Active but broken tooth, can't eat

ra7en

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Hi all!! Get some coffee or tea, did not know this was going to be long :cool:

Intro
Few days ago, of of the brothers (Loki) somehow broke his fang. Horrible situation.He spent some of the day dealing with it, and even one case out fo frustration it seem tried to get it out, causing bleeding.

After about a day, he returned to his normal self. However, due to the fang being in the way, he tries to eat, but is difficult if not possible. He sometimes "jerks" if the tooth moves around, but outside that. He seems fine.

Problem 1
Now vet wise - That was just absurd. Everyone I called (sadly this happened on a Saturday) said the could look at him but would not be able to do any type of oral work. Example some pain management would be the best - the oral work would have to be scheduled at a different time because the surgeons are not available or some weird excuse. To me and the wife, it was like if we went to the dentist, and they said, yes you have a broken tooth, here is some pain meds, we'll schedule that tomorrow or the next day? weird!!

Problem 2 (the worse)
So during the call of my vet, I pushed the question and thought maybe we'll tough it out til tomorrow, how much - they said to start $1,000 !!! WoW, even before covid, this is no easy feat just keeping a grand in your back pocket, but now most our back up resources are zapped. this suddenly is not an option

Current situation
fear is starvation and dehydration,To keep him hydrated, (he still has his tongue out most the time, it sits under his fang, and on occasion slobers), I have a straw, and spend time dabbling it on his tongue which he laps up. I am the only person that can get that close to him with this ailment. However, he chases me around when it is time to feed them, and starts to eat like normal then stops, because he is not sure how to eat. Looks at me and sits. and then, defeated, goes and lays down.

Yes! I understand he needs to be seen, but at that amount of financial strain is not possible, several times (in private) I found myself breaking down, just not fair, I don't know how to make this work, I need some way to feed him, or his "peppy" self is going to give way to going hungry. I know cats can go at most 3 days not eating and then there will be a problem.

What can I do to get food in him?? they usually eat wet food


EDIT:
so I had some new dry food I picked up the day before, His brother is in his "burn-out" stage of the current wet food - so will have to get some later, so opened up the new dry food bag, and here he came around the corner - curled -happy-tail and all, and I thought "..well good luck", I put some in their dry food bowl and WOW, he went to town, I could see that he figured out how to get the food in his mouth and use the back his back teeth to eat!! YES, I'll have to wait and see how he does with water.

I was thinking one of those small syringes that I can load with food(or water) and give him small shots of that for the wet food. But since he is eating his dry food maybe not.

Pet Info
Two Tabby's (twin brothers)
5yrs old
Healthy, playful and act like dogs (even knows the sound of my keys, as well as recognize the leash LOL)

Me and the wife are totally traumatized with vets, our last cat 19yr old! had a breathing problem, the stress of getting the harness on, taking to the car, road trip to vet, about 3 vets coming to get him (they were extremely attentive), and shortly after - he died (my dad, a doctor
, looked at his charts and said first he had a conjestive heart failur, but what killed him was fear - 250bpm+) So same situation with my boys. We're totally fearful of leaving him with them.

Attached Picture(s)
I did not attach the horrifying bloody one, where he was working his tooth and made it bleed - totally awful and scary pic, so this one (super close up) was what he looked like the day before, right now he does not slobber as much if at all, but his tongue is still out due to the fang being in the way.
I tossed in a couple other pics to see what he looks like under normal times. the one on the couch was like a week ago, so looks like something was already amiss, and I mis took it as cats just having their tongue out.
and a small video of them playing New video by Rick Scorpio


Thank you VERY much for reading this far, if you made it :-) Any financial ideas would be great.
 

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EmersonandEvie

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Look into Care Credit, a new credit card, a GoFundMe...if you have a good relationship with your vet, ask if they take payments or if you can make a down payment. Do you have anything you can sell? Family members/friends to ask for financial help? Etc.

Tooth pain is awful (I've had it myself) and needs to be treated ASAP. My heart goes out to you- everyone has been hit hard financially and we only want what is best for our kiddos. Ask your vet (DO NOT do this unless they OK it) about syringe techniques or maybe even subQ fluids to keep him hydrated in the meantime. Ask if you can make a wet food slurry to drop in his mouth (again, don't do this without the OK from your vet). The tooth has got to go regardless. I'm so sorry for your situation.
 

