Multiple Facial Abcesses on Cat... Please Help!!!

[jewell_diva]

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Decmber 12, ABCESS ONE:
About three weeks ago, I noticed an abcess about the size of a golf ball on my cat's lower left cheek (kinda near his neck). It could have taken a few days to form, but I'm not really sure because my Magoo's fur is so fluffy. The day after I first noticed the abcess, I think it popped as a result of his scratching. My other cat, Basil, was licking and nursing the open wound as Magoo slept. The hair is missing where the original abcess popped, and the skin has shrunk around the wound to close it up-- it only looks like a little scab now.

December 24th, ABCESS TWO:
Magoo used to be active, and now all he does is sleep. He has also lost a substantial amount of weight. I was scratching him under his chin, and I noticed another abcess forming under his chin (under jaw). This one only got to be about the size of a marble, and it popped the next day. This wound wasn't nearly as big as the first one, and it only took a day or two to scab over. I can scratch under his chin now, and he doesn't wince with pain.

January 1st, ABCESS THREE:
Yet ANOTHER abcess!!! I'm becoming very emotionally exhausted. Poor Magoo... I can't watch him eat. He looks like he struggles to swallow every bite. He plays sometimes, but mostly sleeps. His coat is still soft and shiny, but he's as light as a feather. The third abcess is on his upper left cheek (under his eye). It was looking about the size of a marble last night, and his eye is slightly squinted. I don't know what to do!! This is the THIRD ONE! I just don't have ANY money! I can't bear to watch him suffer! How is he getting these things? What can I do to make them stop? I've called all the vets, and they can't give me any advice unless they put some of the drainage on slides for analysis. I don't have $100... I don't even have 50 cents. I am a beginning realtor, and I just got out of college and barely made it through Christmas. Does anybody have any advice?

 

[Dafuzzy]

I don't know what to do!! This is the THIRD ONE! I just don't have ANY money! I can't bear to watch him suffer! How is he getting these things? What can I do to make them stop? I've called all the vets, and they can't give me any advice unless they put some of the drainage on slides for analysis. I don't have $100... I don't even have 50 cents. I am a beginning realtor, and I just got out of college and barely made it through Christmas. Does anybody have any advice?

Money pinches do indeed stink, but in this case you need to take the cat to the vet anyways. Letting it suffer is a horrible option, and if you can't financially provide for your vet, then perhaps you are not in the position of being an owner. There is a responsibility one has to take in getting a pet, and providing for its welfare, including its health, is included. Talk to the vet. Perhaps they have a financial aid program, or maybe he will be willing to knock off a few bucks from the treatment if you are in a money-bind.

 

[jewell_diva]

...if you can't financially provide for your vet, then perhaps you are not in the position of being an owner.

Yes, I agree with you. Maybe I am not in the position of being an owner right now, but it's too late-- you see, I already own the cat. I can't "un-own" it. I have been calling vets all day, and one vet told me I could flush the wounds with a substance called ST-37, which is sold as an antiseptic mouth wash. I have to do it twice a day, and Mr. Magoo won't be very happy with me. This will just have to work for now. I will have enough money to take him to the vet on the 20th of January. I appreciate your post... thank you!

 

[Gr8DaneGirl]

Yes, I agree with you. Maybe I am not in the position of being an owner right now, but it's too late-- you see, I already own the cat. I can't "un-own" it. I have been calling vets all day, and one vet told me I could flush the wounds with a substance called ST-37, which is sold as an antiseptic mouth wash. I have to do it twice a day, and Mr. Magoo won't be very happy with me. This will just have to work for now. I will have enough money to take him to the vet on the 20th of January. I appreciate your post... thank you!

That sucks, but I agree your kitty needs to go to the vet. In my are, San Diego, we have an organization called "Mercy Crusade", amoung others,that can help in this situation. These organizations are non protif and provide assitance for pet owners in situations like yours. My advise would be to find the vets in your area that provide low cost services, such as low cost spay and nueter, these clinics are more likely to know about such organizations. Or search the internet, I think there are two or three of these in San Diego, I would bet you have something in your area too. I have seen these people donate between 50-100% of cost for treament.

