Help!

Apr 09, 2008 14:36

For the first time in at least twelve years, due to an early Easter combined with this English county’s innovation of a six term scholastic system, we have ourselves an off-peak holiday fortnight right now ( Read more... )

rant, what passes for real life

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catsplay April 9 2008, 17:41:46 UTC
Oh my! So sorry to hear of this mystery cat illness. It's making me a bit nervous that your vet doesn't really seem to know what's wrong. I'm of no help with medical suggestions, but I can make a suggestion about feeding via syringe. A few weeks ago I had to have my cat on an antibiotic (liquid, via syringe). My husband and I found that it was best done as a two person job. Me to hold the cat, and him to administer.

After doing some reading on the Internet about how to best accomplish this, the best piece of advice that I found was to place the syringe on the SIDE of the cats mouth and insert/squirt. They normally hold it with a bit of an opening and you can administer the stuff without actually trying to open their mouth.

Hope that helps!

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captivebird April 9 2008, 18:15:07 UTC
Thanks for that. I've actually been trying just that technique with the syringe. Although I've mastered the trick when administering fluid, it got rather messy with the gloopy stuff! He really didn't want it, and I trust the animal's own instinct to a certain degree, so didn't distress him by persevering for too long, especially now that he is actually drinking. I think I'll make the mixture runnier and try again a little later when he has forgiven me. : /

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maetgnisar April 10 2008, 08:01:18 UTC
we do the same with our rats. It may take an hour to make a quantity of food equal to a spoon finally get into the animal's stomack, but it's the only way. When the rats refuse to eat we make glucose mix injections.

Have you had an X-ray or blood tests done to Sooty? He may have something wrong with his stomack or bowels. Or he may have any of inflammation kinds or pneumonia. Does his breathing sound normal? Does he defecates and urinates as usual?

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captivebird April 10 2008, 09:36:12 UTC
My daughter and I have been managing to syringe administer glucose solution all week fortunately, and now we are managing very mushy chicken cat food by the same method. He is breathing fine, and his urine is okay. Bowels have been functioning about once a day - very nasty, runny, smelly *holds nose* but not constant like diarrhea thank goodness, or his dehydration would have been much much worse to manage.

I think he is definitely gaining strength now. This morning he actually made a very brief attempt to wash his own face - the first grooming he has done for himself for five days. I think that must be a good sign.

If he is not much improved by tomorrow morning when I return with him to the vet then blood and other tests will certainly be done. He is a lucky cat because I don't go out to work. So he can be looked after in comfort here at home. : )

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cheesemoopsie April 9 2008, 18:27:03 UTC
Sorry to hear your kitty still isn't feeling well.Has your vet tested him for intestinal or stomach blockages.Some years back one of our cats had a hardened clump of fur in her stomach,from over grooming,causing similar symptoms.Also consider having his liver checked ,his not wanting to eat may cause or be caused by a liver dysfunction.

hugs to you both...

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captivebird April 9 2008, 20:25:46 UTC
Thank you for your input. I had thought about intestinal or stomach blockage myself (given that I have witnessed this cat swallow a mouse whole, tail and all, in the past - ugh!) Anyhow his systems are all still working, if somewhat 'upset', so I suspect it's just been a particularly bad case of eating the wrong thing - at least I hope so. what a charming topic of discussion this all is! Lol.

Anyhow, the good news is that I managed to syringe feed him a dose of watered down recovery food and this time it has stayed down and not caused him to run to the litter tray either. So tomorrow I should be able to 'feed' him several times. I'm feeling more positive now that this has been achieved. The vet wants to see him again on Friday, so hopefully by then recovery will be visible. Fingers crossed!

: )

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cheesemoopsie April 10 2008, 02:44:47 UTC
Great news!
*crosses fingers*

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