Bartonella disease and tooth extractions

Michelin is neutered Norweigan Forest cat mix who I adopted as a
rescue when he was about 8 months. He is otherwise healthy, eats dry
food, stays indoors and seems quite content. He is about 7 years old
now.

Four years ago, the vet said that his breed often lose all their teeth
since their jawbone suffers from a blood borne disease that has no
cure but is not contagious. He showed me a couple of broken teeth and
redness at the gums. He removed four teeth.

A year later, another vet tested him for Bartonella and he was
positive and suggested two rounds of antibotics to "cure" the disease.

A year and half later, a new vet who is doing his residency in dental
but has practiced for many years, gave me the same news as the first
vet. He wants to do a dental xray then multiple extractions based on
the xray. He may have to remove all his teeth at the first surgery or
over the course of the cat's life. To remove all teeth, it is $2700.

The shock of the cost made me consider some options:
1) Is a dental xray necessary? As 2 vets say it is uncurable and not
preventable, the xray will only be predictive.
2) Is it better to remove all the teeth at a cost of $2700 or just
some as they go bad at $750-1250 a time (probably a minimum of each
year dental work which always includes a full blood and urine panel,
etc.)?

A cat rescuer is helping me to see if in the Memphis TN area if there
are less experienced but skilled vets who can do the surgery. I don't
believe a specialist is needed since extraction and regular dental
surgery seems to be necessary.

Have you experienced this situation with your cat?

Should have written less EXPENSIVE but skilled surgeon.

On Oct 3, 2:20*pm, Richard wrote:
Michelin is neutered Norweigan Forest cat mix who I adopted as a
rescue when he was about 8 months. He is otherwise healthy, eats dry
food, stays indoors and seems quite content. He is about 7 years old
now.

Four years ago, the vet said that his breed often lose all their teeth
since their jawbone suffers from a blood borne disease that has no
cure but is not contagious. He showed me a couple of broken teeth and
redness at the gums. He removed four teeth.

A year later, another vet tested him for Bartonella and he was
positive and suggested two rounds of antibotics to "cure" the disease.

A year and half later, a new vet who is doing his residency in dental
but has practiced for many years, gave me the same news as the first
vet. *He wants to do a dental xray then multiple extractions based on
the xray. *He may have to remove all his teeth at the first surgery or
over the course of the cat's life. *To remove all teeth, it is $2700.

The shock of the cost made me consider some options:
1) Is a dental xray necessary? As 2 vets say it is uncurable and not
preventable, the xray will only be predictive.
2) Is it better to remove all the teeth at a cost of $2700 or just
some as they go bad at $750-1250 a time (probably a minimum of each
year dental work which always includes a full blood and urine panel,
etc.)?

A cat rescuer is helping me to see if in the Memphis TN area if there
are less experienced but skilled vets who can do the surgery. *I don't
believe a specialist is needed since extraction and regular dental
surgery seems to be necessary.

Have you experienced this situation with your cat?

you may want to check out any of the schools nearby such as the dental
school that taught the other vet. They might make the furball an example
case and do it for less


"Richard" wrote in message
...
Michelin is neutered Norweigan Forest cat mix who I adopted as a
rescue when he was about 8 months. He is otherwise healthy, eats dry
food, stays indoors and seems quite content. He is about 7 years old
now.

Four years ago, the vet said that his breed often lose all their teeth
since their jawbone suffers from a blood borne disease that has no
cure but is not contagious. He showed me a couple of broken teeth and
redness at the gums. He removed four teeth.

A year later, another vet tested him for Bartonella and he was
positive and suggested two rounds of antibotics to "cure" the disease.

A year and half later, a new vet who is doing his residency in dental
but has practiced for many years, gave me the same news as the first
vet. He wants to do a dental xray then multiple extractions based on
the xray. He may have to remove all his teeth at the first surgery or
over the course of the cat's life. To remove all teeth, it is $2700.

The shock of the cost made me consider some options:
1) Is a dental xray necessary? As 2 vets say it is uncurable and not
preventable, the xray will only be predictive.
2) Is it better to remove all the teeth at a cost of $2700 or just
some as they go bad at $750-1250 a time (probably a minimum of each
year dental work which always includes a full blood and urine panel,
etc.)?

A cat rescuer is helping me to see if in the Memphis TN area if there
are less experienced but skilled vets who can do the surgery. I don't
believe a specialist is needed since extraction and regular dental
surgery seems to be necessary.

Have you experienced this situation with your cat?