My cat, Gemma is 13 years old. 2 years ago, she had some teeth taken out and the rest de-scaled because she stopped eating and was being sick (due to swallowing large amounts of food without chewing because it was painful to chew).

Now, she is being sick, not eating and not chewing. Had a look in her mouth, and she only has two teeth at the top and about 5 on her bottom jaw and the teeth are all plaqued up, and her gumline is red, but the actual gums are white. She has a heart murmur (about 3-4 grade, quite severe), and the white gums are worrying me, thinking she could be anaemic. Also, she wees an awful lot, could this be a sign of diabetes? And we worry that they won't be able to put her under to do a de-scale of her teeth due to her heart problem. And even if they did take some teeth out and de-scale the few remaining ones, she won't be able to chew anyway because she'll only have a few teeth left. But if she's not eating and in pain, what do we do? She is fed soft wet food that we mash up into small pieces, we also have tried her with pate, but I think even that is too much for her.

What are our options here? She is going to the vet today for a discussion about it all, but wanted to know about opinions on here.

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I OWN A CHOCOLATE ROAN COCKER SPANIEL
RIP David xx Run free at the bridge. Love you always xx 19th February 2011
RIP Jack and Mickey xx Run free at the bridge. Love you forever xx 20th June 2011

Going through this myself with my seventeen old cat, he is in on friday this week! I have had fantastic advise given me by an old member onhere as I too was worried about the anesthetic at his age, she told me about 'bagging' and also about it they are left and he does not eat that could be fatal! and generally put my mind at rest , I have since talked this over with my vet and he is quiet confident that Billy removing the teeth is the best thing to do inour instance , but there is always a risk,even with the healthiest animals. To add, billy has a thyroid problem and they dohave to keep a close watch onhis heart too!

whatever you decide, all the very best -andsure your vet will steer you in the right direction!
BTW- we started with AB's but guess the damage is too far gone

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Poor Gemma

Simba was in the other week for a scale & polish & fine, he's nearly 18 & had both his thyroids removed a few years back but they still keept a close eye on things just in case even though his blood test was fine, hope Gemma is to x

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All my children have paws!

thanks you guys.

Went to the vet and one of her top teeth had chipped so the root was still in her gum with exposed nerve, which is probably why she avoids eating. It must be so painful. Her front two bottom canines are ok (she lost her top canines), but her left bottom molars are plaqued up and need either de-scaling or removing because she has gingvitis around them.

She's going in tomorrow for removal of the root of her top tooth (which leaves her with no top teeth at all), and de-scale or removal of the bottom molars. They said they would keep a very close eye on her under GA because of her heart condition and her age, and they would give her a lower anaesthesic dose to reduce the risks. She's also having blood tests done and kidney tests.

How much is yours costing DT? My price is eye-watering.

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I OWN A CHOCOLATE ROAN COCKER SPANIEL
RIP David xx Run free at the bridge. Love you always xx 19th February 2011
RIP Jack and Mickey xx Run free at the bridge. Love you forever xx 20th June 2011

I don't know until friday, I did ask but they said they will not know how much until he in finished, they did say that extractions START at £44 but thenthere is the anesthetic ontop - last timeifI rememberrightI think itwasaround£170 and the first timeit was less the £100 biut that was agood whileago - I amnot really expecting any change from £200 - have you been given any idea?

Oh! andalmostforgot - Billy is have bloods two for his thyroid- sothere will bethat and the lab fee on top

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oh my god, ours is costing £480. we can't really haggle or do anything about price because she isn't eating much, so its sort of emergency. It needs to be done tomorrow.

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I OWN A CHOCOLATE ROAN COCKER SPANIEL
RIP David xx Run free at the bridge. Love you always xx 19th February 2011
RIP Jack and Mickey xx Run free at the bridge. Love you forever xx 20th June 2011

I would get the teeth taken out, as many as necessary - cats can eat very well without them. My previous cats were soooooooooo much happier after their tooth ops!! Their gums harden up and they can eat any cat food, wet or dry!!!

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RIP Charcoal my shy girl 1987-2000, Patch the wanderer 1987-?, Tabby my darling fluffball 1988-2002 & Panda the rascal 1988-2008

OMG! I hope it isn't that much! As I said it is a good few years since the last time.
Shall let you know on Friday though

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Your cats op will cost more, due to kidney function test before op (£40-60 ALONE). And the extra cost of fluids (as DT described above-bagged) being run through (to protect kidneys and other organs during GA) thats another £60 ish. Thats even before the cost of the GA and extractions and scale/polish. So yes, for your cat I would expect total cost to be around £400.

Most standard dentals are £200. But you will have extra tests, care and the cost a fluid line while under GA.

Wishing your cat well, and successful dental work. The pain the poor cat must be in just now, with an exposed nerve which usually causes a neck lesion in the tooth

thank you for explaining the price. I couldn't really remember most of what he said, but I understand now what she's having and what the costs are.

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I OWN A CHOCOLATE ROAN COCKER SPANIEL
RIP David xx Run free at the bridge. Love you always xx 19th February 2011
RIP Jack and Mickey xx Run free at the bridge. Love you forever xx 20th June 2011