Cat with a broken Lower Jaw

I dont have a question... I just decided to share some information on my experiences in the past 2 months as I have been nursing my cat Kitty (original name I know) through the traumatic and upsetting experience of a broken jaw...

Late one night I heard that spine chilling tone in kitty's voice that instantly let me know that there was something wrong...  I went out the back to find kitty clinging to the fence with a bloody maw and completly rattled... Needless to say may partner and I were devastated and worried to the core... Immediatly we called our local vet and took him down there straight away...  It was an expensive decision at 11 pm with a $300.00 Call out fee before recieved any kind of medical care...  Not the kind of cash you just have laying around, but luckily our local vets are Angels and allowed us to negotiate a payment plan considering it was an emergency.

He was sedated, given anti-biotics and a diauretic as his breathing sounded very fluidic and with the head trauma he had inhaled alot of blood... Not to mention the fluid released by the cats body when in shock....  He stayed in overnight and went into surgery the next afternoon after the Xray revealed that his bottom jaw had split in two and there was a minor fracture in the roof of his mouth.  The bottom Jaw was wired together and he was able to come home the next evening...

He was so happy to come home and while all broken and busted he was still so keen for cuddles and loving We were so stoked!!  But the hard part came when it came to eating drinking and medicating.

36+ hours home and he still wasn't drinking - This was a huge concern for me as dehydrations is a huge concern for any animal after any trauma.  I tried a million things had every single bread & butter plate and saucer lined up with an array of options... but still nothing...  Finally two things were tempting enough that the first lap began and the biggest sigh of relief in my life....  few day old prawns (shrimp) soaked in spring water and sardine springwater (straight from the can)  I did have to force feed him some fluids but this was difficult as it is hard to immobilise a cat and siringe feed when you cant grasp its jaw.  I learned from this that cats eat mainly by smell - the old blood still in his nasal passage inhibited him from wanting to taste... as well as the pain and nausea from the anesthetic.  So try anything to get kitty drinking... Sardines in springwater are fantastic as the natual oils help with the cats digestive system, stimulate appetite and that pungent odour will also help to excite the kitty :)

Food was the next hurdle and as stressful as the water was this was even more so.... Another 24 hours passed and he wouldnt have a bar to do with anything.... we tried coaxing him with every brand and type of food we could find - to no avail... wouldnt even try sardines.... After 6 hous of waving dishes under his nose and tapping tins, heating food shaking his old dry food box (DO NOT FEED A CAT WITH A BROKED JAW KIBBLE!!! We shook the box cause our kitty preffered dry food to wet) he just looked up at us with this sad pitiful MAOW and it was at that point we knew he was just in too much pain to use the jaw.  We took him in and the vet gave him a shot of kitty morphine (8hour)  We brought him home and left him in the loungeroom with his millions of sample plates while we made ourselves some lunch.... Then we heard it... He had started to lap up one of the many plates of food...

For the next week that type of food was all he would eat - Whiskers kitten singles watered down with sardine/tuna springwater with a little nutrigel mixed in (cat dietry metaboliser).  He tried to guts himself and we let him do it a bit but rationed/portioned his intake to avoid him throwing up as that would have been a huge setback and no doubt painfully discouraging.

I have  main pints of advice when it comes to kitty care during this time

1)  Be in communicado with your vet often... they can offer many hints and tips and most really genuinely care about your animals wellbeing...

2) When it comes to food and water try ANYTHING get your cats favourites, make something up... the most important feed is that first one and then its up to keeping the appetite stimulated..... (and regardless of what the vets say - my cat absolutely HATED the metaboliser NUTRIGEL so disguise this stuff as well as you can)

3)  When your cat is drugged on pain meds... give lots of pats and re-assurance, dont move them while they are sleeping, be quiet calm and loving as their minds dont react the same way as our son drugs.... My kitty tripped out several times.... Blanked out didnt recognise us for 5 minutes then suddenly snapped back in all loving and cuddly.... watch your pet closely when they are on this medication. they arent with it nor is their co-ordination good!

4)  Be patient and dont force the cat or traumatise by  administering antibiotics it may take 1/2 hour of running after the animal all through the house getting on drop at a time.... But every drop counts!

I am stoked to report that kitty is sitting on my lap right now, just had the wire taken out earlier and was soooo stoked to get a scratch under the hin for the first time in 2 months!!

Please If you have any questions or if you want more information about hints and tricks I have more and would be happy to share them... I will do anything I can to possibly help as internet tips helped me out through the past 2 months....  But remember every experience and animal is different... And ALWAYS talk to a vet in an emergency or when you are unsure...

[Jade59]

Wow, what an ordeal y'all have been through.  Thank you for taking the time to share.  I'm so glad kitty is getting better!!  I sure could have used people like you as well as this forum when my first cat was dying in 06.  I think if I had of been more knowledgeable, the outcome may have been different.  

Great, diligent work Amber.  And there's your reward...sitting right there on your lap :)

[sshoogi2]

We are picking our cat "Littles" up from the vet in the am!!! She broke her jaw friday and had surgery Sat am!!! The vet says cats typically do very well after this type of surgery!!! I'm very nervous about taking care of her...we will do any and everything in our power to make her comfortable and care for her until she is better!!! Thank you for the advice and anyone with any more advice they would like to share would be very helpful.  thanks

[pammypoo52]

I have a feral cat with a broken jaw and can't afford a vet bill was wondering if anyone had any idea how I could attemp to help him. I called the vet they want to run test before they fix his jaw and want 250.00 for test and then said it would probably be another 500.00 and we don't have that kind of money  for a feral kitty. I take care of 29 feral kitties but it hurts when one of them are hurting so I want to try to do something for him but am at a loss as to what to so so if their is any one outtheir with any help please let me know. I can't even find a vet that will let you make payements we live in such a rural area in Va.

[opus88]

bless your loving heart for what you are doing!!!
I sure wish I could help you in some way, all I can do is repost some old info of some clinics that do help.also info abt a care credit card that seems to accepted....but I have no idea whats avail in Va. I live in Canada...
all I can say is if nothing can be done to fix this poor baby than perhaps he needs to be put out of his misery? and God I hate to ever have to say that. good luck and post anytime, give us an update too...♥

http://www.medhelp.org/health_pages/Pets/RESOURCES-TO-HELP-PAY-FOR-VET-CARE/show/535?cid=2