My cat's mouth won't close. How to find affordable vet care?

Thank you for contacting PetCoach with your question. Poor little kitty! I'm wondering if she was abandoned and she has a broken jaw preventing her from closing her mouth. This is a medical emergency, and she has to see a vet. I will give you some resources that can help you afford a vet, but if you truly can't afford one, take her into the SPCA immediately. They can get her the veterinary care she desperately needs and find her a home. I hope this helps! If paying for a vet is an issue, you can see if your vet accepts payment plans, if there is a low cost clinic in your area, or you can apply for Care Credit online. There is also an organization called Red Rover that give grants for treatment of sick animals, and you can see if you qualify for one of their grants. Best Friends also has a list of resources that offer financial assistance on their website. I'd also see if you can borrow money from family and friends. http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/trouble_affording_pet.html?credit=web_id91754962 https://www.redrover.org https://www.carecredit.com http://bestfriends.org/resources/financial-aid-pets http://lessonsfromaparalyzeddog.com/when-pet-owners-cant-afford-veterinary-bills/ http://www.dogheirs.com/resources-affordable-veterinary-care/

If you have a regular vet you can call them to see if they have an emergency line or answering service that can refer you to an emergency clinic in your area. Keeping your cat calm and quiet can help keep him from getting injured more, but he can't close his mouth at all he needs to be seen by a vet as soon as possible.

Oreo could have in addition to the broken tooth a jar fracture. I recommend he be checked out by a veterinarian as soon as possible. This is because the broken tooth can lead to a tooth root abscess as well as if the jaw is broken it will need some sort of stabilization procedure. In the meantime try feeding Oreo a very liquid diet such as a gruel of his normal food and plenty of water and keep it indoors at all times. Do not give any human pain medication as it can be very toxic to cats.

It sounds like Lily really does need to see the vet, and if she stops eating due to the pain, that is extremely serious. You can see if there is a vet in your area that accepts payment plans, if there is a low cost clinic your area, or you can apply for Care Credit online. There is also an organization called Red Rover that provides grants for veterinary care, and you can see if you quality for a grant. Best of luck. http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/trouble_affording_pet.html?credit=web_id91754962 https://www.redrover.org https://www.carecredit.com

Your cat needs to see his veterinarian ASAP. It is possible that your cat has a tooth abscess, severe periodontal disease, something lodged inside the mouth, an injury, or an oral tumor. Regardless of cause, this is a serious medical condition since it is preventing him from eating and drinking normally. Your cat is at risk of becoming dehydrated and developing a condition called hepatic liposis, which can lead to liver failure. Even going 24 hours without food can cause changes in liver functioning.

Oh dear, poor Chief! It sounds as though he has some serious issues with his mouth. Mucus discharge and bleeding from the mouth can be caused by severe gingivitis, stomatitis, a tooth root abscess, oral masses, foreign material lodged in the mouth, among other issues. I can understand your financial concerns, but Chief really needs veterinary attention fairly urgently. These types of changes in the mouth can be quite painful, and cats may display signs of pain by pawing at their mouth, eating less, picking up food and dropping it, and drooling. Do not give him any over the counter pain medications, as none are safe for cats. Fortunately, there are many available resources to help both with financing options for veterinary care and for providing financial assistance for veterinary care in sick pets: • Care Credit ( https://www.carecredit.com ) is a healthcare credit card accepted by many veterinarians. • Red Rover ( https://redrover.org ) provides some grants for pets experiencing urgent medical problems and for families experiencing domestic violence. • The Humane Society ( http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/trouble_affording_pet.html?credit=web_id91754962 ) has a fairly comprehensive list of other non-profit organizations able to provide financial assistance for veterinary care, organized by state. • The Pet Fund ( http://www.thepetfund.com ) is a non-profit organization that provides financial assistance for some veterinary care. I hope this helps and that all goes well for Chief!

Poor Daisy! If she couldn't close her mouth, isn't biting food, and her tongue is sticking out, I would be very concerned there is a serious injury with her mouth. She could have a broken or dislocated jaw, or she could have a broken tooth. The only way to know for sure is to have her seen by a vet as soon as possible. She needs a physical exam, and possibly x-rays to check her mouth and jaw. With these tests, the vet can determine the best treatment for her. She also likely need pain medications, as I'm sure she is in pain from the fight. The only safe pain medications are from the vet. Please do not give her any human pain medications, as many are toxic to cats and are fatal if given. Please take her into an ER vet clinic; if there isn't one in your area, there will be a vet on call for emergencies. The information to reach that vet is found on a clinic's answering machine or website. Good luck, I hope this helps!