Tootsie's left cheek is very swollen! what else!

[BW]

Ok, Tootsie's left cheek is very swollen. He has eaten his fancy feast several times, so he is not that sick, however, if it is swollen due to a dental problem how serious is it that I get him to the vet immediately??
He is another very timid one.
He was in a sleeping carrier, but I didn't want to slam the door on till after I'd given Sweetie her Zenoquin, for fear he would freak out if he had to wait in there for any length of time. 
I finished SP very quickly to my surprise and when I came back into the kitchen he was OUT.  DUH.  I really goofed, and now he knows I'm up to something.
I have an apt for 4 pm, with a new vet I've never seen, but whom my vet recommended for me to see with Sweetie if necessary.

QUESTION:  how serious is a swollen cheek???  I see no blood from a cat incident, but they get rambunctious and he might have fallen and bumped it on something.  However, I am assuming that swollen cheek means dental problems.  Anyone have any other ideas.

Must I turn over all stones to get him to the vet today, or can it wait till tomorrow??  Is this an emergency?? They almost didn't want to give me a same day apt, but finally said because I am there so often, they would make an exception.  THEY SHOULD.  My vet would certainly do it. 
How concerned should I be??

[Spartycats]

I don't know if it's an emergency, but you and Tootsie will feel better if you can get him seen today.  Especially since you already have the appointment.  Will he go back into the carrier, if you put treats or catnip in it?

(I once had one cat whose cheek got very swollen, from a spider bite).

[BW]

Spartycats, Really!!  A spider bite!   I have little spiders around here in the house, BIG ones outside.  A bite would be better than a dental problem, RIGHT?? 
No, he is sitting ON TOP OF THE CARRIER.  I tried to play him in with a string toy, but no good.    I can't get near him.  I never pick him up, he's too timid.  And every once in a while he cried to me because he wants to go out into the sunroom, and I have closed him in the kitchen with Punkin Tunia.  She is tiny and sweet, and won't cause him any problems.

I am so mad at myself.  If he had had to sit in the carrier for an hour and half, so what, duh!!

Spartycats, I REALLY DO NOT NEED THIS AT THIS TIME!!   My own vet would squeeze me in whenever I got a difficult cat into a carrier.  This timing is awful.

[Spartycats]

Try to relax.  If you get him, you do.  If not, you can try tomorrow, if it still looks swollen.  I'm sorry you have so much going on right now!

I don't know - an hour and a 1/2 is a long time (and stress) for a timid cat to be in a carrier.  If you get him, and have to wait (like tomorrow), I'd cover the carrier with something; it can calm them.

ETA - I would try to get him seen soon.  It could be an abscess from a tooth problem, or a fight wound (especially if it feels warm, though I assume you cannot touch his face?).

[August]

Oh gosh, BW, what next?  Sending you lots of calm and good vibes to Tootsie!

[merrihart]

BW, did you get him to the vet?  I hope he is ok

[Meowli]

Sending prayers for Tootsie, I hope this turns out to be easily treatable.

[BW]

Spartycats.  Yes, I thought an hour and half was a long time too, so glad you agree.  
BUT thank the Lord,  I GOT HIM TO THE VET AT 4:45.
At 4:30 I got him to lie down in front of the carrier door with Tiggerty on the beddie.  and when he was relaxed by his friend, I was able to grab him and shove him into the carrier inches away and slam the door!!
Dr. Calabro and Tara were there and took him in promptly about 4:45. dr. C was very nice.  Tootsie weighs 16 lbs, his temp was 103 but he was upset, so that could be infection or  stress.
They also took blood, and Dr. C will call me tomorrow about the results.
He does think it is a dental problem, he sees  some questionable teeth and some blood, (on the gums I guess)  He gave me clyndamicin, 2 capsules TWICE a day. He suggested the long lasting Convenia, but I said NO! I'm afraid of that.
I can  open the capsules and hide the fine powder in food, hopefully, he will just eat the small pile of food the way Sweetie eats the small pile of food with her meth in it.  We will see.  
They gave him the first dose, 2 capsules, and Tara did it on the floor with him in between her legs, and put food on a mouth wooden thingy, 2 times, with difficulty, he clenched his jaws, but eventually she got it in and said I owed her!!
Actually, Tootsie was a very good boy.  He did hiss a couple times, but that was just a threat, and then he was good when she covered him with the towel for the doctor to take the blood.  She patted him a lot and he seemed ok with that, and Doctor patted him too and he was ok with that.
I could have left him over night and let the dr. c do it tomorrow during his surgery, OR, I could wait till next Monday when my own vet is back. I didn't want to leave him over night and scare and stress him even more poor fellow.
Although next Monday will present me with the getting him into the carrier problem again, and early in the am.  I think I may have erred again, big time.  A least I have the med, and don't have to give it till tomorrow!!

This new vet may be very good, or even better than my own, who knows, and leaving him there tonight, so he would have him available early in the morning would certainly have been easier on me!! Now that I think about it, I have no idea how I'll get him there by 9:30 am next Monday.  I have NO IDEA.  and now I don't even think it will be possible! But it's too late now.  so I guess that was yet another DUH.
Time will tell.