Jem

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Well for finances, ask friends and family or look into and apply for care credit. Perhaps you could sell some unneeded items online for some quick cash. Can you put it on your credit card or apply for a new one and cancel any subscriptions, extra cable channels, extra data or anything like that for a short time so you can pay it back faster?
 
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ra7en

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Hi all!!
Thanks for the suggestions -
Built a huge gaming rig, had to sell that just to keep the car payment up to day( sux, 8 months left on it, what a way to go right?)
Most of your suggestions were tapped months ago when the covid started.

Another update since I wrote that, Loki has been playful as heck, even some weird old habits came back (playing in the tub, and trying to take a shower with me LOL - he usually chickens out when the water gets too close, walking in the water is fine, but on his back, nah. running around the house bored again - meowing on occasion. He has since went back to eat his dry food a seveal times. I actually had to look at his mouth to see if things were still amiss, being so active and playful, they are, but he has found a way to tuck his tooth away isohis mouth is mostly back to being closed. tough lil brat

As far as tooth pain, I lost most my teeth(20+ of them) the hard way, One at a time and w/o a dentist - I am VERY well aware of tooth pain, ranks right up with ear-aches.

will keep an eye on him today (sunday) I have an appointment for a basic visit to the vet tomorrow - hopefully they will do a "sympathy-tooth-pull" 🤷‍♂️

thanks again guys -!!!
 

fionasmom

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He is a beautiful boy and I am sorry you are in this situation. I would definitely try for a resolution tomorrow, like the pulling of the tooth. Try everything to get the vet to work with you. $1000 is high even by LA standards for pulling a tooth...see if they have attached a lot of other items to that bill that might be eliminated under these tight conditions.
 
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ra7en

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I thought that was high too. she said its because Loki will have to go under (which makes sense) and if there is other dental stuff amiss. She was just guessing as I pushed her for a worst case scenario. Today he was happy as a lark, playing with his brother, and he can eat dry food pretty good. He has somehow moved that tooth in a spot he can deal with and had his mouth almost closed. Stubborn boy.
Thanks you for your concern
 
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ra7en

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Hi all - just an update.
so today, we decided to take Loki in. As expected the ride was horrible, never been in his carrier since he was 8 weeks old, the cried most the way, but I kept talking to him and he eventually quieted down. some odd behavior he kept digging under the towels and (my)shirt that was in there, at first I was wondering if he was looking for another way out of the carrier, but otherwise it seemed as if he was hiding.

After filling out the form in my truck (covid issues ofc), Loki finally settled down and looked at his surrounding in he curious self. Eventually they called me to take him in, I was intercepted at the door and a "tech"? took him in and asked me to wait a moment. After aobut 15min or so, the surgeon came out and chatted. She said the tooth easily just pulled out. Because of the cavity and asked that he stay the night to suture the hole in the gum. We agreed.

However now the trouble for me begins. Totally not doing good(emotionally I am a wreck, but trying to remain macho.. LOL, I miss him). He has never been away from home ever. All kinds of horrify thoughts are crossing my mind, His loneliness of being away from home, strange sounds and smells. The long night of 5pm to 7am-8am where they said they will do the sugury. Even if me and the wife are gone for that long (which is extremely rare), he always has his brother to keep each other company. Emotionally I am having difficulty dealing with him away. I know its good for him to be there so he doesnt eat for the sugury, however my empathy is for him is out of control - thoughts of a bad person that watches the pets at night that maybe having a problem with with Loki and then torture him.. just crazy stuff like that. but the biggest pain is just missing him, and I am sure he is the same way. Can he survive homesickness?
 

fionasmom

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Move away from the bad person who tortures him idea. If that had ever happened it would be so out there in the animal community, the police and veterinary board would have been involved, up in arms pet owners who had used the hospital, etc.

This is very upsetting and understandably so but Loki reached a point where he needs to have care that cannot be done an an outpatient, fasting required, probably less stress than you having to crate him again in the morning.

When my GSD had his leg amputated, he had never been away from me for even a day in his entire life since I got him at 8 weeks. Plus, we had to go to a specialist who declined to do an amputation as outpatient surgery, so I was stuck. He survived and came home, where he has been, minus one leg, for the last three years.

I am glad that you were able to get some help for Loki.
 
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ra7en

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final update
7 teeth pulled, both canines. Dentist said that he has some uncommon issue with his mouth that caused his teeth to decay more rapidly. I forogt what he said it was. But it was NOT common. I did get to see him for a moment tonight, he was out of it. slobbering, the doctor recommended that I leave him there overnight. It was sad to see him missing most his teeth. I don't know if he recognized me or not. Which was also painful. I think he felt hopeless as there was no way to "escape" from the torture chamber. And probably knowing I was leaving again, not sure If I was returning. I know I am projecting. cant help it. so have to wait another night.
 
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ra7en

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Move away from the bad person who tortures him idea. If that had ever happened it would be so out there in the animal community, the police and veterinary board would have been involved, up in arms pet owners who had used the hospital, etc.

This is very upsetting and understandably so but Loki reached a point where he needs to have care that cannot be done an an outpatient, fasting required, probably less stress than you having to crate him again in the morning.

When my GSD had his leg amputated, he had never been away from me for even a day in his entire life since I got him at 8 weeks. Plus, we had to go to a specialist who declined to do an amputation as outpatient surgery, so I was stuck. He survived and came home, where he has been, minus one leg, for the last three years.

I am glad that you were able to get some help for Loki.
Yes I understand I am projecting... keep in mind my last vet visit, my pet was handed to me dead(not vet fault, he was 19 and bad heart). so a little pts :-(
Same boat as you it sound, Loki was 8 weeks and never been alone or with anyone overnight and he is 5yrs old now.
amputation!!!! OMG, how did you pull through. I guess I'm a wimp LOL. But I love my boy...

One thing that puzzles me, is that my other two cats that passed (18yr old and 19yr old) had friskies most their life, not teeth probs, loki (and willie his brother), eats prescription food from vet and now both have teeth issues? coincident??

thanks guys for listening..
 

fionasmom

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No you are not a wimp....and I also had a very elderly sick cat pass away at the vet, but it was not a story like Loki's at all and was not certainly torture.

It is hard to judge why some animals, and humans, stay healthy with less care and others get sick with more. A TNRed feral down the block was cared for by a person who only fed Friskies and he lived to be 19....same as your guys.
 
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ra7en

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No you are not a wimp....and I also had a very elderly sick cat pass away at the vet, but it was not a story like Loki's at all and was not certainly torture.

It is hard to judge why some animals, and humans, stay healthy with less care and others get sick with more. A TNRed feral down the block was cared for by a person who only fed Friskies and he lived to be 19....same as your guys.
strange right? and I always thought friskies was junk food LOL
 
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ra7en

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STOMATITIS
that is what they said Loki has. finally got him home! YEAH!, he was hugging me all the way home, in between his anxious car ride, LOL, and then went in the tub, we gave him a bath, and now he is drinking like a fiend. Vet said that is fine, apparently he was not drinking/eating when he was there. Understandable.
So stomatitis is fairly uncommon but painful. 4% of cats get it, and it is unknown why. Seems to prevent immunity to the plaque and tarter if I read that right.
so sometimes after the new year, gonna have to to take him in again for more tooth work uhg!
 

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With stomatitis, or any chronic dental condition (tooth resorption in my Krista’s case), I recommend consulting with a veterinarian dentist specialist right away. They are few and far between with very long wait times for consultations.

When I was searching for a dentist appointment for Krista, the lead time was anywhere from two months to six months. Krista couldn’t wait that long. She already had so many extractions by general vets that the her vets no longer wanted to pull any more teeth from her mouth. Her eating had almost stopped. It was dentist NOW or feeding tube for two to six months. Lucky for her, a wildfire was evacuating one dentist’s service area and we were able to get a consultation in two weeks and a same day procedure appointment. Procedures are usually booked within a couple of weeks of the consultation. The long wait is for the consultation appointment. The dentist was fantastic. He reviewed the previous vet’s work with me and showed me various mistakes made because regular vets aren’t dentists. Then he gave Krista her very last dental procedure and removed her remaining teeth and root fragments. And the cycle of her eating slowing every few months and taking her for more extractions was finally over. The recovery time was about a week. I mean she was eating hours after the surgery. But it took several days for her eating to return to normal amounts. But once recovered, she never had a mouth issue again.

