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Harry's jaw, how did it happen?

6 replies

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 17/11/2018 22:26

I've been thinking about Harry's broken jaw from 2016 for a while and something is bothering me. The day it happened he came home rubbing at his mouth so DH took him to the vet where he was examined by a vet we hadn't seen before. She opened his mouth and could see that one canine tooth was missing and told us he needed a dental. He didn't protest when she opened his mouth.

During the dental the same vet phoned me to say that he had a broken jaw and would need another operation the following day as she was struggling to get some of his teeth out. The next day another vet took over and his jaw was wired and the rest of the teeth removed.

With hindsight I'm wondering if the first vet broke his jaw trying to remove the teeth. I've read that it's fairly easy to break a cat's jaw if the teeth aren't loose enough and we found out that Harry had a jaw infection and was very weak.

I found out later on from the receptionist that the staff were glad when the second vet took over and that the first vet had left shortly afte Harry's dental. I'm in no way saying anything was deliberate but I am wondering if his jaw was broken at the vet rather than before and no one told me. There's absolutely nothing I could or would do now and I couldn't fault the treatment he had from the second vet.

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Toddlerteaplease · 17/11/2018 22:52

Possibly you are right. But not much can be done about it now. The vets were adamant that Fatty had a fracture I. Hers the first time she got it stuck open. But she hadn't. It was just impinging when she opened her mouth too wide.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 17/11/2018 22:57

You're safe! Wolfie and I were worried you'd been eaten!

Seriously I know there's nothing I could do, it's just one of those things that doesn't sit right with me. DH has gone to bed and I'm sitting here feeling a bit emotional with Harry so I think I'm overthinking everything!

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YetAnotherSpartacus · 18/11/2018 12:46

Mmmmmmm I suspect you might be right. Something does not add up in the whole sequence of events does it?

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 18/11/2018 13:22

No. At the time I was too upset to even think about anything like that. I know there's nothing I can but writing it down has made me think a lot more went on than I actually knew.

Poor little Harry, we only moved him to that vet as I didn't like the way previous one treated him.

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YetAnotherSpartacus · 18/11/2018 13:35

Look, whatever happened, forgive yourself. You (and we all) do our best by those who we are charged with acting in the interests of, four legs or two. You did your best - and it sounds like you were acting with the limitation of some pretty poor resources. It's not always easy and you had no reason not to trust someone who was a skilled professional. I guess the best we can do is learn - and next time demand he is seen by a trusted vet (or whatever is appropriate). Harry loves you and that's kind of the main thing. He's a gorgeous boy and I'm sure he knows that you did your very best by him.

Is everything OK? Why are you thinking about this now?

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 18/11/2018 13:56

The other vets were lovely, DH took him in as an emergency and this one was free. I know he was well looked after there and the nurses loved him. They called him a character...

I'm fine, just overthinking as usual! I probably do worry too much about Harry, especially as he's getting older. I went to see the Supervet on Friday and it made me think about vet treatment. Harry was going to be referred to Fitzpatrick Referrals at one point - we could have been on TV!

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