Amber is having pain.

[jenluckenbach]

Amber has had mouth/gum issues for quite some time now. She has been on pred. for, wow, probably 2 years now. the doses keep needing to be given closer together to control her pain.

Well, Monday she went for her yearly physical and the vet said it is time to remove a good majority of her teeth. (I kneow this would be in her future). The vet said she would do it at her clinic (for the rescue groups) when she returned from vacation (in 2 weeks) This could have saved me hunderds of dollars.

Amber, though, had other plans. In spite of being prescribed a pain medication to go along with her pred. she has been in such pain the last 2 days that she won't eat anything. (not even the softest of foods).

So she went in to my vet's office today (to see a vet I never met) who suggested doing the dental ASAP. (as soon as posible).

The surgery will be Tuesday. The cost will depend on the number of extractions (and there will probably be a LOT) and the time factor. The estimate was $350 to $550. Many of you will think this sounds reasonable (and I guess it is), but it means I AGAIN have to postpone purchasing my own new eyeglasses to pay for this. (I postponed the glasses already back in May when Lucas needed the ultrasound and never quite got up the money to order them)

The good news is, her blood work is great, so other than this stomatitis she's good to go. (Amber is 10 1/2 years old, by the way)

Pray she can find some painfree moments in the next few days to eat some food. And that she flies through surgery with flying colors. (and that I find a wallet with $500 in it. )

[Killearn Kitties]

Oh Jen, I'm so sorry that this has come up now. I remember Amber having trouble in the past and you talking about her teeth having to be taken out. Poor girl!

I hope she perks up a bit with the painkiller.

[Mcat]

Many prayers for Amber.

[krazyaboutkatz]

Jen, I'm so sorry to hear this. I hope that Amber will start eating something and that everything will go well with her surgery. Lots of prayers and positive thoughts are being sent your way.

[catfamily]

I''m so sorry you have to go through this.Poor Amber too but she's so fortunate to have you to do this for her.I've payed hundreds for teeth pulling on so many cats and between those bills and so many other vet specialist bills and bloodwork on at least half my cats and Winston with his heart...I can't believe we still have a home.But in the end it will hopefully work out.
You may not be able to see because you can't afford glassess for yourself but she'll tell you how happy she is later that you spent so much on her
I hope you find that wallet

[rg_girlca]

Oh Jen, I am so sorry to hear that Amber is having teefie problems. Come on sweetie, try to eat a little something.

Prayers on the way that her surgery goes well.

[catmandu]

We are sorry to hear that Ambers is such pain.
I know what you are going through as Preciouss ear is going to cost about 500 dollars too.
There goes the plans for a new floor in the spare bedroom, and new books for me.
But as you say Jen, Our Cats come first!!
The Pet Angels will bring Amber some treats from the Caribbean to tide her over until her surgery.
John Hancock, who has only one tooth left, is praying especially hard for his Friend Amber.

As is JJJ3!

[kittycats_delight]

oh poor Amber...how ouchy those teeters must be. Amber sweety...you need to eat a little sumfin sumfin. I hope her surgery goes well and she heals quickly so she can get back to eating normally again and be rid of that nasty teeters pain.

[catnapper]

Oh Jen I am so sorry! I hope the surgery solves all the problkems, and I hope you get the money together soon for new glasses (I know all about needing new glasses)

[K & L]

Good luck with this Jen. I'll keep fingers and paws crossed for her.

[jenluckenbach]

Now you won't be able to see how poor you are!!!

Cute VERY cute!

[catcrazylady]

Cute VERY cute!

LOL!!! You know I love ya Jen.

[kimlovescats]

I know exactly what you are going through. I have TWO with dental problems. Dexter had a cleaning a few months ago, but still has problems with dry food causing him pain. My vet said that his teeth themselves looked too good for her to want to remove them. It's the GUMS causing the problems! We are just in a "wait and see" mode with him. So far he is eating enough wet food to maintain his weight.

Boots, my very shy feral boy, has awful mouth pain. When I took him to the vet, the new young one saw him. She and the tech couldn't handle his feralness and he ended up in the garbage can hiding. I had taken him at the same time as Dexter, so he remained in the garbage can while Dexter was examined. *sigh* I was the one who scruffed him to get him out of the can and back in his carrier. All that "could be" done for Boots at that time was to give him Clindamycin in his wet food. He does eat his wet food fairly good, but he's still not eating enough to maintain a good weight. He is still very thin and he's so darned skiddish about eating, that I have to plan exactly how and when and where I put his plate. It is VERY frustrating caring for Boots! It's just a matter of time before I have to take him back to my vet .... next time will be the owner, with years of experience. My vet's office has hired so many new vets (trying to gradually retire, I think) that I hardly ever get to actually see him! I hate it, because he is the one I started with!
I'm guessing that they will have to knock Boots out some just to really examine him next time.

Good luck getting the funds together for Amber. I know how that is too ... especially right now. I've had two vet visits in the past week, for abscesses from a mean tortie!

[jenluckenbach]

My vet said that his teeth themselves looked too good for her to want to remove them. It's the GUMS causing the problems

YUP! Amber had a dental at the begining of the year. I too thought MORE teeth were going to be removed, but the vet said they did not look bad enough. I thought it would buy us more time.

All I pray is that it WORKS!! I really don't want to experience that blood curdling scream any more.

[jenluckenbach]

thank God the surgery is just half a day away. Amber desperately wants to eat, but gets scared away after a few bites by a shot of pain. She has barely eaten enought to keep a bird alive the last few days.

So, tonight she CAN'T have food, nor tomorrow. So I hope by Wed. she feels perky enough to actually EAT!

But Amber is a fighter!! For those who don't know, when we adopted Amber she was a 7 month old, 4.5 pound kitten who came from our local shelter. She came down with the WORST URI ever! Would not eat and needed to be hospitlized (over Thanksgiving of that year, as a matter of fact) for IV treatment and 24 hour care. She lost weight down to 3 pounds (now imagine a 7 month old at only 3 pounds....she was pathetic) but she pulled through! Our miracle (expen$ive) baby. But never a problem since, except for her teeth.

So pray for her nightmare to be over SOON!! thanks.