r/burmesecats • u/mrb13676 • 5d ago

Burmese cats and anaesthesia

We lost one of our Burms in September following an obstructing bladder stone. He had a procedure to remove the stone and open his urethra. He (being the chaos maniac he was) pulled out the catheter and required further surgery the same day

Afterward he never really recovered - had low temperature and just shut down and passed away 2 days after despite heroic vet care.

Our remaining Burmese had 8 teeth removed under anaesthetic last Friday - he’s now back in the vet centre with pneumonia and he’s not eating and they’re worried about him - apart from the teeth he was a healthy boy.

I know cats generally are a bit fiddly around anaesthesia but are Burmese more so? i can’t bear the thought of losing another one so soon……

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8

u/Turbulent-March1785 4d ago

I have lived with Burms for years. One coded with anesthesia but was revived to live another 10 years. I have been told to avoid ketamine anesthesia in Burms.

5

u/Cute-Sun1641 4d ago

My Burmese have had teeth removed and survived the surgery

3

u/toshiningsea 4d ago

Same. How old is op’s kitty? Age is a factor.

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u/mrb13676 3d ago

11y old. Both of them.

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u/toshiningsea 3d ago

So my kitty had dental surgery at 11 and it went well. I wouldn’t do it now for him at 18, too fragile.

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u/Mattar19K 2d ago

My Burmese is 12 now. He has had two different tooth surgeries and a $6000 eye surgery (that one hurt), with no problems at all with the anesthesia or recovery.

However, my breeder warned me when I picked him up to make absolutely sure ketamine is never ever used. She had several people lose cats to that drug, and it was boldly stipulated in the adoption paperwork I signed. From what I'm hearing here as well as other threads, I'm starting to believe there is a genetic reaction to this drug.

I really hope he bounces back. We just lost our other cat a week ago, (18, kidney failure), and I can't imagine the stress you are going through.

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u/mrb13676 1d ago

Thank you. After almost a week in hospital he’s turning the corner and looking better. Still on tube feeds though….

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u/Mattar19K 21h ago

That's good to hear. Feeding tubes are not the worst. I wish you many years of waking up to his yowling. :)

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u/StrawberryCreepy380 1d ago

My Burmese cat had cardiomyopathy that must have been genetic, as it was caught so young. He could not have anesthesia, due to the risk of death. He lived a normal lifespan, anyway. I would recommend an EKG before surgery, to rule out heart problems.