Feral with mouth abcess/stomatitis

I noticed my new feral stray  was missing for 3 days and when he came home - laid curled in a ball in the driveway (not normal behavior for him)  He's friendly on HIS terms and trap savvy.  So in trying to coax him over to me I see that he's drooling fairly bad.   I can't just grab him & pry his mouth open (well, I could, minus a few fingers and some gashes).  I offer canned food and he licks it and gags.  I water it down and he eagerly drinks most of it.  Figuring stomatitis- I look up holistic treatments and mix him up a cocktail that he lets me syringe along with electrolytes, twice a day.  He still was not eating well - but eating. 

This goes on for two days and I am finally able to drop a towel on him and wrap him for a quick exam.  I had some antibiotics for feline abscesses (SMZ).  I crushed it up with a slurry of cat food & electrolytes.  I started to slowly syringing it in.  And immediately pus started pouring from his mouth.  Probably at least 20cc.  I finished pushing the meds and he proceeded to drool pus & meds and glare at me.  I managed to catch & medicate him 3 more times before he decided enough.  Then he quit trying to eat anything I offered.  In desperation I tried raw chicken thighs.  Success!  He nibbled and chewed at that for awhile.  Then quit eating again for at least 12 hours.  I haven't been able to medicate him for 2 days now.  Can't get near him again.

My vet will NOT see ferals - but will give me meds for them.  I'm picking up meds tonight.  Not sure how to get a pill into him, since the eating is hit & miss.  He was gagging again last night when I offered wet food.  But eagerly tried to eat another chicken thigh.

Any hints or tips?  I know in a perfect world he needs seen & treated by a vet.  However, in this area, no one will see my crazy feral, feral   

Have you tried a drop trap? Those work pretty flawlessly on even trap savvy cats. I'd use a drop trap on him and then get him into a cage so you can keep him indoors until he heals. If he wont let you medicate him and he wont eat he'll need to see a vet. I've never heard of vets refusing to see ferals, that seems kind of odd, usually they just give them a sedative.

I picked up the script yesterday and Tony met me in the driveway, very perky.  I cut the pill in quarters & tucked each piece in a bit of ground beef and he ate each piece eagerly!  This morning he was on "his" spot on the porch, ready for more treats.  Still very sore in the mouth, though.

I've thought about a drop trap - but don't have access to one  

My vet has 5 vet's in his practice.  They really would prefer NOT to see ferals, they made it very clear that he would probably be better off euth'ed at this point.


There is a group about 1.5 hours from me that works with ferals - but they just took on a huge load with over 30 hoarders cats.  If Tony does not improve after this course of meds - I will somehow toss him in a carrier and take him there. 

If it's an abscess it can be treated and healed. If it's stomatitis, you're looking at financial cost for an anesthetic dental procedure with extractions. Before taking him to your current vet for likely euthanasia I'd recommend calling around if there are other hospitals in your area to see about prices/availability of a sedated exam. I wonder why your vet declines to see ferals, and the fact that they'll prescribe meds without an exam worries me.