Smokey the cat, echocardiogram prior to dental.

[JustMe]

 Smokey is Twit's littermate, about 8-1/2-years-old now.  She just had a checkup to get her ears cleaned and because we wanted to have her heart checked out.  She had an "asthma" episode December, 2007, that never recurred.  

Her heart sounds good.  She needs a dental, but because of Twit's sudden heart troubles, he wants to do blood work and an ultrasound first.  We haven't scheduled those yet as we want to do a course of antibiotics first as she's got some swelling in her gums and ears.  When we do her blood work, we're also going to run a test for taurine levels.  

[Sandi K]

It sounds like they are being very thorough, JM.  It will be interesting to learn the results of those tests.

[JustMe]

We'll probably do the blood work in 2 weeks when she goes for recheck and then schedule the echocardiogram.  I will post when we get results, for sure.

[catbird]

I hope that all checks out well for Smokey.  I think you are very wise to do the course of antibiotics and the other tests before the dental.

[Fizzy1]

I think this is the first mention I've seen of Smokey.....A picture is requested! 

Did you start the antibiotics yet?  Kisses to Smokey and hope the echo is clean.

[catwoods]

That sounds like a good plan to prepare Smokey for the dental, JM. Hope everyithing checks out fine.

[JustMe]

ahh...you don't have to twist my arm, fizzy, to post a pix.      This is my Smokey girl!  Just started antibiotics.  

[bug]

Very wise, JM. Smokey sounds a lot like Pip. She had an "asthma" episode back in 2006 and was in CHF in 2004 for unknown reasons (and nothing since -- knock on wood). She needs her teeth done as well and I sure as heck wouldn't even think about a cleaning without getting a cardiac echo done first. Good idea to get the taurine levels done as well. I've decided to take a week to really work on her teeth at the end of the month when I have a week off. If it turns out that for some reason the dental isn't a good idea, Cato had managed to clean Kaffe's teeth with some elbow grease and perseverance.

Ohhh, you just posted a pix -- so beautiful.

[catwoods]

Oh, she's gorgeous!

[Mandycat]

What a wonderful picture of pretty Smokey!  Hope all her tests and procedures go well.

[Mark T]

Beautiful cat, great picture.

We had our black cat's (who also happens to be a Smokey) teeth cleaned last year and they started him on antibiotics a few days before the cleaning and continued a few days after. This was the first time I remember antibiotics used before a cleaning in 20 years of cleanings. The vet explained that recent research showed that a lot of bacteria was released during a cleaning and it stressed the kidneys. (or maybe it was the liver, I don't remember, but anyway the onslaught of bacteria could overwhelm the organ)

Will the echo be done by a board certified cardiologist?  Before we had one of our cats echoed I did some research into the subject and came to the conclusion it was significantly better to have board certified cardiologist than just a cardiologist who visited the vet once a month or a vet who leased the equipment for their practice and had to book a certain number of pets a month to pay for it. So we went to a state university veterinary school where the cardiologists were very experienced.

[caylee]

Oh, what a beautiful baby you have, JustMe!

Hugs

[tesla]

She's beautiful!  Hope everything checks out good for Smokey!

[Cato]

Awww.... she's so pretty!  I hope she gets a clean bill of health!  And kudos to you for being so thorough! 

[mainecoonpeg]

Beautimous Beautimous kitty JustMe  
She just glistens in the sunshine!!
Wishing Smokey the very best for her upcoming procedures.

Good idea for the echo prior to dental.
Most vets can properly read echos in my experience, and I have had many  , veterinary radiologists are the ones often come in to do the echos and write the reports of their findings.  If there are further doubts or uncertainties, then the cassette can be duplicated and sent to a veterinary cardiologist for consult/second opinion.

MarkT, when you clean tartar/calculus from the teeth and from below the gums (on the root surfaces) you open up a bleeding situation.  The bleeding situation allows the bacteria from the mouth, the filthiest place in the body, to travel throughout.  The kidneys and the heart are the first to be affected so prophylactic antibiotics may be recommended.

Humans with heart murmurs or prolapsed mitral valves are always given prophylactic antibiotics.
I had a cat with a tricuspid valve defect with regurgitation and he was always put on antibiotics pre and post op dental.