UPpyDate on the update: Sam and his teeth

[mrspunkysmom]

Poor Sam is having teeth issues again. His whole lower jaw is swollen. I've suspected as much for days, but he is difficult to examine. I had to lay on him to squirt some ClindaCure on his gums. He is still eating, mainly fish broth, but that is a good sign. He's in pain, ut the infection must not be too bad. He usually has a bad reaction to infections.

I'm trying to work with a local group to get some funds and reduced prices on fixing his teeth.

Prayers needed.

[Karen]

Yikes, would warm compresses help him? Poor kitty!

[mrspunkysmom]

Hadn't thought of that. It's worth a try

[Catty1]

I really hope the local groups can help you.

There's something called "crowdfunding" - I don't know much about it, but here's the website: http://www.gofundme.com/

Best of luck! I hope Sam feels better!:love:

[mrspunkysmom]

http://www.gofundme.com/5w7wek

I don't know if it has been approved yet.

Thanks Candace.

[catmandu]

I have been through that quite a bit, especially with Juke Joint Joseph who had bad teeth all his life.
We are praying for your Sam, that he will be all right.:love::love:

[emily_the_spoiled]

There is also something called Care Credit (http://www.carecredit.com/vetmed/) that many vets will take and it allows you to pay off the balance over time.

[Catty1]

If I recall correctly Anne doesn't even qualify for Care Credit. However, the gofundme is up and running and I just chipped in a bit.

[kuhio98]

It might not hurt to start an application with IMOM. They require you apply for credit care. If you're turned down, part of the application would be the letter denying you. IMOM will help raise funds before treatment begins -- not for existing vet bills. So, if it turns out that Sam needs more treatment, the gofundme $$ could pay for the diagnostics and IMOM might be able to help with any additional treatments.

Also, IMOM has been in business over 15 years. They may have a vet close to you who will give you a discount. It's always tricky -- when you like your vet -- but another vet might have a different take on things.

Good luck Sam!

[emily_the_spoiled]

The other place you might want to apply to is Red Rover (http://www.redrover.org/)

They also provide grants to pet owners in need

[Catty1]

Hey girl - you already have $115 on gofundme!

[mrspunkysmom]

Hey girl - you already have $115 on gofundme!

Yeah I see. http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/attachment.php?attachmentid=51720&d=1315144568

http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/attachment.php?attachmentid=51712&d=1315143282


Update:




Bless you. He may get that x-ray after all. The doc that saw him today said it's a tumor and probably bone cancer because the swelling was so firm.

Depressing. The last time I heard this it turned out to be a broken tooth lodged in the jaw. Easy fix, but a little expensive. Teeth and gum issues are the only health issues Sam has.

When the vet was describing the probably results of surgery, I was thinking it would be kinder to put him to sleep. Hope prevailed, and I brought him home.

Community Pet Project paid today's visit. He got a rabies shot (required), a Convenia shot for infection, and a steroid shot for swelling. With some warm compresses, hopefully he will feel better. Perhaps the swelling will resolve to the point that the cause is obvious.

[emily_the_spoiled]

I am going through something similar with my guy Oliver (he has cancer in his mouth). So all I can say is please do not give up hope...

I know that when I read about the treatment options of Oliver's type and location of cancer, the outcomes were pretty grim. But I went forward with the recommended surgery, not holding out much hope. The margins of the tissue and the lymph nodes came back clear of cancer. So I decided to go forward with additional treatment. If they had not come back clean I think I would have considered putting him to sleep.

Right now please just take care of yourself and him. Enjoy your Christmas together and leave the rest up prayer

[mrspunkysmom]

Thanks Emily-the-spoiled

Sam is eating some now. Not eating was my fear. He is feeling a little better. I've already been through Spunky's cancer but his was on the torso, and it's removal didn't affect his life.

This doc was scaring me with her talk of removing bone and using a feeding tube. Yikes.

Keeping the faith. I wish I could find a part-time job to earn extra funds.

[emily_the_spoiled]

For Oliver's surgery they had to remove the right upper molar section of his jaw. They did rebuild his face so once his fur grows back you won't be able to see it. They had originally put in a feeding tube but it turns out that we never needed it. The first few days I watered down his wet food but he ate just fine. Now he eats almost exclusively wet food with a little bit of Blue dry food. The Blue brand kibble is so small that he doesn't actually need to chew it to swallow it.

So don't worry about the feeding tube (if it comes to that). You have a long way to go before having to deal with that and hopefully you won't have to.

