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

[catbird]

BW, it's likely your browser settings causing your problem. If you are using Internet Explorer, try putting it into Compatibility Mode.

[BW]

Catbird, Yes, I am using internet explorer because I was not able to get into the forum with firefox, or Chrome, remember, that happened a long time ago.  I don't even know my password now so that I could try it again. IE seems to know my password for me, and it just lets me login without my doing anything, fortunately.
I only use Internet Explorer for Itchmo, that's all.

SOOO, compatability mode. Hmmmm, Never heard of that.  I don't see anything about that in settings, but then I'm totally inexperienced with IE.  How would I look for it??  Where would I find it??

Don't really feel well at the moment, maybe  my flu shot is kicking in, or its because I didn't get much sleep either so I'm going to turn in early.  Everybody is medicated except for poor Tootsie.
Haven't taken the mucinex DR, don't like to try new things at night in case I have a reaction.  If I'm going to have a reaction I like to do that in the daylight, since I must drive myself.
Thanks for your help tho. Perhaps you can explain about the compatibility thing, and I'll ask my son too.  Nighty night.

[Mandycat]

BW,
Most people do not get much of a reaction from the flu shot, and you cannot get the flu from the shot.  Some people who have the shot and then get a cold or something blame it on the shot when they were most likely already coming down with the cold.  The viruses in the shot are not live, so cannot cause illness.  I get the flu shot every year and have never had a reaction or gotten sick.  Not even a sore arm.  Hopefully, you will do fine with it. 

I'm sorry that you had some difficulty giving Tootsie his medicine.  Hope you find a way to give it to him without being too traumatic for both of you.

[lesliek]

BW the moderators can pm you with your password or on how to change it , then you could use Chrome or Firefox . On the not feeling well , it is probably a combination of your worry about the cats & your allergies just getting you tired & depressed . If you can't get the meds in , can a tech come out on their way to work & home possibly ? That way you could help them & start to feel more confident in giving it .

[catbird]

BW, when you are feeling better, I can help you get in via Firefox or Chrome by resetting your password for you. You likely checked the box to stay logged in permanently using IE, that is why it "recognizes" you even though you have forgotten your password. The login cookies are stored in the browser of your computer, and what's stored in IE doesn't apply to Firefox or Chrome.

[BW]

Catbird, Leslie, and Mandycat,
Thank you all. I will see to the password problem later on after I have figured out the Tootsie med problem.
So far no reaction at all to the flu shot, so I am pleased by that, and am glad that I don't have to worry about flu this year.(provided it is the correct strain)

Tootsie came up on the counter when I came out, and he let me give him his kitty massage all over, and I kissed him on his head, (he is very warm) and I rubbed his rear end, and even gave him a hug, so I am pleased that he let me do that.  I put a couple flavors FF in the big plates, and he ate something with the other cats.  He saw me open the cans, so I guess he felt secure about no med.  I don't want him to go without food when he is sick. 
His face still is "down" thank goodness.

After I eat breakfast, I'll think about mixing some med in AD and see if he will eat that.  If not, I will have to think about a syringe and grabbing him (HATE to try and do that.)

Leslie, I have asked about someone coming here before and that is not an option. 

Now I must give Tiggerty and Sweetie Pie their meds.   Bless you all.

[Spartycats]

Maybe it's worth calling here, to see if you could arrange for a vet tech to visit, and what it would cost.

http://www.vetdispatch.com/new-jersey-info/new-jersey-vets-staff

http://www.vetdispatch.com/new-jersey-info

(I love having a mobile vet)


Clindamycin tastes very bitter, so may be hard to give with food.

[BW]

Spartycats, I will check out those sites. However,  the vet did say I could come and get some Clavamox instead .  That might have a better taste.  I called about that, I might be able to get it in liquid, (to squirt in)or the pill which he said would be  larger, might not taste as bad if I mash it up to hide it.  Thing is, Tootsie weighs 16 lbs, so he needs a big dose.  I will go over and pick up the clavamox pills (just a couple doses to try) after I give Sweetie her  Zenoquin
Tootsie wanted some of the Purina Natural kibble when I gave it to HIggs, and he grabbed it and chomped on it. I was afraid it would hurt his sore teeth, but he did it, and then I crushed some, and he ate that and liked it.
I did buy some pill pockets, but even those would involve putting them into his mouth.
I'm hoping the Clavamox will taste less offensive, (and not stink) perhaps smell less offensive in food??
Must give the zenoquin now.

[Spartycats]

I'm actually going by what I've read; I've not given Clindamycin.  I don't know what Clavamox tastes like, but have given it (only by pilling, not in food).

