Feline Thyroid Surgery & Dental Cleaning

Dental Cleaning

• Dental cleaning, also called dental prophylaxis, begins as soon as the cat is completely asleep under general anesthesia. The cat's mouth is propped open with a dental speculum, and its head is commonly placed on a downward incline over a wet table to allow water and debris to flow out of the mouth and down into a drain. The animal is usually covered with towels or blankets to keep it warm, and veterinary technicians monitor the patient's vital signs during the procedure, watching for heart, temperature, blood pressure and breathing abnormalities.

  The veterinary technician who performs the cleaning thoroughly examines the oral cavity using a dental probe, to look for missing or broken teeth, periodontal disease, ulcers, neoplasia (cancerous tumors), and disorders of the tongue and pharynx (the opening behind the mouth). He will note any problems in the medical record and, if permission is granted by the owner, will take a complete set of dental radiographs to determine if any pockets, broken roots or bone disease lies below the gum line.

  An anti-bacterial liquid is flushed into the cat's mouth, and actual cleaning starts. Using a dental instrument called a forceps, the vet tech removes large pieces of calculus (brown, mineralized plaque) from the teeth and then manipulates a subgingival curette or scaler to clean the teeth roots under the gumline. A vibrating, mechanical scaler runs over individual teeth in 10 to 15 second intervals and allows the vet tech to sweep off any remaining calculus or plaque left on the teeth. The scaler usually includes a reservoir of cool, running water that flows over the cat's teeth, keeps the tooth surface cool and removes debris from the mouth.

  Once scaling is complete, the teeth are polished using a rotational polisher and prophy paste. This step smoothes any microscopic scratches or pits on tooth surfaces caused by routine chewing or scaling and prevents future plaque from adhering quickly to the tooth. The vet tech then rinses the mouth of any prophy paste or remaining debris with another dose of anti-bacterial flush, removes the oral speculum, and prepares the cat for thyroid surgery.

Thyroid Surgery

• After securing the cat on its back on a surgical table, the vet tech shaves the throat of the patient and surgically scrubs the site with anti-bacterial surgical solution. The veterinarian cuts through the skin of the throat using a vertical scalpel cut and opens the area until he can see both thyroid glands in their entirety.

  According to Dr. Wendy C. Brooks, Educational Director of VeterinaryPartner.com in her article "Surgical Treatment for Feline Hyperthyroidism", in 70 percent of most surgical cases "both glands are abnormal and must be removed." The surgeon must be extremely careful not to excise or damage the small parathyroid glands on top of the thyroids, because these tiny glands produce a hormone that helps regulate calcium in the body.

  Once the vet excises the thyroid glands, he will tie off any veins with surgical thread, close sub-dermal tissue, and suture the skin over the surgical site. The throat will be bandaged, and the animal will be allowed to come off anesthesia and wake up. Commonly, veterinarians will prescribe antibiotics to prevent any infection and schedule a follow-up appointment to remove sutures and examine the surgical area.