Discussion
Our 15yr old Cat needs some dental work
A fractured incisor needs to be extracted and other teeth scaled as there is some Gingivitis.
Vet seems to think that 2 operations are needed. First to take x-rays, scale, and determine if there are problems with any other teeth.
Then a second operation to extract the fractured incisor.
I'm wondering why everything can't be done with one operation, as general anaesthetics for older animals are risky.
Vet estimates around £450 for each operation.
Does this seem reasonable? We are in SW England.
A fractured incisor needs to be extracted and other teeth scaled as there is some Gingivitis.
Vet seems to think that 2 operations are needed. First to take x-rays, scale, and determine if there are problems with any other teeth.
Then a second operation to extract the fractured incisor.
I'm wondering why everything can't be done with one operation, as general anaesthetics for older animals are risky.
Vet estimates around £450 for each operation.
Does this seem reasonable? We are in SW England.
First off £450 per op to me sounds reasonable, my youngest is an RVN, the costs to just put to sleep and monitor during an operation runs into the £100's.
Secondly 2 ops, why not all in one go, my 10 yo dog (4.5kg so likely a similar size to your cat) had all his teeth removed over 2 operations, reason given for 2 separate operations as opposed to just the one, given the length of time and amount of anaesthetic required to be under for that time to have all the work done in one go and as it wasn't a life-threatening condition, it was far safer for him to have 2 separate operations spread 4-6 weeks apart.
We are SE, total cost was £2200.
Secondly 2 ops, why not all in one go, my 10 yo dog (4.5kg so likely a similar size to your cat) had all his teeth removed over 2 operations, reason given for 2 separate operations as opposed to just the one, given the length of time and amount of anaesthetic required to be under for that time to have all the work done in one go and as it wasn't a life-threatening condition, it was far safer for him to have 2 separate operations spread 4-6 weeks apart.
We are SE, total cost was £2200.
Edited by HTP99 on Friday 29th November 07:37
It doesn't seem sensible to me to put the cat out just to 'take x-rays, scale, and determine if there are problems with any other teeth.'
The cat needs a general for the extraction; that seems to me (I'm not a vet) a sensible time to do the X-ray etc. That may show that the cat doesn't need a second general.
The cat needs a general for the extraction; that seems to me (I'm not a vet) a sensible time to do the X-ray etc. That may show that the cat doesn't need a second general.
Simpo Two said:
It doesn't seem sensible to me to put the cat out just to 'take x-rays, scale, and determine if there are problems with any other teeth.'
The cat needs a general for the extraction; that seems to me (I'm not a vet) a sensible time to do the X-ray etc. That may show that the cat doesn't need a second general.
Agree with this, stress of 2 GAs in a 15 yo cat is less desireable than an extra 30 mins on duration of 1 GAThe cat needs a general for the extraction; that seems to me (I'm not a vet) a sensible time to do the X-ray etc. That may show that the cat doesn't need a second general.
Check to see if your vet practice is now owned by this lot - https://ivcevidensia.com/
They acquired our previous vet and suddenly our cats were getting recommended for all sorts of referrals, tests, procedures etc., none of which had ever been mentioned previously. Our youngest needed a tooth out and the vets wanted to refer her down to Edinburgh for a couple of days of specialist vet. dental work, which they said would run well into four figures. We got a second opinion at what is now our current practice, they took out one tooth and gave her a scale and polish and that seemed to have her right as rain again.
Obviously we couldn't just ask the cat "is that all your tooth pain gone then?" so can't be 100% sure but she never seemed to have any issue with her mouth again until she was on the last few weeks before she had to be PTS for other reasons. I did a fair bit of googling on IVC around that time and found plenty of stories on other forums etc. of owners who were suddenly getting a lot of cross-selling etc.
They acquired our previous vet and suddenly our cats were getting recommended for all sorts of referrals, tests, procedures etc., none of which had ever been mentioned previously. Our youngest needed a tooth out and the vets wanted to refer her down to Edinburgh for a couple of days of specialist vet. dental work, which they said would run well into four figures. We got a second opinion at what is now our current practice, they took out one tooth and gave her a scale and polish and that seemed to have her right as rain again.
