My 10 yr old broke half of her molar off. It happened 4 days ago. She seems her normal self and eating/drinking. My concern is if it gets infected because she has heart disease. I cannot financially afford to have the teeth pulled or fixed right now.

Good afternoon,
This is my first time here so I hope I am using this forum as intended. I have an almost 18 year old cat that I rescued at 6mos. Lola has enjoyed very good health for most of her life. Her background: She is spayed. I was involved in fostering, TNR, and rescuing, for many years, so she received all the required vaccinations and routine exams for the majority of her life, as even vetted fosters can have ongoing health issues. She has been an indoor cat since she was rescued and now enjoys being the only cat of the family; as such in the last few years I have not subjected her to the standard vaccinations, and only took her to the vet if needed, which she hasn’t required in the last two years. Recently, I noticed she seemed to be cleaning herself more than normal, but everything else with her behavior was as usual. She was/is eating, peeing, and pooping normally; perhaps, a bit more water drinking. After returning from OOT, I noticed yesterday that she has a swollen, pink to reddish area on her urinary area that she was licking incessantly, there is no discharge or blood from the swollen area. The swollen area is the only change and I am unsure if that is solely from her constantly licking the area, or being very uncomfortable from a UTI or other underlying infection or condition. Her appetite for both wet and dry food, water fountain drinking, and toilet habits remain normal, her stools are normal and there is no blood or discharge when she urinates. I currently have an e-collar on her to stop any further irritation from her licking, and I am keeping her urinary and rectal areas clean with separate warm water compresses. I want to get my kitty the veterinary help she needs asap, but having been in rescue I know how quickly the vet expenses can add up. What are the specific diagnostic tests, (or surgery ), to focus on and discuss with a veterinarian in order to make sure she gets the vet care she needs for her presenting condition, but curtail all the add-ons that may not be immediately necessary? I recently helped a family member with her outstanding medical expenses, and that has constrained my finances at the moment. Even with my rescue discount, the usual vet I go to would more than likely be out of range at the moment as she now has partners to answer to, and I do not think my cat’s condition can wait until next month. At a minimum, I assume a urinalysis would be one diagnostic test needed and probably an antibiotic. Do you have a veterinarian in the St. Louis City area that would be more reasonable that you can refer me to?
Thanking you in advance for your time and consideration,
Patricia and Lola
(* Apologies to those who are sensitive for the close-up photos :*))

Hi Dr. Mag,
Are nylabones and benabones safe dog chews? We’ve used them on all our dogs for years and we replace them when they get fuzzy and have never had a problem. Now I’m reading where the plastic doesn’t pass and can block their gut. This info was from someone selling expensive alternatives so I’m not sure to believe the hype. Thank you so much, you all are wonderful kind souls.

Hi, I follow on fb even though I’m in Cecil county. My son’s dog has been having anal gland infection for about 6 or 7 weeks she’s been treated with a number of different antibiotics they feel a mass up there they’ve done two different kinds of cultures and don’t see any cancer. I told them no more medicine we want to to go to a specialist and they sent us to Blue Pearl they looked at her records and noticed that she has MRSA they came back and one of those cultures and none of the medicines that she had been treated with covers MRSA. So they cultured it again today and we hope to have her on a stronger medicine that will cover that within a week. They at first had recommended that we go forth with the bilateral anal resection which we were going to do until they found that in her record and then we decided to try the medicine first between the other vet prescribing the medicines that did not cover MRSA even though a test that they had done showed it and all the different rechecks and more medicines my son is almost $3,000 in after today the surgery was going to be another 8000. We’re hopeful that the proper medicine for MRSA will work but if it doesn’t and we have to go forth with surgery can we get it at a better price than 8000. That with the almost three just astronomical. Any other advice you can offer would also be welcome. Thank you for all you do .

What does it mean when your dog is not really eating but drinking water , he pee and boo boo he walks a lil wobbly he wines a lil bit sometimes he falls over

Good day! I have a Great Dane with a lipoma between her muscles on her left rear leg. Our veterinarian did a biopsy which confirmed the Lipoma. Our Vet was unable to remove it. We found a veterinarian surgeon but the cost was prohibitive. We saw your YOUtube video about this problem.
Would you be able to help us? I am willing to travel. I would also accept a referral.
We live in Sarasota, Florida.
Jenny