This was definitely the case with my Luc, who stopped eating and we
didn't
notice right away (4 other cats free-feeding from same bowls).
Still don't
know if it was some sort of pancreatitis or what. Finally noticed
he wasn't
himself, took to high-class emergency vet 20 miles away for tests --
hepatic
lipidosis. We had an esophageal tube inserted and fed him A/D from
the
vet's office watered down and blendered, which we alternately
syringed and
spooned down the tube using a small funnel (it was really easy for one
slightly larger bit of food to block the syringe). This went on for
a few
days and then he started licking A/D off a spoon. We still tube-fed
him for
another couple days but his appetite picked right up.
From another list I'm on, I understand that for newborns at least,
corn
syrup (most often rubbed on their gums) is a zero-energy-expending
way for
them to get some nourishment. I wonder if that is the rationale
behind the
Nutrical formula?
Diane R.
-----Original Message-----
From: felvtalk-boun...@felineleukemia.org
[mailto:felvtalk-boun...@felineleukemia.org] On Behalf Of Sharyl
Sent: Friday, April 24, 2009 9:12 AM
To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org
Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] Wilson and I
Judy,
I don't want to get into a food fight with Karen but Nutri-Cal
should not be
used as a replacement for food. Here are the ingredients from Doctors
Foster and Smith web site.
Regular Nutri-Cal
Ingredients: Corn Syrup, Soybean Oil, Malt Syrup, Cod Liver Oil, Cane
Molasses, Methylcellulose, Water, Gelatin By-products, dl-Alpha
Tocopheryl
Acetate (Vitamin E), Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Manganese
Sulfate, Iron
Peptonate, Thiamine HCl, Niacinamide, Calcium Pantothenate (Source of
Calcium and Pantothenic Acid), Magnesium Sulfate, Pyridoxine HCl,
Vitamin A
Palmitate & D3 supplement, Potassium Iodide (Source of Iodine and
Potassium), Riboflavin5, Phosphate Sodium (Source of Vitamin B2 and
Phosphorus), Folic Acid and Cyancobalamin (Vitamin B12).
As you can see the primary ingredient is corn oil. A much better
choice for
short term assistance is meat baby food. A jar of Gerber 2 Chicken
and
Gravy has 100 calories. Try to work up to 200 calories per day with
Wilson.
The only way to know for sure if he is getting enough calories is to
weigh
him regularly on a good digital postal or baby scale. Most pate style
canned foods can be blended with a little liquid and are easily
syringed.
My Pequita, CRF, prefers her food offered on a baby spoon. She wont
eat off
her plate but I am able to maintain her body wt. by offering her food
several times per day on her baby spoon. Each kitty is unique. You
just
need to find the feeding method that works best for Wilson. May
kitties
will start eating on their own again once they feel better.
Sharyl
--- On Fri, 4/24/09, Karen Griffith <griff...@frognet.net> wrote:
From: Karen Griffith <griff...@frognet.net>
Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] Wilson and I
To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org
Date: Friday, April 24, 2009, 2:58 AM
Judy,
It is great that you are getting some food down him. You can also
syringe feed Nutrical (can get from your vet or order online, but vet
would be best bet due to delay for shipping), though they usually lap
it up themselves if they are not in too bad of shape. About 3cc
twice/day will do wonders, and can be used for a total food
replacement in totally anorexic cats. The B-complex vitamins in it
will also stimulate appetite. 3cc once/day will do if they are
eating
anything at all (10 lb. cat). Since you are a nurse, you will also
easily be able to give him sub/cutanious fluids. It is important
that
his fluid and electrolytes are sufficient. Lactated Ringers are
better than saline, due to the extra electrolytes.
About 100cc/day with an 18 g needle will help. May need to put it in
2 injection sites. As a rule of thumb, don't get a bigger bubble of
fluids under the skin that a 10 year old child can cup in their hand.
Wishing you good luck. Sounds like you are making progress. I just
got back in the house, and will be online for a while longer. You
can
email me at griff...@frognet.net if you have questions. I am rural
as
well and on dial up. If I receive your email, I can go off-line and
give you a call.
Karen Griffith
----- Original Message ----- From: "Judy Eaton" <jude...@yahoo.com>
To: "Feline leukemia" <felvtalk@felineleukemia.org>
Sent: Friday, April 24, 2009 1:35 AM
Subject: [Felvtalk] Wilson and I
Hi,
Thanks for all your comments, especially about
feeding. We had guests over for dinner tonight and I couldn't wait
until they left so I could get to my computer..after I began syringe
feeding Wilson. Both of us quit after about 20 ccs of cat food, but I
then got on the assisted feeding site and was encouraged. Wilson
actually was swallowing the syringed food rather gratefully, as long
as I didn't push it too fast. My husband helped keep both me and the
cat calm!
So we are starting on a new thing here.
Sympathy to Sharyl on the loss of Houdini...and thanks
for the extra emphasis on the feeding that got me into real action. I
am used to dealing with people who won't eat, not cats, and had no
idea that no food for a short time can be fatal.
Judy and Wilson
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