Holly and Pablo
Member
So today was the big day. As some of you know, I was nervous about having the procedure done somewhere besides the clinic where I work since I wouldn't be in the room with him, not to mention the cost would be outrageous. But since the specialist (Carolinas Animal Hospital and Dental Clinic) had such awesome technology, monitoring capabilities, and a vet, Dr. Kathy Queck, who called me back and answered all my questions personally, I chose to go with them.
I am so glad I did.
When they got Pablo sedated, the vet could actually examine his teeth, which is impossible unsedated. His top canines had broken tips and were brownish, so she suspected immediately that the nerve was dying. Well, the full-mouth x-rays revealed that not only were the roots of his canines dead, they were GONE. They had literally been rotting away for years. A normal cat's canine is about twice as long up inside the gums as what you can see externally. Pablo's root was 1/3 the length of the visible tooth. Dr. Queck said that she was amazed he's been such a "happy camper" for this long because the resorbing roots are extremely painful. To make matters worse, one of the roots was actually rotting through the side of the intact tooth up inside his gums. She took a picture of it to show at her next seminar because it was so cool looking!
So, long story short, both of his upper canines had to be removed. If more root had been left, she could have performed a root canal, but there was literally nothing left to do but extract them. So she made a skin flap, removed the teeth, and sewed the gums back shut again. She also sealed two enamel defects on the inner aspects of his lower canines that she suspects were caused by the upper canines smashing into them (which would explain the uppers being broken). The tissue holding the canines in place was thick and tough as rubber, she said, because of chronic inflammation. She said she suspects his diabetes will be considerably easier to regulate now that all that inflammation and infection is taken care of. Yaaaaaaaaay!
And you know the most amazing thing about it? She let me hold him while being sedated and when he was waking up...and I stayed with him during the whole procedure. She had just assumed I would want to, and since I work at a clinic and traveled so far to have the dental done, she let me stand right over her shoulder the whole time. She explained in detail everything she was doing, and we discussed the procedure, the effect it will have on his diabetes and recently-discovered anemia, etc. I even got to watch a procedure on another cat that was there at the same time. He was under anesthesia for just under 2.5 hours (she even asked me what induction anesthesia I'd prefer to use), and he woke up in my arms less than 15 minutes after they removed the Sevo. And she gave him two shots of Buprenex and sent me home with more injectable Bupe for five days since SQ is so easy for me to administer.
I love this clinic.
Anyone who lives in the South should use them for their dental services! They did everything exactly as it should have been, and I can vouch for it because I watched it all!
It was super-duper expensive, but this cat is the most important thing in my life. It was worth every penny of the $1100 to know he was in experienced, caring hands the whole time.
Oh, and they're emailing me his x-rays and the pictures they took. I will post them as soon as I get them!
I am so glad I did.
When they got Pablo sedated, the vet could actually examine his teeth, which is impossible unsedated. His top canines had broken tips and were brownish, so she suspected immediately that the nerve was dying. Well, the full-mouth x-rays revealed that not only were the roots of his canines dead, they were GONE. They had literally been rotting away for years. A normal cat's canine is about twice as long up inside the gums as what you can see externally. Pablo's root was 1/3 the length of the visible tooth. Dr. Queck said that she was amazed he's been such a "happy camper" for this long because the resorbing roots are extremely painful. To make matters worse, one of the roots was actually rotting through the side of the intact tooth up inside his gums. She took a picture of it to show at her next seminar because it was so cool looking!
So, long story short, both of his upper canines had to be removed. If more root had been left, she could have performed a root canal, but there was literally nothing left to do but extract them. So she made a skin flap, removed the teeth, and sewed the gums back shut again. She also sealed two enamel defects on the inner aspects of his lower canines that she suspects were caused by the upper canines smashing into them (which would explain the uppers being broken). The tissue holding the canines in place was thick and tough as rubber, she said, because of chronic inflammation. She said she suspects his diabetes will be considerably easier to regulate now that all that inflammation and infection is taken care of. Yaaaaaaaaay!
And you know the most amazing thing about it? She let me hold him while being sedated and when he was waking up...and I stayed with him during the whole procedure. She had just assumed I would want to, and since I work at a clinic and traveled so far to have the dental done, she let me stand right over her shoulder the whole time. She explained in detail everything she was doing, and we discussed the procedure, the effect it will have on his diabetes and recently-discovered anemia, etc. I even got to watch a procedure on another cat that was there at the same time. He was under anesthesia for just under 2.5 hours (she even asked me what induction anesthesia I'd prefer to use), and he woke up in my arms less than 15 minutes after they removed the Sevo. And she gave him two shots of Buprenex and sent me home with more injectable Bupe for five days since SQ is so easy for me to administer.
I love this clinic.
Anyone who lives in the South should use them for their dental services! They did everything exactly as it should have been, and I can vouch for it because I watched it all!It was super-duper expensive, but this cat is the most important thing in my life. It was worth every penny of the $1100 to know he was in experienced, caring hands the whole time.
Oh, and they're emailing me his x-rays and the pictures they took. I will post them as soon as I get them!
keep us posted on how he's doing by posting daily ok? We'd love to hear from you and Pablo!
