conflicting vet advice!

[chaps89]

I have a 15 year old moggy who I've had for about 8 years. He is a big cat (7kg) with skin and ear allergies (he came to me with them).
About 2 or 3 years ago the vet (at practice 1) noticed he had a heart murmur but said they were happy to monitor it.
Last august a different vet (at practice 2) advised he needs a dental for 2 fractured canines and to do chest x-rays at the same time because of his heart.
They quoted a high price (I work for a pet insurer so have a reasonable idea of prices) so I went back to practice 1 who said they wouldn't operate due to age and heart murmur.
January he is seen by another vet (practice 3) who agrees that monitoring heart and teeth is fine.
Today he goes for vaccs with yet another vet (still at practice 3) who says dental is vital and that with heart murmurs in cats she never monitors them as it is more unpredictable in cats than dogs and so both dental and heart investigations should be done.
He is my absolute world so I don't want him in pain/suffering. Equally I have horrific luck with animals and sods law dictates he'd be the 1 in however many which dies under anaesthetic and he is otherwise well and healthy.
Seeing as I've had 2 vets say don't operate and 2 say do, how do I decide what is best for him?!

 

[dixie]

For me it would depend on how he is now. 15 is a good age for a cat and unless he was suffering with his teeth I would personally leave well alone.
Between August and January is a decent gap, maybe his teeth have deteriorated hence the recommendation now?

 

[Shady]

personally i try never to put my animals under unless absolutely necessary but if your cat is suffering that's a different matter, i'm not sure however what they plan to do for the fractured canines except remove them and unless they are rotten they are not nice to get out, one of mine has half a canine on one side and it doesn't bother him, i also have a cat with a heart murmur and i wouldn't want him going under unless he had to, 15 is a tricky age and although anaesthetic has come a long way it still affects the kidney's in my opinion.
i'm not sure what it's like in England now but i started with chest ex rays then had to see a specialist anyway as they were not specific enough in detail, the end result after paying about £1000 was half a tablet a day and yes he has a heart murmur!
it's a tough call actually as you don't want to leave his teeth if in 6 months or a year they deteriorate as he will be even older

 

[chaps89]

Thanks both.
I have/had a funny gut feeling about him having the op, I just really really don't want him to go under whilst he seems well/happy in himself and eating ok.
So I called an independent vet practice today and he is going for another (5th!) opinion on monday with their senior vet.
This said, he has in the past fitted/had funny turns which is why I'm also cautious (only twice that I know of) and tonight when I've got home he's acting very strangely indeed, wobbly on his feet, quiet (didn't ask for dinner when I got in- unheard of!) so for now he's definitely not having an op as far as I'm concerned and he will be going back to the vet sooner than expected if he stays this way.