 

[nutellagirl]

Does your cat already have a vet that follows his health needs- ie: vaccinations? Many places will work with you on a payment plan. Do you have a credit card? Do you have parents? I know it is excruciating when money is tight but the little guy might really be suffering until the 20th. Abscesses can be signs of lymphatic trouble and especially around the throat, it could press on his windpipe or make it to tough for him to eat enough. Cats are really at risk for severe liver failure if they go even 2 days without eating sufficiently. You really need to beg, pray or steal or just talk honestly with a veterinarian to get this kitty diagnosed. I am a student too and it sucks, but that's the contract we enter into when we assume responsibility for another life. Have you actually brought the cat in to be seen??? Doctors are more likely to work with you when you've shown the effort and concern to bring your animal in and affirm your good intentions.
Good luck hon.

 

[pathognomonic]

I may live to regret writing this, but this is something that all people interested in becoming veterinarians should think about. I am not trying to make an example of the OP, but I see situations like hers on an hourly (not daily) basis in private small animal practice. Many, many people get animals and then cannot afford to provide even basic preventive care, let alone get their pets treated when medically necessary. Then they show up with the "if you really loved animals you'd cut me a break or treat my pet for free" line etc. Then you either get called four letter words when you tell them that you can't treat for free (or recommend euthanasia since you're unwilling to donate several thousand dollars worth of surgery) or you do treat for free or just get stiffed with the bill. Unfortunately, you then still have to pay technicians, building rental, school loans, malpractice insurance, and all the other overhead associated with a practice. Final score - veterinarian working 100+ hours a week, barely making ends meet, constantly frustrated because you can't give the care that you want to the pets that need it.

Case in point, women comes in with an Eskie puppy that she had loose in the back of a truck. Puppy jumps out and fractures both the radius and ulna. No rotational stability with a cast so the puppy needs to be plated. She can't afford it. I call a local group that sometimes helps people out and get them to cover my costs (the plate, antibiotics etc). I donate my time. She gets charged $150 for a thousand dollar plus orthopedic procedure. She pays fifty on her account. She comes back for a recheck in 6 weeks. We shoot an x-ray, adding $33 to her bill. Across a waiting room full of people she screams at me, cursing and saying "you bast#@!s are bleeding me dry!". God I love my job!

 

[chris03333]

I may live to regret writing this, but this is something that all people interested in becoming veterinarians should think about. I am not trying to make an example of the OP, but I see situations like hers on an hourly (not daily) basis in private small animal practice. Many, many people get animals and then cannot afford to provide even basic preventive care, let alone get their pets treated when medically necessary. Then they show up with the "if you really loved animals you'd cut me a break or treat my pet for free" line etc. Then you either get called four letter words when you tell them that you can't treat for free (or recommend euthanasia since you're unwilling to donate several thousand dollars worth of surgery) or you do treat for free or just get stiffed with the bill. Unfortunately, you then still have to pay technicians, building rental, school loans, malpractice insurance, and all the other overhead associated with a practice. Final score - veterinarian working 100+ hours a week, barely making ends meet, constantly frustrated because you can't give the care that you want to the pets that need it.

Case in point, women comes in with an Eskie puppy that she had loose in the back of a truck. Puppy jumps out and fractures both the radius and ulna. No rotational stability with a cast so the puppy needs to be plated. She can't afford it. I call a local group that sometimes helps people out and get them to cover my costs (the plate, antibiotics etc). I donate my time. She gets charged $150 for a thousand dollar plus orthopedic procedure. She pays fifty on her account. She comes back for a recheck in 6 weeks. We shoot an x-ray, adding $33 to her bill. Across a waiting room full of people she screams at me, cursing and saying "you bast#@!s are bleeding me dry!". God I love my job!

 

[bern]

I may live to regret writing this . . .

Here lies one of the reasons I will probably pursue some sort of specialization!