[BW]

Meowli, Merrihart, and August.  Thank you so much for your support.

When I brought him home, I put him in the living room pen, but he didn't realize he was home, and that upset him a lot even after I put his friend Tiggerty in with him.  so I didn't make him stay in there and let him out into the living room and opened the door to the kitchen, Tiggerty ran right out into the kitchen, but Tootsie was afraid of going into his own kitchen, because I had opened the DOOR, (he is used to seeing a pen top in front of  the opening) and he  started through but got scared and ran back into the living room and ran under the china closet.
It took about 1/2 hour to get him out into the kitchen again. I had to put the old familiar pen top in front of the door, so he would recognize the "opening"  when he saw the pen top in front of the door, he recognized it, knew where that opening led, and ran through into the kitchen.  Now he's out in the sunroom and by this time, relaxed again, I hope.  Poor fellow.  The slightest changes get them so upset.
 
Have any of you had experience with clindamycin??  is it usually effective??

[lesliek]

It's very good for dental problems in cats , dogs & people . We have used it several times with no side effects . I have to say after seeing how he reacted to just the appt , not leaving him overnight was a good choice ! Although getting Tootsie back into the carrier that soon will be tough . Maybe leave open carriers in all the rooms he is usually in ? That way they will be ready for you when you can grab him next Monday .
Hoping for you to get a break soon and be able to relax a little ! Glad you liked the substitute vet though , at least you have 2 choices now .

[Mandycat]

BW,
So sorry that you have a problem with yet another kitty!  Clindamycin is the preferred antibiotic for dental problems.  It is very effective.

[BW]

 Leslie and Mandy, thank you so much. I answered you both and then lost it all,  was too tired to save it, and then lost it.  I'm so tired I forgot what I said, am going to bed.
  Here's what I recall typing.  Tootsie came up on the counter 2 times to eat with the other cats, and the last time, I gave him a private dish, which he seemed to appreciate.  He seems to be feeling fine.
I"m so glad you both think that the clindamycin is good and effective for dental problems, that is a big relief.

Sweetie had her 2nd 1/4 meth dose in the tiny pile of food, and is doing well,  Tigger had his 1/2    meth pill too, and I had my 2nd bp pill and now I"m going to bed,   My body says it is going to stop working for tonight!!   Blackie seems to be napping and I am going to just read in bed a little bit, too tired to even watch tv.  tomorrow is another day.

Thank you, I really need and appreciate the great advice and support.  Bless you all

[GKit]

Oh my, BW. I'm sorry to hear Tootsie had to go to the vet too, but glad he seems to have settled down after his trip.  Sending good vibes that everything goes smoothly will everyone's pilling tomorrow! 

[catwoods]

BW, I'm so sorry that Tootsie has this problem, but I'm glad you were able to get to the vet and have things go fairly well. I agree, clindamycin is a good med that should help. Also sending many hopes that pilling everyone will be a breeze tomorrow.

[BW]

Catwoods, thanks for your message.
OK, something should be done about the word processor on itchmo. I lost everything again, it happens every single time now. I had saved some, but not all. I'll try to fill in.

I was happy to see thatTootsie was on the counter with the others when I got up, and let me pet him and massage his neck and rear end, so I guess he forgives me for the vet visit.  I was thrilled. Things went downhill from there.
Couldn't get any med at all into Tootsie, tried many times, many flavors, different sized dishes, different locations, NO GO. He just smelled and ran off.
I'm just sorry, that I have not been able to get any more into him.
So yes,  HE LET ME PET HIM, I massaged his neck and even his rear end and he seemed to like it.  This is quite unusual, and he only lets me do that rarely. 
About 8 this evening, I just gave up and gave him some FF tuna feast, way down in the corner of the sunroom, behind a chest, and HE ATE THAT because it had no med in it, I guess, BOY IS HE SMART! Sooo, NO MED TODAY!

the vet called with his blood results, and everything is  great,  wonderful blood work except a little indication in the white blood cells that he has some sort of little infection, which of course we already know. 
I wonder how long he can go with no med without getting much worse. Dr. called   and said I could come and get some liquid med, or I could try putting it in AD in a syringe with water, but of course that involves grabbing him and trying to squirt it in all by myself, don't know if I could do that alone.  The tech had the vet helping her.

I went to the doctor re my constant coughing and throat clearing, he said mucinex RD, and also  recommended a flu shot, which I did NOT WANT, I fear they will make me sick and so I NEVER got one before.
But now with 4 sick cats who need meds and care, I cannot afford to get really sick myself, there's no one else to take care of them, so I let him give it to me. I hope it doesn't make me ill.
I can't wait for my vet to get back  next week. This doctor was very nice, but he is a new vet and not as experienced.
I'm REALLY tired now, didn't sleep enough last night, so that's all for now. 
Thank you so much for your support and bless you.