
Ask A Question - Help - Register - Login

Dear Pet Experts, Our vet performed a blood test ...

Sent to Pet Experts May 07 4:12 a.m.

Dear Pet Experts,

Our vet performed a blood test and found out that my cat''s kidney function was slightly weak. He told me that our cat should be kept on an IV overnight to flush out the system prior to the general anesthesia (dental cleaning and 3 teeth extraction). My cat''s age (8 years old) was the main reason for his recommendation of IV. Is this a good idea? I feel uneasy about leaving our cat at the vet''s hospital overnight. How is the IV placed in our cat''s vein? Isn''t it painful as he moves around inside a cage? He doesn''t know what is going on; he may think we left him at the vet''s for good. He has never spent a night in a stranger''s house or a vet''s clinic.
Thank you very much in advance for your guidance.

Optional Information:
Age: 8; Male; Breed: cat/tabby

Already Tried:
This is his first dental cleaning in his life. He eats hard food, but his gum is very reddish and in definite need of professional attention.

Customer (name blocked for privacy)

Status: Closed Value: $9

Info Request
May 07 6:52 a.m. (2 hours and 40 minutes later)

REPLIED to Info Request

Hi there,

Please post his kidney values BUN - Creatnine - PCV.

How important is this procedure?

Does he have abscessed teeth?

Thanks,

Terri

__________________
Dedicated to cats and the people who love them!
If my answer was helpful please press ACCEPT and leave feedback. Thank you.

Terri Riba -- Animal Healthcare expert -- 100% Positive Feedback on 2571 Pet Accepts
20+ years in vet care experience in medicine, behavior, nutrition, holistics

Reply to Terri Riba
Sent May 08 3:17 a.m. (20 hours and 24 minutes later)

Hi Terri,
Thank you for your reply. I don't have the test result with me, but I have a letter from the vet which states, "...Moe's Creatinine is slightly elevated... I would like to stress that this elevation is very slight."
The second blood test which was performed yesterday showed his Creatinine level within the normal range.

Regarding the overnight IV, I am more concerned about Moe's stree level than the medical benefit of flushing out his system prior to the next day's general anesthesia. Should an 8 yr-old cat be subject to this treatment? If this is an option, I may want to speak to our vet to find out the importance of this process.

Moe's gum is pretty bad. As for extracting some teeth, I am in agreement with my vet. He said that he may have to extract one of his molars. The vet is fully aware of my wish to extract as few teeth as possible.

My main question is for you, Terri, is the importance of the overnight IV. I'm sorry I don't have more information to give you regarding his blood level result. Please give me your advice based on this reply. Thank you.

Customer (name blocked for privacy)

Answer
May 08 8:38 a.m. (5 hours and 21 minutes later)

ACCEPTED

Dear friend,

I understand your concern. A cats stress level prior to surgery is very important because both things weaken the immune system.

However, your vet is trying to cover all bases.Moe does need the dental procedure.There is no getting around that. The problem is his kidneys need to be able to detoxify the anesthesia. If anything goes wrong he could go into kidney failure.

Hydration lowers creatnine by flushing the system of toxins.

Your vet should be able to dothe surgery with Moe hooked up to an IV throughout the procedure. He should not have to keep him overnight.That is just a cautionary procedure.

You may want to use a vet that is board certified in dentistry.He may charge more but is better quaified to to perform the operation.

BTW all infected or even suspicious teeth should be removed.Moe does not need them and you will be defeating the purpose if you leave any bad teeth behind.

Dental bacteria entering the bloodstrean is what cause renal failure in cats.

Please let me know if you wish to discuss this further.

I hope everything goes well and your baby will be fine.

Sincerest best wishes,

Terri

__________________
Dedicated to cats and the people who love them!
If my answer was helpful please press ACCEPT and leave feedback. Thank you.

Terri Riba -- Animal Healthcare expert -- 100% Positive Feedback on 2571 Pet Accepts
20+ years in vet care experience in medicine, behavior, nutrition, holistics

Reply
Sent May 08 9:04 a.m. (25 minutes and 53 seconds later)

Terri's reply was warm and reassuring. I very much appreciated her understanding our concern and answered exactly what we needed to know.

Customer (name blocked for privacy)

Think you can answer this question?
Login or Become an Expert

Related Answers:

	DISCLAIMER: You acknowledge that any information you may obtain from individuals you contact through use of the Just Answer service comes from those individuals, not from Just Answer!, and that Just Answer is not in any way responsible for any of the information these third parties may supply. The site and services are provided "as is" with no warranty and no representations are made regarding the qualification of an Expert. Responses and comments on Just Answer! are for general information and are not intended to substitute for informed professional advice (such as medical, legal, investment or accounting) and do not establish a professional-client relationship. Just Answer! is not intended or designed to address EMERGENCY QUESTIONS which should be directed immediately by telephone or in-person to qualified professionals. Please carefully read the Terms of Service.

Just Answer! > Pet Health > Vet Questions