The idea with Pill Pockets is to hide the pill in them, and offer it as a treat -put it down in front of kitty, or offer it in the palm of your hand.  Sometimes, I test if a cat will eat an empty Pill Pocket first.  Sometimes Pill Pockets I have bought, have been too stale or dry.  There is also Flavor-Doh, but I order that online.

Also had one kitty who learned to eat the Pill Pocket and spit out the pill afterward, but it took her a while to master this.

[BW]

Spartycats, AH the   eat the nice food and spit the pill out ploy.  I've had that happen when covering the pill with nice food and sticking it in their mouths.  Good idea to see if he likes the pocket by itself first.

Ok, if I can just offer him the pill pocket, without having to cram it into his mouth, that would be nice, (almost too good to be true!) 
I'm done with Sweetie's zenoquin, and will go pick up the clavamox now. It's really hot out here, a funny October.  My AC has actually kicked in.

I was able to get some L Lysine into Tigger for his dreadful snorting, strangulating, snuffling Herpes thing.  It helps when I can get it into him.   I use the powder in juice salmon/shrimp ff juice.

[Sandi K]

BW, Clavamox comes in liquid form as well and is what we use on Sophers very frequently.  She doesnt mind the taste, just doesnt like the action of being given the medicine.  Do you think liquid might be easier to give for you and the kitty? You dont have to worry about a rejected pill that way.   

[Fizzy1]

BW, you sure have had a rough couple of weeks.  I'm sending good thoughts for you and the kitties

[BW]

Thank you Fizzy,
Tootsie came up on the counter all alone and cried, his single tone cry for food.  so I thought ok, and I mixed the clavamox, which is really a tiny pill in some of his food, and gave it to him, but when he started to eat it, not necessarily with enthusiasm,  (I'm not sure he would have eaten it really)  someone else came, and wanted it, and I had to chase them away, and off went Tootsie.


SO I thought pill pockets.   Ok, so much for pill pockets.  Tootsie licked it, seemed to like it, chewed off some of the covering, and continued to lick at it, until the whole pill was exposed, and then he walked away leaving the pill alone on the dish.


I tried crushing the pill and mixing it with the PP, but then he wouldn't even go near it, but someone else did, so I had to grab it away.

Now by this time, everybody thought he was being given something great, and no one would leave him alone when I tried putting the plate with the PP on it near him in other locations, By that time, he no longer wanted any part of the pill pocket.


His cheek is still down, and since he did come for food at the beginning, he still wants to eat, and that's good, and he needs food, so giving in,  I put a dish with a few flavors down on the floor and told him to eat what he wanted to and others could too.  However,  by this time, everybody was suspicious and looked at the food as if it might be poisoned.  They circled the dish staring at it like it might bite them, and he ran off.


So, I'm  going to the store to get some FF tuna for him, and will give it to him on the kitchen counter like always with the others later on, so he gets food in him.

I only got 2 doses of clavamox, and that is all used up experimenting.


I will go get more tomorrow, since they are so very tiny, I should be able to get it in his mouth, if I grab him.  The vet said they were large, but they are tiny, and I can recall giving them to other cats, by shoving them in their mouths.  Soooo, I"ll try that or eventually AD in a syringe... PHEW!!!  At least he doesn't seem hot tonight, and his cheek is still down.

It's a shame that they don't make a long lasting antibiotic besides the Convenia which is scary.

So now off to Petsmart. before it gets dark.

[GKit]

BW, with the pill pockets it sometimes helps to use just enough to cover the pill to keep them from chewing it off.  For a small pill I will usually split a single pill pocket in half and just use half to cover the pill.  We give Gypsy an empty half or third of a pill pocket, then the covered pill, then another empty half or third to keep her from getting suspicious.  We do find that there are batch to batch differences with the pill pockets though; for a while she loved the chicken ones, but now only wants the salmon kind.

[BW]

GKit,  I started off trying to use "some" of the pill pocket, (yes it's like playdough) but it was very difficult to cover the pill and it is a small pill.  The pill pocket is small to begin with, so I don't know how you can cover anything if you don't use it all. I tried a variety of sizes (portions of the pocket_  to cover the pill, even broke the pill in half, but Tootsie just licked at it, and shoved it around on the plate till the pill was uncovered.  He never tried to take the whole pill pocket into his mouth at all, not even when I had used only half a pill pocket and tried to squeeze it around some of the pill.  I just don't see how this could ever work, tho of course, it works for you, and the vet techs thought it might work.
I appreciate your advice and help, but perhaps I have difficult cats. 
My cats don't take big amounts of food into their mouth, none of them.  They lick their food up.  And occasionally, they bite off mouthfuls (small mouthfuls) off a chunk of FF on the dish, but never a big enough chunk to hide something in.

His face is still not swollen, that I can see at least. Keeping my fingers crossed till Monday. Just worried about the weekend.