Lucy tearing jaw apart...

[carrie640]

Lucy has bad back teeth but vet doesn't really think extraction is good at her age. She was also on a thyroid med and that caused terrible itching and she ripped the space between her ear and eye up. Vet said it could take some time for the med to exit her body. She has seemed to tame the itching in that area but now she is digging at her jaw....I'm guessing because of her teeth. I JUST am seeing this tonight and it's alarming. She is on an antibiotic to help prevent infection and is in the middle of a script for meloxicam. She has a hard time eating dry food, naturally, and she's been eating canned just fine. She's 19 so she isn't terribly active but she comes out of the bedroom sometimes to play and will ask to go outside (strictly supervised...,she just wants to eat grass!).

Is there anything I can put on this to help these heal? And, I'm concerned about a cone for her. We have a soft one, but I can't even imagine what it would feel like needing to scratch at something and not be able to....that would be torture...what an awful feeling.
Also, with very little pain-med options, would a steroid help eliminate the need to bat/scratch at herself? I know when I had prednisone with fibro, it was quick and it worked wonders for me. Not sure this all works with cats. I'm desperate. I want to help her...I just don't know how.

 

[Furballsmom]

Hi, if her scratching is from pain, can you talk to the vet again and the anesthesiologist about getting those teeth out? Or a different vet?

Safe Anesthesia in Older Cats - WALTHAMTNAVC2003 - VIN

Is there an animal/pet dental specialist in your area?

 

[carrie640]

Hi, if her scratching is from pain, can you talk to the vet again and the anesthesiologist about getting those teeth out? Or a different vet?

Safe Anesthesia in Older Cats - WALTHAMTNAVC2003 - VIN

Is there an animal/pet dental specialist in your area?

there are no specialists here...I don't know if MSU (Michigan State small animal clinic) would fall under that or not. Our current vet would do it for 1000, but he did not recommend it for her...and to be completely honest, we cannot afford that amount. I also don't know if Lucy could recover from that surgery. The vet just does not recommend it.

 

[carrie640]

Hi, if her scratching is from pain, can you talk to the vet again and the anesthesiologist about getting those teeth out? Or a different vet?

Safe Anesthesia in Older Cats - WALTHAMTNAVC2003 - VIN

Is there an animal/pet dental specialist in your area?

I could send your link to him and see how he reacts, but I don't have 1000 for it.

 

[silent meowlook]

Hi. Cats cannot metabolize prednisone. They need Prednisolone. You could discuss that with your vet and also ask for a pain medication such as Buprenex. Buprenex, in my opinion ( not a vet) is a much safer medication for cats than Meloxicam.
There are no human over the counter or prescription pain medications that you can safely give to a cat.

There is nothing topical you can put on that will help.

For now, the cone is your best option until you can talk to your vet. Unless you think it is unbearable for her, then she should go to an emergency hospital.

 

[silent meowlook]

Also, 19 years old is definitely an anesthetic risk, even at a specialist hospital.

 

[carrie640]

Also, 19 years old is definitely an anesthetic risk, even at a specialist hospital.

Thank you! I will send a msg to him!!

 

[carrie640]

Hi. Cats cannot metabolize prednisone. They need Prednisolone. You could discuss that with your vet and also ask for a pain medication such as Buprenex. Buprenex, in my opinion ( not a vet) is a much safer medication for cats than Meloxicam.
There are no human over the counter or prescription pain medications that you can safely give to a cat.

There is nothing topical you can put on that will help.

For now, the cone is your best option until you can talk to your vet. Unless you think it is unbearable for her, then she should go to an emergency hospital.

So, our vet was treating her. He gave me his cell number to use if needed. He emphasized that's what they do with special cases and it's ok to reach out. Last week, he asked me to update him the first part of this week. I did that on Monday. I did not hear back. I sent another today hoping to get feedback before they close for the weekend. He STILL is not answering me. Now I have a cat with a large area near her mouth being mutilated and no direction. No direction if I can do the meloxicam every other day....nothing. I'm left hanging. Trying to figure this out. She was given six doses last week. We've used three over the course of 7 days. So, does this med need to be completed by 6 days or is it ok to use as needed (three doses left)? I have no idea if I can give her another one or not and have it be ok? I know these things can be pretty toxic.

 

[Furballsmom]

Honestly, this probably isn't what you want to hear, but I'd find another vet

 

[silent meowlook]

You said he gave you his cell phone number. Did you text and call? Sometimes they will respond better to a text.
I agree that you may need another vet or at least a second opinion.
If she was my cat I would hold off on the meloxicam. But that’s just me. I hate that drug. For pain, I would ask for buprenex.

 

[carrie640]

You said he gave you his cell phone number. Did you text and call? Sometimes they will respond better to a text.
I agree that you may need another vet or at least a second opinion.
If she was my cat I would hold off on the meloxicam. But that’s just me. I hate that drug. For pain, I would ask for buprenex.

Totally calling a new vet on Monday. Most offices around here are closed on weekends so there isn't a whole lot I can do until I can call and make an appointment. I have always texted his phone.....never called his cell. I even sent a picture of Lu's jaw. Nothing. Lucy is still eating and using the litter box, thankfully. I even caught her jumping into a box today!! . She loves her boxes.... I'm going to have to get her a cone, though. She is tearing herself apart. She doesn't really seem to be reacting to her wounds, though. Not sure if that's good or bad. I'm just LIVID about this whole thing. What kind of person just ghosts a patient??

 

[Furballsmom]

 

[silent meowlook]

Sometimes vets have a different phone for personal and work. I know the cat vet I worked for was famous for leaving her cell phone at work on the weekends. She would claim it was an accident but she lived 10 minutes away and was the owner, so…

 

[fionasmom]

I have the cell number of the practice owner of the hospital my cats go to, but he answers. Yes, things interfere with prompt replies, but if you don't get anything today, that is not a good sign.

 

[carrie640]

Sometimes vets have a different phone for personal and work. I know the cat vet I worked for was famous for leaving her cell phone at work on the weekends. She would claim it was an accident but she lived 10 minutes away and was the owner, so…

I would've hoped someone would have replied. There is more than one in the office. He had answered me over Thanksgiving when he was out of town for the weekend. I want to give him the benefit if the doubt, but twice this week and a message at his office doesn't work for me.
Lucy is eating well, but she really isn't social and she is digging her face. I've got a cone coming from Amazon tomorrow. I am just awed a vet would outright ghost me. I think it's purposely done... something tells me this is not a case he wants to deal with. Or maybe he quit the practice suddenly. Still, pretty crappy not to respond to tell a patient.

But, it is what it is and I already have another one lined up

 

[carrie640]

Is it even possible to post a video here??? Lucy ate a TON of food today....I was dumbfounded! Clearly, we found the consistency of food, flavors, etc that she is comfortable with eating and she scarfed it down throughout the day. Then, she asked to go outside (supervised, obviously). Then, she went to the craft room with me. Then she came out...ate some more...chased a laser light around...jumped by the TV because she knows that's where the treats are....played with my husband and her catnip kicky stick... where did all of this energy come from??? She hasn't taken an antibiotic in almost a week and she hasn't had the meloxicam since like Tuesday. No meds. Could it be the meds dragging her down? Obviously it's not changing the fact she has teeth issues and she is 19yo, but I want her to live the rest of life happy and comfortable.
Is there a safe anti-biotic ointment for her jaw (skin)? She goes cone-head tomorrow!! LOL She's going to hate life for awhile ...

 

[silent meowlook]

It’s honestly better for the air to get at the wound. Ointments tend to delay healing.

 

[silent meowlook]

I’m glad she seems to be feeling better.

 

[carrie640]

It’s honestly better for the air to get at the wound. Ointments tend to delay healing.

Do I just use warm water to keep it clean?

 

[Furballsmom]

I just use warm water to keep it clean?

I've been hesitating to suggest chamomile tea because this just seemed way beyond the capability of the tea to ease the itch. However, the brewed and cooled store bought tea (garden grown is unsafe for cats) is anti fungal, anti bacterial, is safe if she ingests it and will ease discomfort.

Even if it helps ease the itch only a little bit that would be wonderful for her, but after reading your description of her day, I'm hoping against hope that maybe it's enough that you might not have to put the cone on.

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