Nina, Do you think that if the Prednisone isn't working well for appetite stimulation, then the Cyproheptadine might still work? I called my vet and they are going to call me back. Cricket is apathetic about the food; I don't think his mouth is hurting. He seems to have a little trouble swallowing, but not a lot.
:) Wendy --- Nina <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Ask your vet about Cyproheptadine. It's a cream > that you put on the > inside of their ear to stimulate appetite. I don't > use it when a cat > acts like they are hungry, just somehow unable to > eat. If Cricket isn't > showing any interest in food a stimulant might get > him started again. > Nina > > Hideyo Yamamoto wrote: > > >Wendy, did you say you try Epogen on him? > > > >-----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 > >> > >> > >> > >> > === message truncated === __________________________________ Start your day with Yahoo! - Make it your home page! http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs
