Please Help! My cat has a tongue laceration and it continues to bleed and won't heal

[Bpd]

My cat had surgery a few months ago on his tongue and teeth. He split open his tongue in half and they had to remove part of it. He's been slowly losing blood over these few months but about a month and a half ago he was doing good and healing and we saw no blood. Then we took him to the vet again and the vet opened up his scab and it started to bleed again. It has been bleeding little by little ever since. Does anyone have any solutions like to help healing on his tongue and to stop it from bleeding? The situation is serious and we're holding on to hope that he will get better. We just need to find the right solution that will help him. Please if you know someone that has gone through something similar or knows how to heal his tongue and stop it from bleeding. We need help

 

[Margot Lane]

I’m assuming you’ve called your vet again to ask this very question? Hopefully others will chime in here. How long ago was the last vet visit?

 

[maggie101]

So sorry but best to call the vet again

 

[Bpd]

I’m assuming you’ve called your vet again to ask this very question? Hopefully others will chime in here. How long ago was the last vet visit?

I have, the vet said they can stitch it back up but we don't have enough money to do that. I hope someone knows something or someone that can help. It was about a month ago.

 

[FeebysOwner]

Hi and welcome to TCS. If the vet thinks it should be re-stitched, then I am not sure there are other choices. Ask the vet if this isn't part of the original cost of the earlier procedure since it needs to be re-stitched. If they say no, ask since it is a follow up procedure to the original if there is any way to allow you to pay in installments rather than all at once. It can't hurt to ask. Also, find out how much they are going to charge you.

If that does not pan out, please ask relatives if they can pitch in together to give you a loan that you will pay back. No shame in asking as many of them as you can, as each one might be able to give you some if not the whole amount.

You could try to get a care credit card (carecredit.com), or solicit for money (gofundme), but those options might take longer than you really should be waiting. You could call around to various charities, but I suspect that will take a bit of time too.
No Money For Vet Care? How To Find Help And Save Your Cat's Life - TheCatSite

 

[Bpd]

I have and they won't let me. I am looking for at home solutions like gels and creams and stuff like that to help promote healing. We don't have anyone that we can ask to help pitch in. I'm trying to look in every corner of the internet to find something that will help. I know that if it can stay closed up, it won't bleed anymore and we can focus on getting his iron back up. I have been giving him high calorie gel to help with his weight and iron.

 

[maggie101]

I know you have been searching but I found this article
As you already know,keep a close eye on the healing. If infected it will cost more. Keep him inside

Care of Open Wounds in Cats | VCA Canada Animal Hospitals

 

[FeebysOwner]

While mucous tissue, like the tongue, can usually heal pretty fast, there is no way to put something on it that isn't going to be removed quickly with saliva, food, and/or water. Topical ointments could even make your cat gag and that might actually make things worse.

At a minimum, call care credit to see if that might help speed up the process for getting a card - 800-677-0718.

 

[FeebysOwner]

The other thing you could try is a consult with Chewy.com - it is $20 if you aren't a member (which is free), or free if you are.

 

[Bpd]

Chewy said use fish oil for cats to promote healing as long as it's not in large doses, second opinion?

 

[FeebysOwner]

I guess it is worth a try, but did they bother to tell you how to do that? Like trying to get them to lick fish oil from a dish, or?

 

[Bpd]

Just in his food, that's Boots by the way

 

[Twylasmom]

Hi and welcome to TCS. If the vet thinks it should be re-stitched, then I am not sure there are other choices. Ask the vet if this isn't part of the original cost of the earlier procedure since it needs to be re-stitched. If they say no, ask since it is a follow up procedure to the original if there is any way to allow you to pay in installments rather than all at once. It can't hurt to ask. Also, find out how much they are going to charge you.

If that does not pan out, please ask relatives if they can pitch in together to give you a loan that you will pay back. No shame in asking as many of them as you can, as each one might be able to give you some if not the whole amount.

When you took the cat in for a recheck you say the vet picked the scab off and just let it bleed? Why didn’t he restitch it at that time? If it was not bleeding and was healing prior to that visit it seems like his action has caused this situation I would ask if he could restitch and work out a payment plan. Without being restitched it seems like this is a difficult situation to resolve since the tongue is essential to eating and grooming. That also makes any kind of topical medication unlikely to be effective.

 

[FeebysOwner]

Just in his food, that's Boots by the way

Poor baby Boots. Canned food only btw, less stress on the tongue than dry. You might even consider going to really soft with baby food meat (Gerber Stage 2 or Beechnut Stage 1). They aren't nutritionally complete for a cat, but that won't hurt anything if given for a while.
If he will lap up some water with some fish oil in it, that would be good too.

Oh - and you might consider a soft inflatable e-collar to reduce some of his grooming, as that will also irritate the wound.

 

[Bpd]

Whenever he went to get his checkup on his mouth, his mouth a doing great. Then she decided she needed the best view in the world to look in his mouth and she removed the scab that was on it and we didn't notice the blood until we got home. She irritated it and it's been bleeding little by little ever since.

 

[Bpd]

We feed him Royal Canin Recovery food which is an ultra soft mousse and it helps him poop better. He drinks A LOT of water . I also syringe feed him so it is less stress on his tongue.

 

[FeebysOwner]

Then she decided she needed the best view in the world to look in his mouth and she removed the scab that was on it and we didn't notice the blood until we got home. She irritated it and it's been bleeding little by little ever since.

Have you actually talked with her directly? If not, I would insist on a direct conversation with her and explain your situation. You can be stern, but still polite...You also need to point out that there is a condition with his iron that might be contributing to the bleeding.

 

[Sarthur2]

You need answers, but you also need a new vet. This is not good.

 

[FeebysOwner]

Any news/updates to share? Did you actually get to talk to the vet?

 

[neely]

Whenever he went to get his checkup on his mouth, his mouth a doing great. Then she decided she needed the best view in the world to look in his mouth and she removed the scab that was on it and we didn't notice the blood until we got home. She irritated it and it's been bleeding little by little ever since.

It sounds to me like she was responsible for the bleeding to start again and, therefore, should make some type of effort to help Boots without charging you. What did she say after you explained what happened when you got home? I understand finances are a big concern but agree you may want to consider getting a second opinion. Please keep us updated on Boots' progress.