reasonably possible.

First, we need you to find a vet that you would be happier with asap.
If you need help finding one, then ask for advice from people in your
general area, OK?

As it is the weekend, you might need to bite the bullet & get her seen
asap, before it gets any worse(?) & you end up with a very sick cat
with septicemia who maybe unsaveable if left to fester. Monday am @
the latest would be best if you can do that?
If expense is a factor @ play, then don't feel embarrassed to ask for
financial assistance from anywhere that can help you. (different names
in diffferent countries- RSPCA in UK)- That's what it's there for!
Even a payment plan would work here?

You took the first step & asked for help, which is a good thing.
The only reason cyber is so short with you, is because she has been
asked the same question so often over the years, by people who are
simply too tight fisted to pay for their cat's care. I know that the
moment that you have your cat seen to, & come back to let us know how
you got on, & how your cat is feeling, Cyber would be the first to say
how pleased she is. Trust me?!!

I'm sorry your cat is going through such a bad time, & I hope that you
can take the problem by the horns, so that you can guide what happens
from now on. I hope that this helps you, even if only to confirm that
it is painful for kitty. And, Yes, she does seem a little young for
tooth decay, but then again, as with human, there is always an
exception to the rule.

Good Luck & hope to hear that things are much improved soon.

Sheelagh >"o"<