[Felvtalk] Assist feeding was/ Fwd: virus has finally caught up with her :-(

[Margo]

Hi Jennifer,                         Both Lee and Katherine have given good advice for assist feeding on a regular basis. Feeding a sick cat can be tricky. You don't want to _force_  it, because this has to happen again and again. You want to get nutrition in without stress. Hill's a/d is a good choice, as is Eukanuba MaxCal, both prescription, and your Vet should have at least one. If not, get an all meat baby food, without onion. That will do fine on a temporary basis, and if even that's not available, get the finest grained pate type food, and if you can, blend it with water until it's as smooth as you can get it. Whatever the food, it should be the consistency of thick cream. I keep it in a little plastic container with a top, and use what I need each feeding. Refrigerate in between, and reheat in a bowl if very warm water when needed again. In this case, I wouldn't be concerned with getting much into your girl at a time. 1/2 a can would be great for the day initially, but anything is better than nothing, and can help prevent hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver disease) from not eating. Lee's description of how to do this, and how important it is to keep them clean is spot on. Rather than trying to get a certain amount in her at a sitting, I'd  work first on getting her to accept tiny amounts. I use a 5 cc syringe because it's short and gives me the best control, but whatever you're comfortable with will work, as long as it has a slip tip. I gave Gribble only about 1/2 cc at a time, and sometimes we only got one or two in before he started to struggle. We quit when he did, and tried again in an hour. Gribbs eventually became accustomed to the whole process, and we got to two syringes (10 ccs) at a sitting.He never got up to a full can a day, and maybe less than 1/2 on most. He did maintain his weight and after about a week began eating on his own.                           I hope you were able to get her hydrated and that she's doing much better, All the best, Margo     -----Original Message----- From: "Katherine K." Sent: Oct 10, 2013 8:46 AM To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] Fwd: virus has finally caught up with her :-( I agree with Lee. A few spoonfuls of pate are not enough if she has stopped eating. She should probably be getting about 1 can per day. Hills AD is very soft, I don't even mix it up with water. Ask the vet to give you some syringes that arent too narrow of an opening. I use the 10mL (aka 10cc) ones, fill several up at a time, then just start with the feeding, squirting 1 cc on the side of the tongue at a time. There can be some messy trial and error at first.  How is she doing today? On Thu, Oct 10, 2013 at 8:18 AM, Lee Evans <moonsiste...@yahoo.com> wrote: Using a feeding syringe (3cc syringe) is better than stuffing pate in her mouth. You have to blend the pate with some soup (not with onion though) until it's like very thick cream and give her about a half syringe at a time. Towel on lap, tissue box nearby at hand, cat on lap, soft loving talk to cat, syringe at corner of mouth is how I syringe feed my cats during illness. Be sure to wipe her mouth frequently and do the feeding slowly. It may take almost a half hour but if you do it with loving murmurs, she will feel that she is spending quality time with you instead of having food stuffed into her mouth. Feeding tubes are invasive and uncomfortable for cats and should be a last resort. I usually use Hills A/D as it's a very soft pate made for syringe feeding ill cats. You buy it at the vet clinic. Get about 5 cans as you will be throwing away left overs that have already been blended. Try to get a half a can at a time into her. Once you syringe feed for a short time, their regular appetite takes over. Also, I would recommend you ask your vet about a antibiotic injection instead of pills or liquid. On Thursday, October 10, 2013 7:01 AM, Margo <toomanykitti...@earthlink.net> wrote:     Hi Jennifer,                        Well, I think she will need some help. I am surprised that a Vet allowed a dehydrated cat to leave without doing something about it, so I'd call and ask why. It's good that she is drinking, but it is impossible to correct clinical dehydration orally, she must have either IV or sub-q fluids. That alone MAY be enough (combined with the B-12) to start her eating again, it can be miraculous. If you don't want to try the Clavamox, then take her (what is her name?) in and request sub-q fluids (and have them show you how to do it at home) and ask about Convenia, a long-lasting injectable antibiotic. I don't generally recommend it, but it's better than nothing, and less stressful for both of you. Explain that medicating orally seems too stressful. You could ask about appetite stimulants, but they need to be given by mouth as well, so maybe you don't want to try.                        Much depends on how far you want to go. Sub-q's and assist feedings aren't difficult to do, but you may not have the time to give to this. I would say, even if you decide not to continue long-term care, get to the Vet (or another of you don't want to go back there) TODAY for sub-q or IV fluids, and see if that helps.. If you have to work, most Vets will allow drop-off.                        Please help her by getting the dehydration resolved. She feels totally lousy, and of course doesn't want to eat, or move. At least she will feel better, and that's critical, whatever course you elect to follow. All the best, Margo -----Original Message----- From: Jennifer Ballew Sent: Oct 9, 2013 9:40 PM To: felvtalk Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] Fwd: virus has finally caught up with her :-(  They took her temp yesterday and no fever.  She's not showing any outward signs of infection, so that's good I guess.  I'm just wondering if she's going to be able to pull out of this.  :-( Jennifer On Oct 9, 2013 8:27 PM, "moonsister22" <moonsiste...@yahoo.com> wrote: Regular cats can also have those symptoms. The B12 shot is good. Does she have a fever? Many doctors completely neglect the simple task of taking the cat's temperature. An antibiotic injection might be of benefit. My hard and fast rule is to think "simple" first. My FIV positive cat had a lump on his back. It was diagnosed as probably a malignant tumor. I suggested it was a non-malignant fatty tumor. Three years later Mr. Snowy is still fat and going strong and the tumor has absorbed. Maybe it's luck and they will use up the last of their nine lives eventually but until then start off simple but cautious and do always take to vet but listen with both ears open and your brain cells on high alert. Hugs and blessings to you and the fur kids. Sent from my iPod On Oct 9, 2013, at 3:48 PM, Jennifer Ballew <balle...@gmail.com> wrote: > Hey all- > > > This is the first time I have posted to the forum.  I have two FeLV positive cats, one two and one three years old.  The older cat has never had any issues with illness whatsoever, but the younger has only recently started showing signs that her illness has caught up with her.  Just within the last few days she has become very lethargic, stopped eating (and only drinks a small amount) and whenever she stands or walks she seems very unsteady and wobbly.  I took her to the vet yesterday; they checked her blood counts which were low and said her kidney enzymes were elevated.  They also said they could hear a heart murmur which is probably related to possibly being dehydrated.  They gave her a B12 shot and I took her home.  I already said if worst came to worst I wouldn't put her through any unnecessary treatments or subject her to any painful procedures and that I would strive only to provide the best supportive care for her while she was alive so that she would have the best chances.  I'm just wondering if any of you have gone through the same thing and if I can expect her to pull out of this on her own, or, if she doesn't, how long she might have left.  I'm sincerely heartbroken.  I really thought I had nursed her through the most risky part of her illness (kittenhood) and that she would now go on to live a halfway long life.  In any case, if anyone has any advice or information I would greatly appreciate it. > > Thanks all, > > Jennifer > > -- > "To love is to risk not being loved in return. > To hope is to risk pain. > To try is to risk failure, > But risk must be taken, > Because the greatest hazard in life > Is to risk nothing." > --Leo Buscaglia > _______________________________________________ > Felvtalk mailing list > Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org > http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org _______________________________________________ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org _______________________________________________ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org _______________________________________________ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org

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