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February 2008: Pussywillow
Pussywillow is a 7 year, Fs, Domestic Shorthair. She was presented for possible pain when eating. She was dropping bits of food and would not allow owner to touch her face anymore. On presentation, she was very adamant about not wanting to have her mouth examined. Preoperative bloodwork and physical examination were within normal limits. She was premedicated with Hydromorphone, Acepromazine and Glycopyrolate. She was bloused with Norm R and induced with Propofol. She was entubated with a cuffed 4mm ET tube and fluid rate was dropped to 100ml/hour for maintenance. She was maintained at a rate of 1 liter of O2/min and 1% Iso. Oral examination shoed large FORLS in both 309 and 409 and a tip fracture of 204. Survey 
radiographs shoed that both 309 and 409 needed to be extracted and that a small periapical abscess was present on 204.
A local block was placed for extraction of 309 and 409 and another local block was placed for a root canal treatment of 204. A standard root canal was preformed on 204 and a filling was placed in the access site.
Pussywillow was released with homecare instructions that included soft food for 2 weeks due to sutures placed from extractions. She was also released with antibiotics for 2 weeks and oral Bupronex for pain relief. She was asked to come bad on 2 weeks to recheck the extraction sites and in 6 months to radiograph the root canal.
Many ‘chipped;’ canine teeth in cats result in damage to the pulp. Even though the tooth may 
not be ‘open’ upon probing, it is always indicated to take a dental radiograph to determine the health of the tooth. We have been surprised many times to find abscesses in closed ‘chipped’ teeth. A dental radiograph is always indicated in closed fractures even if the tooth looks normal. You never know what you will find at the ‘root’ of the problem!