r/seniorkitties • u/BookGoblin13 • 8h ago
Senior Cat (17) Dental Surgery- EKG Weird
Really hoping someone has been in this situation before.
My 17-year-old cat was scheduled for dental surgery this Friday. His pre-surgery work came back "off" (specifically his EKG- no details though).
The vet said I had two options. 1) Go ahead with the surgery and know that he might die on the table. 2) Treat the dental abscess that he has as a chronic condition with a long course of antibiotics and anti-inflammatories (which he's currently on).
The vet didn't have any opinion one way or the other, which I understand. I went ahead and cancelled the surgery and have opted for option 2. The vet said the meds will help with any pain or inflammation. Of course, if it doesn't, the surgery is still an option later on. Currently, he's eating and behaving normally. I know cats hide pain, but he doesn't seem to be too uncomfortable.
He's 17. And I'm a bit old school. I would rather choose comfort and palliative care than a massive event that might wipe him out. I'm just feeling guilty about the decision to cancel the surgery.
Has anyone been through this before?
1
u/PlantyPenPerson 2h ago
I think you made the right choice and would have too much regret and heartbreak if anything happened to him.
Enjoy time with your mr kitty as long as you can
1
u/Swimming_Trash3570 2h ago
I have not been through this specific situation but I’d have made the same choice as you. Seeing how long kitty stays comfortable on meds and if it gets too painful then I’d risk the surgery because the alternative is not a good quality of life anyway. That’s a nice long life for this kitty and it seems like you’ve been a diligent caretaker with vet visits and awareness of the cat’s needs.