In Texas. --- Hideyo Yamamoto <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Where do you live, Wendy? > > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On > Behalf Of Nina > Sent: Friday, November 04, 2005 11:21 AM > To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org > Subject: Re: Need help with Cricket's diet > > Wendy, > I'm very sorry to tell you this, but from what you > describe, if you > leave Cricket alone for 48 hours, there is a good > chance that he won't > be around when you get back, or he will deteriorate > considerably, (in 48 > > hours, he may do that even with you home to > assist-feed him). His > condition sounds grave to me and since he's not > eating on his own and > his anemia is so advanced, he really needs to be > monitored and cared > for. If you can't find someone trustworthy to stay > with him, I'd > consider bringing him to a vet that will be able to > monitor him 24/7. > Just boarding him at a regular vet that closes up at > night with no one > in attendance won't be enough and will stress him > out without giving you > > full benefit. > > As far as Cricket not eating... It's so frustrating > and upsetting > dealing with a kitty that will not eat, > unfortunately, I doubt very much > > that he's eating when you're not looking and > refusing the tasty tid bits > > you put down in front of him. Usually when a kitty > doesn't want to eat, > > they will more readily lap at food. They start that > awful thing they do > > with picking up pieces of food and then spitting > them out, like they've > forgotten how to chew. Oh, it's so terrible, I know > it is. Have you > tried the liver shake that has been posted on the > list? My Gypsy will > sometimes eat if I stay with her and encourage her > with soft words and > strokes. Try warming the goat milk and foods you're > offering, sometimes > > the added aroma and feel of warmth on their tongue > helps. Also, if > Cricket turns his nose up and walks away, follow him > and put the bowl > down in front of him. I don't know why, but > sometimes they seem to have > > to think about it and when they are immediately > offered food again, > they'll eat. For some reason they sometimes will > prefer a bowl over a > plate and visa versa, try switching what you are > serving the food on. > Offer the tiniest little bits of food, like a 1/4 of > a teaspoon at a > time, I think the sight and smell of a full bowl of > food may be > overwhelming for a kitty that doesn't feel good. I > think sick kitties > sometimes blame their discomfort on the food they > are eating. That may > be why they will suddenly refuse a favorite food, > but might try > something they've never eaten before, have you > offered Cricket lunch > meat in tiny little pieces? Also, assist-feeding > will usually cause an > aversion to whatever you are using, for example, if > Cricket has always > loved beef babyfood, he may not eat it after you've > been forcing him > to. Just something else to keep in mind. > > I'm sorry, my dear, I do know how hard this is. I > certainly don't want > to cause you any more upset than what you are > already going through. I > just wanted you to know that leaving him right now > could have > consequences that I wanted you to be aware of. If > it can't be helped, > it can't be helped. Everyone on this list is well > acquainted with the > "what if" syndrome. We end up beating ourselves up > over things we had > no way of controlling, we've gotten to be pretty > good at avoiding > anything that will later give us anymore guilt than > what we end up > suffering anyway. > > I'm thinking of you and feeling anguished for the > two of you, please > keep us informed. > Nina > > wendy wrote: > > >Hi guys, > > > >I am having a hard time getting Cricket to eat > right > >now. He is drinking water some and some tuna > juice, > >but it isn't much. I have been force feeding him > baby > >meat foods the past couple of days. He isn't very > >happy about it, but otherwise, he is going to be > too > >weak if he doesn't eat. I've tried tuna, salmon, > >goat's milk, yogurt, baby meat foods, and wet cat > >food-different varieties, and he doesn't seem > >interested in much of anything except for a little > >water and tuna juice now and then and some tuna > >flakes-just a little. I am hoping he is eating at > >night while I am sleeping or gone to work during > the > >day, but if he is, I don't think it's much. I have > >three other cats in the house and it's hard to tell > >who's doing what. He doesn't have any mouth sores, > >and he is dehydrated just a little bit. He's on > >prednisone still, and still making rbc's, but his > body > >is killing them as it makes them. He's still > anemic. > >We don't have the $300 to do a blood transfusion, > and > >that's not really an option anyway, since he is > making > >his own rbc's and the vet said the transfusion > might > >make his body try to fight the rbc's more. He's > still > >walking around a little, but weak due to lack of > >nutrients. He still purrs and sleeps with me at > night > >and goes outside to enjoy the air and sun, so I > know > >he's still enjoying life somewhat. But I don't > know > >what to do to get him to eat. Any ideas? Also, > we're > >going out of town tonight and I have to leave him > for > >48 hours. I am worried to death. My best friend > is > >going to stop by Sunday morning and give him his > >Prednisone and some fresh tuna, and we'll be home > >later that evening. Any thoughts or advice out > there? > > > >Thanks so much! > >Wendy > > > > > > > > > >__________________________________ > >Yahoo! Mail - PC Magazine Editors' Choice 2005 > >http://mail.yahoo.com > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > __________________________________ Yahoo! FareChase: Search multiple travel sites in one click. http://farechase.yahoo.com