Rough Morning!

brianj12 · **Posted:** Tue Feb 24, 2015 6:05 pm

At their last checkup, my vet noted that both of my bengals had some redness and inflamation on their gums, and they suggested they get a dental cleaning. I agreed, so now the day I've been dreading has come. I had to drop the bengals off by 7:30am at the vets, so that meant waking up at 5:30am (after not getting home until 11pm last night from a late film school session) to try to wrangle them into the cat carriers. Serafina has always been the problem one. I've gotten pretty scratched up in the past trying to get her into the carrier, and she is kind of notorious at the vets for "not cooperating" (the vet techs are actually kind of scared of her).

The last time the vet gave me a sedative, and it took me about an hour to administer it to her. I tried all types of things, and finally settled on grinding the pill up, mushing the powder on my finger, and "painting" her tongue with my finger. Not this time though, that trick only works once apparently, and once she learned of my intentions, she would have none of it. I finally had to resort to putting on several layers of clothing, plus gloves, put the cat carrier on it's side (with the opening facing up) and dropping her into it with great difficulty. *whew* I thought. Now for the "easy" one... Gaga. Omg, what I didn't expect was how SHE would react. She always been easy. She squirms, and whines a bit, and that's usually it. This time she was PISSED. She's bigger and stronger than Serafina, and resisted really hard, and growled at me in a very menacing voice. Then threw a fit when I finally got her into her carrier, doing sort of a combination of growling/howling/crying. Owch, I didn't see THAT coming.

Anyway, they are at the vets now, and I'm feeling terrible about the whole thing, and nervous that everything will go ok, and that they'll forgive me when they get back :sad:

Donna741 · **Joined:** Wed Feb 05, 2014 9:03 pm **Posts:** 1048

Awww that's the worst feeling. They'll forgive you and in a few days it will be like it never happened.

When we moved we had crates set up for all of the cats, a couple of big crates for the cats who got along and we thought could 'share' a crate and smaller ones for everyone else. Well I didn't even consider that Diesel had only ever been in a plastic hard crate. I put him in a wire crate and he lost his mind! Total freak out, growling, screaming, hissing, a stranger would have thought he was a 100% WILD cat that we had trapped. It was so bad that he actually damaged one of his back toes by getting it caught trying to get out of the crate. I felt like a horrible person, Diesel was traumatized and wouldn't come near us for a couple of days, but he got over it. I now have to put him into the crate while it's standing on it's end (door up) and he has to go in rear end first, but he doesn't panic once he's in it.

CMYKjill · **Joined:** Tue Sep 23, 2014 6:38 pm **Posts:** 1838

I sympathize with the carrier experience. My last cat went to the vet's every week for hydration once she refused to let me administer it any longer. I would stress in my mind how I was going to capture her every week for days before she had to go. She was only 5 pounds but she could put up a struggle if I was able to get within 5 feet of her before she took off to go into deep hiding.

Now I have to capture my current duo once a month for manicures. They just about forget the prior month's experience and I always go for the big wild one first. The other one never runs from me and always allows me to pick her up. But when she sees her sister trapped inside a carrier, she puts up a struggle and I usually get scratched. I try to pick up the big strong one (Grace) every day so she does not panic when I do so out of the blue. I am lucky if she lets me hold her for 5 seconds before twisting out of my arms.

Your babies will be so glad you came back for them, but I bet they will have plenty to say about the experience tonight.

Eggman · **Joined:** Thu Aug 28, 2014 11:22 pm **Posts:** 730

I am sure they will forgive you. Sorry but your description did make me giggle :lol:

We had a complete and utter nightmare trying to give Dexter his TF treatment. My Burmese in comparison was an absolute breeze. Dexter would hold the tablet in his mouth like forever refusing to swallow and we'd find it spat out somewhere after we were absolutely convinced he must have swallowed it!

The specialist vet showed us how to administer tablets to him. The correct way to hold him and a little device with a plastic tip on the end for the pill. She showed us where to open his mouth and then tip head upwards, then put the device quite far back into his throats and shoot it in! Apparently if you do this the cat has an automatic reflex and will swallow it.

Was definitely easier but after the third time Dexter was cottoning on again! You have to hold them paws straight and the little devil crouched down as far as he could not budging.

I've never come across such stubborn cats before in my life!

Let us know how they get on.

brianj12 · **Posted:** Tue Feb 24, 2015 7:49 pm

Oh no! Just got a call from the vet, Gaga has "tooth resorption"

http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/he ... ption.aspx

They haven't checked out Serafina yet, but they say that there is sometimes genetics play a role as to whether a cat is prone to it or not. Crap!