Obviously we couldn't just ask the cat "is that all your tooth pain gone then?" so can't be 100% sure but she never seemed to have any issue with her mouth again until she was on the last few weeks before she had to be PTS for other reasons. I did a fair bit of googling on IVC around that time and found plenty of stories on other forums etc. of owners who were suddenly getting a lot of cross-selling etc.
8bit said:
Check to see if your vet practice is now owned by this lot - https://ivcevidensia.com/
They acquired our previous vet and suddenly our cats were getting recommended for all sorts of referrals, tests, procedures etc., none of which had ever been mentioned previously. Our youngest needed a tooth out and the vets wanted to refer her down to Edinburgh for a couple of days of specialist vet. dental work, which they said would run well into four figures. We got a second opinion at what is now our current practice, they took out one tooth and gave her a scale and polish and that seemed to have her right as rain again.
Obviously we couldn't just ask the cat "is that all your tooth pain gone then?" so can't be 100% sure but she never seemed to have any issue with her mouth again until she was on the last few weeks before she had to be PTS for other reasons. I did a fair bit of googling on IVC around that time and found plenty of stories on other forums etc. of owners who were suddenly getting a lot of cross-selling etc.
Irrespctive of a corporate appearing to be just about profit, so many of the front line vets who are mostly young, they aim for everyone to adopt "gold standard" pet health care. Which for me doesn't fit all cases, and they can't see beyond their blinkered one way approach. They acquired our previous vet and suddenly our cats were getting recommended for all sorts of referrals, tests, procedures etc., none of which had ever been mentioned previously. Our youngest needed a tooth out and the vets wanted to refer her down to Edinburgh for a couple of days of specialist vet. dental work, which they said would run well into four figures. We got a second opinion at what is now our current practice, they took out one tooth and gave her a scale and polish and that seemed to have her right as rain again.
Obviously we couldn't just ask the cat "is that all your tooth pain gone then?" so can't be 100% sure but she never seemed to have any issue with her mouth again until she was on the last few weeks before she had to be PTS for other reasons. I did a fair bit of googling on IVC around that time and found plenty of stories on other forums etc. of owners who were suddenly getting a lot of cross-selling etc.
Hi,
The staging of dentals can be useful to ensure that all teeth are examined by the use of dental radiography and then a planned extraction list can be made and carried out at a further time. It’s mainly to ensure that dentals don’t go on four hours (which I have seen happen many times). Denver the length of anaesthesia is linked to risk of anaesthesic death. So generally a staged dental is recommended.
Having said that, if the teeth are otherwise ok and it is just an incisor, I personally would carry out the radiographs and if all other teeth are ok, remove the affected incisor and be done with it. Incisors are one of the more simple test to extract so IF IT IS JUST AN INCISOR OR TWO then they shouldn’t have an issue taking it out in one procedure.
Vets are a nice bunch and it’s a shame we all get tarred with a corporate brush given most of us are just salaried with no real targets. Just ask them if they can do it on one procedure - they will likely do it.
Hope this helps
The staging of dentals can be useful to ensure that all teeth are examined by the use of dental radiography and then a planned extraction list can be made and carried out at a further time. It’s mainly to ensure that dentals don’t go on four hours (which I have seen happen many times). Denver the length of anaesthesia is linked to risk of anaesthesic death. So generally a staged dental is recommended.
Having said that, if the teeth are otherwise ok and it is just an incisor, I personally would carry out the radiographs and if all other teeth are ok, remove the affected incisor and be done with it. Incisors are one of the more simple test to extract so IF IT IS JUST AN INCISOR OR TWO then they shouldn’t have an issue taking it out in one procedure.
Vets are a nice bunch and it’s a shame we all get tarred with a corporate brush given most of us are just salaried with no real targets. Just ask them if they can do it on one procedure - they will likely do it.
Hope this helps
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