You should get proactive and make the consultation appointment now before you think he needs it. Because if you wait for him to need it and he will because stomatitis often requires a full mouth extraction, you won’t get it in any reasonable time. Unless perhaps another wildfire...
 
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ra7en

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very interesting!!!!
I will double check, the vet I took him too, took a bit to get scheduled because I was told he was a licensed vet dentist. He said that Loki SHOULD have the other teeth pulled as they had issues, but there were not loose. This decision was made in part on my fincial situation, the current bill with 7 teeth pulled already exceeded $900!! which I did not have enough (we're moving, and had a care repair prior to all of this).. He suggested that I come back in a few months to finish the procedure with the rest of the teeth. Pretty much said the same thing you said.

thank you again, very informative!
 

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It might have been cheaper to do it all at once. Often what runs up the cost isn’t the extractions but everything else that will have to be repeated for the next visit: sedation, anesthesia, X-rays, drugs, and any hospital stay time. But you do what you can afford when you can afford it. It sounds like you have good care for Loki.
 

fionasmom

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First of all, I am so glad that Loki is home safely and happily. He will always remember that when you took him to the vet that you did bring him home again and the stress may not be so high the next time.

Loki is very lucky to have you for a guardian.

BTW I had an all black rescue named Loki years ago. He was found wearing a pink collar on a school ground and rescued by the librarian....never claimed. Such a sweet boy who was named Loki because he "tricked" me with the pink collar and I thought he was a female.
 
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ra7en

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First of all, I am so glad that Loki is home safely and happily. He will always remember that when you took him to the vet that you did bring him home again and the stress may not be so high the next time.

Loki is very lucky to have you for a guardian.

BTW I had an all black rescue named Loki years ago. He was found wearing a pink collar on a school ground and rescued by the librarian....never claimed. Such a sweet boy who was named Loki because he "tricked" me with the pink collar and I thought he was a female.
LOL now that's funny... but Loki is the god of mischief hahah
someone abandon some kittens in a duffle bag at our place a couple years ago - I would have kept them but the boys didnt like them here, and it was really hard to find a home for them....

funny you should mention that he remembers the event. Strange (I think) things happened when he got home. first and foremost, he hugged me all the way home (basically head butting my arm) and when getting home, he was mostly in the tub drinking, and just playful as all get out! hugging, hanging around me, all day, If I left, he would poke his head out of the bathroom (or den) and holler at me to stay with him. Not sure why he stayed there so much, but the other weird thing is now his brother hisses at him, not sure whats going on. He used to love on him, but now it appears that he doesn't recognize loki????!!! Every time he walks by, Willie lets out a mild hiss - not totally aggressive, just like "get away from me" kinda
Some Ideas I have:
- Wife spent excessive amount of time playing with Loki in the tub, giving him a rag bath. for like a hour LOL, he loved it.(Willie used to get all the attention from my wife, sorta like his gf, I was loki's buddy) so jealousy setting in?
- Loki has different smells, or Willie can pick up the medication smell?

Also notice Loki seems a bit more affectionate vs the alpha self he was before hand. He was always a lover, but now it lacks the "macho" self, I was thinking feeling vulnerable with no teeth?

Anyways so far so good!!
 

Furballsmom

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Loki has different smells, or Willie can pick up the medication smell?
Hi! It's this - the vet smell lingers. Mild hissing from Willie actually isn't too bad compared to some scenarios of returning cats being really ostracized by the home cats. Hopefully with some extra loving where you and your wife rub on him, then rub and pet Loki, and then go back and rub and pet Willie, the scent transfer plus the extra attention will ease Willie's issues.

Also notice Loki seems a bit more affectionate
This vet trip was scary for him, and you were there for him. You could already see his joy, relief and appreciation for you on the way home. He's quite a cat :redheartpump:
 
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