Westley's surgery

Westley has been diagnosed with the worst stage of Stomatitis.  Stomatitis is a common, painful and life threatening problem in many cats.  It involves inflammation of the mouth, with the immune system attacking the teeth and gums.  This includes having bad breath, red, bleeding and inflammed gums, painful eating, erosions around teeth and tooth decay. Inflammation spreads from areas adjacent to teeth to areas more distant (back of the throat  or the oropharynx).  In some areas, the gums enlarge and block off areas of the oropharynx.  Eating and  swallowing become difficult and painful for many cats. If severe enough, cats may stop grooming themselves and will starve themselves due to the pain.

There is no cure to this disease.  In order to prevent pain, further damage to the oral cavity and possibly spreading the other organs, as well as preventing depression and starvation (and possibly death), it is imperative to take out the teeth.  This does not ensure the problem will go away, but it will ease their pain since the immune system can no longer attack the teeth.  It has an 80% success rate.

Westley is my child.  He has been with me through thick and thin and I could not imagine being without him.  I can see him in pain and wish there was something I could do to help.  Please, help me help him get through this!