DU amateur vets, I need a pre-diagnosis and estimate.

[Beware the Beast Man]

I'm taking Eleanor, pictured below, to the vet tomorrow to get some long overdue treatment of her teeth. We've had a problem with them ever since we adopted her a year ago. Her symptoms are bad breath, swollen gums, occasional loss of appetite, and drooling. We took her to one place that said she had scarring on her throat as well. They wanted to extract some teeth and clean others, then use a laser to lance the scars in her mouth. Their estimate was over $1000, which I thought was extreme. Is it? My wife's theory is that this particular vet just wanted to use their expensive new toy.

With that said, we're taking her to a different vet tomorrow. My wife's coworker said she had a similar problem with her cat and the bill came up to $150. So, I need your pre-diagnosis. I won't know until I know, but I'm just curious if any of you had a similar problem.

[Dookus]

1. I took in a lost cat years ago

and took her to the vet for a checkup. Ended up paying almost $700 for dental work. Yeah, it can get expensive, especially if extractions are needed. Good luck to you and that cute little kitty!

[Philostopher]

2. I'd get another estimate.

We had this done for one of ours about six months ago -- also a tortie, though not a dilute tortie -- and they charged us a little over $200. They anesthetized her and pulled seven teeth, and they used 'superglue' on her gums. She had no problems, still has her fangs, and eats everything we give her. Fortunately, we feed a small, 'one-bite' kibble, so she can keep eating that.

On edit -- she didn't lose her fangs. They are more complex to pull, though, and might add to the total. Don't know how much -- we're hoping Doodle keeps hers for a while!

[Mikimouse]

3. I had DC's teeth done last year...

the Vet. told me that he had a great deal of placque and that the reason he was not eating normally was because of a small ulcer in his cheek from the placque. He put the old boy under, cleaned his teeth, the ulcer healed by itself, and he is back to his normal irrascible self, all for $72.00.

[LiberalEsto]

4. Poor kitty!

I once had a cat who drooled incessantly. She'd been poisoned -- accidentally -- in a previous home. The scarring on your cat's throat leads me to think this is a possibility. That could account for the dental problems too. I'd get an opinion from another vet, and ask whether this could be from eating something toxic.

Get well, kittycat!

[SaveElmer]

5. Well I have a dog...but

It cost $200 for the teeth cleaning...they have to sedate them to do the cleaning...$1000 sounds like way too much, even if they have to remove some...you should ask how much of that is for the throat treatment

[TX-RAT]

6. Does she have sores or hot spots on her neck or back.

[jukes]

7. Beware the Beast Man

this is an extremely complex problem. the lesions in the throat (stomatitis) can be caused by several conditions, gum disease & chronic infection is one of them. Vets, especially those that have been in practice for awhile & can't keep up w/the enormous amount of literature, tend to make this diagnosis most frequently, and prescribe surgery.

enter salesman, touting the benefits of laser surgery; now old wisdom combined w/ new gadgetry lends the appearance of keeping up-to-date.

my cat gary had developed stomatitis, & consequential dental problems some years back. he lost weight, drank alot, and wd retch while "reaching" @ his muzzle w/his paw as if choking. he had 2 standard surgeries, then 2 laser surgeries. he continued to deteriorate.

i eventually had to put him on steroids for inflammation, feed him through a tube inserted into the stomach via an incision in the back of his neck (stomastomy) & hydrate him w/ 100 CCs of lactated ringers daily, subQ.

he improved over a month, the tube was removed, & i treated isolated flare-ups w/prednisone.

it was def going to kill him over time.



to shorten, after much internet research in desperation i began using lysine therapy to combat a suspected feline herpes infection. when i discussed it w/my vet, she was certain that there was no connection, herpes>stomatitis, but agreed that i try the lysine because there cd be no harm done w/it.

L lysine is an amino acid. it is not found in processed food, because it breaks down w/heat. i had stumbled upon glowing reports of it's use in combating human herpes episodes; apparently an imbalance of arginine/lysine in diet favors the replication of the herpes virus, which requires arginine for reproduction (the "shedding" phase, marked by oral/genital sores, fever, etc.)

gary improved immediately & never had another episode.

lysine therapy is accepted as a valid treatment for feline herpes now http://www.vetinfo4cats.com/cherpesgroup.html please see section marked "herpes virus breakout in cattery".


interferon is also used in treatment of both feline herpes & FIV (the feline analogue to AIDS)

my point is that surgery is an invasive treatment that traumatizes the animal & is frequently unnecessary. do some internet research, arm yourself w/ facts & alternative treatments, & discuss treatment w/ several vets if necessary before you agree to surgery.


i'll be posting a thread on mr. gary shortly.

sorry for the length; hope this helps. good luck w/ your wonderful cat!

[Raven]

8. It should be closer to $150.

The Vet will sedate her and clean and scrape her teeth. If she's got a bad tooth, he might take it out. You might want him to check for other things but you don't have to have more done than you want to. My Vet told me that bad teeth in cats can lead to kidney problems. These Vets can get a little expensive if you let them. I've put a few of their kids through college over the years! Good luck!

[Beware the Beast Man]

9. Thanks everybody

The general consensus is that we were getting hosed by the other vet. I'll keep you posted tomorrow on her condition! :hi: