Howdy all,
I rescued a cat over a month ago. He is very nice and cuddly but he
has had a really hard life including tumors, declawing, abandonment,
etc. He is 14 years old. He is almost completely deaf, partially
blind, and due to a previous tumor in his ear he has major balance
problems. But he is really happy to be alive. And he loves being in my
apartment with me.
His problem is that he has an absessed tooth. When i first got him he
was seriously underweight so i refused to put in under anesthesia. I
was sure he would die. I have worked for vets and i understand what a
senior dental entails for older cats.
He has put on a pound since i rescued him. His tooth has better and
worse days. I want an alternative way of treating him. I really think
this happy cat will die under the anesthesia.
I have not found a vet who is even willing to offer me alternative
solutions. He has only been seen by one vet, but i have called 4
others and all said surgery and would not consider other options. I
was told that to them it did not matter whether they saw him first. I
live in the West Hills area of Los Angeles. I was hoping for
antibiotics, so i could then watch the cat and if he does not get
better, i would submit to the surgery for him.
I am kinda at a loss if i can find a vet who is willing to work with
me. Or if some know an antibiotic i can find online to give to the cat
to stop the infection.
if you can help thanks.
Ted Davis - 17 Apr 2004 02:35 GMT
>I am kinda at a loss if i can find a vet who is willing to work with
>me. Or if some know an antibiotic i can find online to give to the cat
>to stop the infection.
Every time I've had an abscessed tooth, my dentist at the time put me
on antibiotics to get the infection down before doing anything to the
tooth. I'm surprised you can't find a vet who would do the same.
Sorry I can't offer any advice, just surprise and sympathy.
T.E.D. (tdavis@gearbox.maem.umr.edu - e-mail must contain "T.E.D." or my .sig in the body)
Marshall Rice - 17 Apr 2004 12:28 GMT
>>I am kinda at a loss if i can find a vet who is willing to work with
>>me. Or if some know an antibiotic i can find online to give to the cat
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>on antibiotics to get the infection down before doing anything to the
>tooth. I'm surprised you can't find a vet who would do the same.
Antibiotics will suppress a dental abscess, but not cure it.

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Marshall Rice
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Lowell - 17 Apr 2004 15:13 GMT
But it sounds to me like he wants to manage the infection until he can get
some more weight on the cat, at which time he is willing to put the cat into
surgery.
> >>I am kinda at a loss if i can find a vet who is willing to work with
> >>me. Or if some know an antibiotic i can find online to give to the cat
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
> Antibiotics will suppress a dental abscess, but not cure it.
Ted Davis - 17 Apr 2004 18:41 GMT
>>>I am kinda at a loss if i can find a vet who is willing to work with
>>>me. Or if some know an antibiotic i can find online to give to the cat
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
>Antibiotics will suppress a dental abscess, but not cure it.
True, the abscess will remain, but it's much easier and safer to work
on one that isn't full of infectious bacteria and puss. The sufferer
is also in better general health with the infection controlled.
T.E.D. (tdavis@gearbox.maem.umr.edu - e-mail must contain "T.E.D." or my .sig in the body)
whayface - 17 Apr 2004 14:40 GMT
You might want to try posting this in alt.med.veterinary
>Howdy all,
>
[quoted text clipped - 23 lines]
>
>if you can help thanks.