The one silver lining to this though I think is that Gaga has been kind of a "stand-off-ish" kitty for the past year or so, and this does explain that (that she is probably been in some pain due to this dental problem). So perhaps getting this taken care of will be a benefit to her, and even result in her being perhaps more "relaxed" and more social.

*fingers crossed that Serafina doesn't have any problems*.

Tabitha · **Joined:** Sun Feb 02, 2014 8:11 pm **Posts:** 1196

I know how you feel as I've just had the trauma of taking Hendrix to the vet- at least they've gone together and hopefully won't fall out. I thought ours were back to being friends Sunday night but we're still having issues...

I had never heard of tooth resorption but it sounds painful, I hope your other kitty doesn't have it as well, maybe those genes will have skipped one, you never know. Our two are both brothers but only one has loose knee caps so I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

These bengals certainly know how to put us all through the ringer!

CMYKjill · **Joined:** Tue Sep 23, 2014 6:38 pm **Posts:** 1838

Sorry to hear that. How old are your cats? I was just wondering when a cat's teeth would first need to be cleaned.

brianj12 · **Posted:** Tue Feb 24, 2015 8:25 pm

CMYKjill · **Joined:** Tue Sep 23, 2014 6:38 pm **Posts:** 1838

My last cat would sit perfectly still and let the vet scale her teeth while awake. She was exceptional. I can't imagine Grace letting anyone look in her mouth. If I give her a treat with my fingers she will usually chomp down on my finger with her razor sharp teeth trying to extract more treats.

Donna741 · **Joined:** Wed Feb 05, 2014 9:03 pm **Posts:** 1048

Poor Gaga

I bet she's going to feel a lot better once she's all healed up.

Fenstar · **Posted:** Wed Feb 25, 2015 6:06 am

brianj12 · **Posted:** Wed Feb 25, 2015 4:24 pm

Update: they are both home. Final damages: Gaga lost 3 teeth, Serafina lost 1. The vet said that on one of Gaga's canine teeth there was a visible hole large enough to poke a needle through.

They were very very shaken, and are still acting highly unusual. They were both literally running laps around the kitchen island while I prepared food. Serafina has dandruf all over her fur for some reason this morning, but she is also extremely purry and affectionate. She's basically just all over me. Gaga is keeping busy playing with her balls, and wanting me to throw them. Last night while I was eating my dinner, she kept jumping up on the table, trying to snatch food, and growling at me when I put her down (she's never done that before). And in general she's just kind of racing around with this manic energy. I hate to leave them home alone today, but I have to get on to work. The vet wants to see them yearly to check on this, but said that it isn't a given that they will lose more teeth. I hope that this is a net positive for them in that they were in some pain before and now, hopefully, they won't be going forward.

Donna741 · **Joined:** Wed Feb 05, 2014 9:03 pm **Posts:** 1048

I've got 1 cat who gets dandruff every time he is stressed so that could be it for Serafina too. Gaga might just be having a hard time processing the medication out of her system from being sedated.

I hope they both start feeling better soon.

Tabitha · **Joined:** Sun Feb 02, 2014 8:11 pm **Posts:** 1196

I think some of their behaviour will be reaction to anaesthetic. The first time Hendrix had anaesthetic he behaved exactly as you are describing - Jagger hid from him he was so manic! We got him back much later in the day this time and he may have had a lighter sedation as he was just thrilled to be home.

We also had to leave our two the day after as we had made arrangements we couldn't change - and I felt very guilty but all was well when I got home, even though they weren't 'friends' at the time. I've given both of them loads of fuss and attention since though and they seem less stressed again now. Donna is probably right in that stress has caused the 'dandruff' - Hendrix has a bit of that as well.

They will just be vying for your attention and wanting lots of reassurance when you do get home after their adventures!

BeckyN · **Posted:** Thu Feb 26, 2015 12:09 pm

oh dear, poor little kitties.
Sounds like they are at least happy to be home and that removing the teeth should reduce any pain that they might have had.
I'm dreading any problems with one of mine's (Evo) teeth, he grinds them - the noise drives me insane!

Sounds like you have very stubborn cats in regards to the carriers - I count my lucky stars that everytime I get the carriers out for the vets, the cats walk themselves in - each to their own carrier too. Unlike my last family cat where she would have to be put bum first into the carrier as she refused to go in!

Rough Morning!

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