[mrspunkysmom]

For Oliver's surgery they had to remove the right upper molar section of his jaw. They did rebuild his face so once his fur grows back you won't be able to see it. They had originally put in a feeding tube but it turns out that we never needed it. The first few days I watered down his wet food but he ate just fine. Now he eats almost exclusively wet food with a little bit of Blue dry food. The Blue brand kibble is so small that he doesn't actually need to chew it to swallow it.

So don't worry about the feeding tube (if it comes to that). You have a long way to go before having to deal with that and hopefully you won't have to.

I hope not either. A special needs kitty is not the issue. Quality of life is. Even if a tumor ,I don't think it is that bad yet. A lot of the swelling has gone done.

I got another donation today. From a fellow gamer.

The Internet can be a wonderful thing.

[mrspunkysmom]

Sam's x-ray and procedure is tomorrow early, so time to prepare for the overnight rest and rejuvenation period known as sleep. No food for him tonight. It didn't concern him until I put the food away. LOL

I ahve also been posting updates at the funding site.

[Catty1]

The GoFundMe site for Sam is here: http://www.gofundme.com/5w7wek

[emily_the_spoiled]

How did the x-ray go this morning?

[mrspunkysmom]

How did the x-ray go this morning?


Good!

Yeah, Sam is out of anesthesia. I get to pick him up in 2 hours.

He has resorptive or reabsorptive (?) lesions. The vet explained it nicely, and I think one of the Pet Talkers here had some recent experience with it. So she removed the tooth that was an issue. The bill came in much cheaper at 154.00 but the first visit was 96.75, so I'm trying to help out Community Pet Project some since they offer their services to help out those that can't pay for extraordinary vet care. Or I can return it. I'd rather pass it on to a non-profit.

Spunky, Jane, and Bob need their Rabies shots, but most vets offer a clinic day for those purposes.

I'm just so tickled pink. Giddy almost.

Now to post at GoFundMe

[emily_the_spoiled]

Congratulations! I have had a couple of guys with that problem, Conner (RIP June 2013) and Ozzy (RIP 2009) had problems with teeth being re-absorbed. But once the tooth was pulled things were fine for them. It just meant they had to eat more wet food, but neither of them complained about that :D

[mrspunkysmom]

Congratulations! I have had a couple of guys with that problem, Conner (RIP June 2013) and Ozzy (RIP 2009) had problems with teeth being re-absorbed. But once the tooth was pulled things were fine for them. It just meant they had to eat more wet food, but neither of them complained about that :D

Sams prefers dry food, but I've noticed the last few years he is preferring the wet food and real meat treats over the dry. Teh vet was surprised that it was the resorption over cancer.

I'm trying to reduce the amount of wet food to cut costs, but it won't work if some of the critters get sick.

Thanks

[Catty1]

Oscar had that - FORL - Feline Ododontal Resorption Lesion. Cats are good at hiding pain, and Oscar was no exception. Just over a year ago he went in for his checkup and yow! He had already lost 4 teeth to FORL and about another 7 were pulled. During surgery to remove some skin growths about a month ago, one tooth was also destroyed by FORL - the roots were pretty much gone. Both times he was on Metacam for a few days and eating wet food only. The lesion eats through the enamel, then the dentyne, the roots dissolve - poor Oscar was in so much pain and I had no idea! :( They removed teeth where the roots were starting to dissolve as well. Whew!

Cole's checkup was next and he lost about 4 teeth to FORL.

Zoe - ok so far.

My vet assured me it was nothing I did - researchers still don't really know what causes this. I may or may not have something to do with Vitamin D.

Glad Sam is home and I hope he feels much better soon! :love::love:

[Karen]

Sams prefers dry food, but I've noticed the last few years he is preferring the wet food and real meat treats over the dry. Teh vet was surprised that it was the resorption over cancer.

I'm trying to reduce the amount of wet food to cut costs, but it won't work if some of the critters get sick.

Thanks

Dry food + broth & time = wet-enough food ... So glad it was this and not cancer!

[emily_the_spoiled]

I make my own wet food for the gang (cheaper than buying wet canned food in bulk). So if you are interested in the recipe drop me a line.

[mrspunkysmom]

I make my own wet food for the gang (cheaper than buying wet canned food in bulk). So if you are interested in the recipe drop me a line.

I am most interested. They are so finicky and would love anything that saves me money. I can't buy in bulk since I have no credit cards. Some of these sites won't accept gr cards or pay pal