RE: UPDATE:Dukee's Vet Appt

[Diane Rosenfeldt]

I can emphatically state that tube feeding does not bother them.  When Luc had fatty liver last year, he got a sort of surprised look the first time he felt the food hit his throat without going through his mouth, but the rest of the time he just took it in stride.  He got used to the tube very quickly -- he did shake his head a little more than usual, which sent the inadequate plug they'd given us flying into the great unknown, but otherwise he was very casual about it.  It took a lot of stress off him and off us, since he HATED forced syringe-feeding.  He did all the things with the tube in that he had done without it -- more, because he was feeling more himself.  He recovered, by the way, and actually began acting much younger than he had in a long time!   Terri, I understand the pain of having to consider money at times like these, and I hope if you choose treatment for Dukee, your vet will work with you on payments, or maybe you can ask for a "bare essentials" procedure.  For instance, we fed Luc watered-down and pulverized A/D, which goes for about $1.50 a can.  Is the $8+ for ONE can of the Maximum Calorie or, I hope, a quantity?  Also, fluids are a huge ripoff when you get them from vets' offices.  When our Kitty had CRF, we ordered a dozen bags of lactated Ringers plus sufficient tubing and 100 needles for $64, online.  Vets do noble work, and I'm not saying they don't deserve every penny, but truth to tell the way they sometimes inflate prices on these incidental supplies is almost as criminal as the way human doctors do.   My thoughts are with you no matter which path you choose for Dukee.   Diane R.   >>I have been told that tube feeding actually does not bother them.  I have been told that by people who have done it with their cats, and also by vets. Michelle