Sweetie’s Dental Surgery

Sweetie desperately needs your  help!

He is suffering from an auto immune disease of his mouth called
Stomatitis. Stomatits is a severe, excruciatingly  painful
inflammation of the mouth and gums. Imagine having a mouth
filled with canker sores!
Stomatitis is a progressive disease with  each subsequent
flareup  the gums get a little worse. The most successful way to
treat stomatitis is to remove the  all the teeth, tooth roots, and
bacterial plaque that trigger the inflammation. This course of treatment is  more aggressive and invasive than
any pet owner (or veterinarian) would like, but there is no better option at  for Sweetie this time, and it has by far the best chance of
eliminating  the severe pain and suffering he is dealing
with.

I have been taking care of Sweetie ever since I found him eating
bread at my bird feeder, 8 years ago.  I thought “he” was a “she”
because there is a notch on his ear that is usually indicative of a
spayed/neutered cat.
When I started feeding Sweetie he was so distrusting  that he
would play “mannequin.” If I was looking at  him he’d freeze and
as soon as I’d turn away he’d eat. If I looked back he’d freeze!
We bought Sweetie an insulated house, a heated bed. He was all set for the coming winter.
As I got to know Sweetie I realized that “she”was a “he.”

In January of 2017 Sweetie was in a bad fight  he was in his house and wouldn’t come out.  We brought him, house and all, to Commack Animal Emergency Hospital. Sweetie is semi-feral and had to be sedated to be examined and treated. His shoulder was torn to the muscle and infected. The doctors were wonderful and treated his injury AND at my request Sweetie
was  neutered. Sweetie spent the next 5 months recuperating.
He was set up in my garage with a happy light (a light that mimics natural light) as well as a portable space heater and a radio
playing nature sounds! During his recuperation he needed
several followup visits for injections, fluids and exams; all
requiring sedation. It was a long journey but finally  he was ready to be released.
For me it was bittersweet! I have indoor cats and hated the
thought of him being exposed to the continued dangers of living   outdoors. I did not want to, but was told by many who deal
with cats like Sweetie that he would never be happy as an indoor cat.   So... Sweetie was set free. He stayed in the back yard for a
few  hours then disappeared. I did not see him again for 9 days! 
I was sobbing with joy when he finally came home!
From that day on Sweetie would come and go as he pleased.
Sometimes he’d be gone for a few days but he would always
come home.

In June of 2018 I put wet/canned food out for Sweetie he started to eat, took one bite and took off like the devil himself was in
pursuit! After a while he would come back and try again. This
went on for days. I tried tuna, sardines, baby food... If I could
entice him enough he would make an attempt but it was always
the same reaction.     Bite and flight! 
This went on for 8-9 days. We tried trapping him but he was too
smart and wouldn’t have anything to do with it.  I knew he was in trouble but I had no clue what was wrong.
Finally Sweetie asked for help. He went into his house and we
were able to trap him and get him to the vet. That was the first
time I ever heard of stomatitis. The doctor explained that
stomatitis is an auto immune disorder where the body thinks the teeth do not belong, the gums become inflamed and infected.
The good news  it was treatable with steroids and antibiotics.
The bad news was since it is an autoimmune disorder it will flare again. The time between flareups can be months or weeks. 

Between  June ‘18  and November ‘20 Sweetie had to be seen
several times, sedated and treated and then spend a few days in a cage recovering due to flareups. There were many other times  I was able to catch the flareup  before it got too bad and Sweetie stopped eating. As long as he was still eating I could spike his food with the necessary medicines.
To make eating easier for Sweetie I would purée and  warm his
food. 

Sweetie would always hide if we had company and reappear
suddenly after the last guest would leave. 
By the fall of 2019 Sweetie was rarely leaving the yard. Sweetie and I were getting closer too. He would walk by me and rub up
against my legs! At first I thought it was an accident but soon  
realized it was intentional!
This past summer (2020) Sweetie would stay in the yard while
we had family gatherings and was even nearby when  our three
young grandsons would be running around.
The most amazing thing for me was Sweetie had  gotten to the
point of trusting me enough to let me pet him as he walked by!
This action was repeated overand over and over! He would roll around on the ground and expose his belly and even purr!! I would spend time every day with him talking to him telling him how
much he is loved and how much I want him to come in and be
part of my family!

In early December the stomatitis was rearing it’s ugly head!This
time there is no going back. We got Sweetie to the vet;  after
being sedated and examined were were told that Sweetie has
what was referred to as “ end-stage” stomatitis.
He was given the usual long acting antibiotics and steroid shots. But the only treatment that will  truly help him is a full mouth 
extraction!
Other than the stomatitis Sweetie is in good health. 

Sweetie is  now recuperating in what is now HIS ROOM! Sweetie is now and for the rest of his life and indoor cat!

Due to financial issues out of my control I am no able to pay for
this surgery. I love Sweetie and  want him to be able to live the
rest of his life free from pain. 

I am praying that through the kindness and generosity of those
who take the time to read Sweetie’s story that enough money
can be raised to take do the surgery.  

The veterinarian who would be doing Sweetie’s surgery is
booked through February.  Given the extent of the current flareup I would like to have this done ASAP, hopefully early a March.
With the pre-surgical blood work and the surgery the cost
is $1,500 plus. 

Any donation is appreciated more than you know!

No donation istoo small! 

I am praying to reach my goal!
IF I exceed my goal any money
overage will  be donated to the
certified rescue.
Thank you for taking the time to read Sweetie’s story!