Assist feeding

I'm assist-feeding Merlin at the moment since he doesn't want to eat. I'm adding a little water to his normal food to blend it and make it easier to get in a syringe. Should I give him water besides this? I read somewhere he needs a cup a day, that's another 10 to 12 (10cc) syringes! Yikes, it's hard enough to just get the food in... He does not pee much though, and I haven't seen much stool either (constipation?) so I'm worried he's getting de-hydrated.

 

Do what you can do with the added water in his wet food. Beyond that aim for as many 10 cc syringes of water he'll tolerate. You don't want to make him syringe averse. If this persists you can ask you vet how to give subQ fluids. It's easier than you think.

 

I'm afraid he's already weary of the syringes, but when I start giving it he laps/licks it up eagerly from around the tip ... so why on earth does he not want to eat by himself? I've been thinking about the subQ fluids, I'm a nurse and would have no problem giving it, it's just .. the cost, I really can't afford it. I'm starting to feel so discouraged about the whole situation of force-feeding him. What am I putting him through? He looks miserable and is losing weight despite of it. I feel I'm losing this battle and it makes me feel so bad about myself. Sorry to rant, but I'm just so worried ..

 

Is there a reason he won't eat? Dental? Food aversion? Nausea? Does he have other health issues? Anorexia in cats can start for one reason (eg. upset tummy) but then take on a life of its own afterward. It can be hard to get them eating again. A surgically installed feeding tube can be a life saver for these cats. It's pricey but they can happily tolerate one for many weeks. It's not as daunting as it seems. I've been there ...

SubQ fluid supplies don't have to cost a lot. Many people buy the first bag of fluids and admin kit from the vet but then order online at much better prices. You could post to ask about sources, etc.

 

I mix water in with Kitty's food during periods of syringe feeding. The vets told me she should have around 80 ml in addition to the wet food. No way i can do that, without mixing water with food. I use aproximately 1 minute pr ml, which seem to be slow enough for Kitty not to freak out about the whole ordeal.

Don't think of it as force feeding, if he even licks the food off the tip of the syringe himself. You're syringe feeding I know how stressful it is for both you and your cat. We have just been through 3 weeks of syringe feeding ourself. Even put a feeding tube in. We had to remove it the next day, as it made my cat worse, but from what i hear, 99% of the times, a feeding tube is an excellent option. The one day it was in, feeding was such a breeze

 

Kris: He was attacked by a cat 1 1/5 weeks ago, got a puncture hole in his head that turned in an abscess 4 days ago. It's been lanced and flushed and he's on antibiotics. It's still building up pus that I have to squeeze out daily (sorry) but it looks like it is getting less. On top of that I think that triggered a flare up of pancreatitis, which he's been through twice before. I've read that trauma can do that. Previously I got him through faster though, but maybe I'm too impatient since so much is going on at the same time. I'm just scared ...
Carina: Thank you for a number on the water, 80cc, it's going to be hard but I might be able to that! And thanks for the encouragement, I just have to take it one day at a time ..

 

One day at a time, one feeding at a time, one cc at a time. You're saving his life every time you feed. I think he willl start again soon, given the fact that he actually licks food off the tip. Thats more than my cats have done in syringe fedding times. My cat had pancreatitis and pneumonia recently. It took her about 3 weeks to even try. Suddenly one day she decided to do it on her own. I still use the syringe though, and squeeze bit by bit out on a plate. If I serve her too much, it's like she gets overwhelmed and walks off

 

Good reason for not wanting to eat. Antibiotics alone can make them feel yucky and a lanced abscess can't feel very good!

 

Do you have something for the nauseous? You can give 1/4 Pepcid AC or get something from the vet. I also suggest getting a few cans of prescription A/D from your vet and feeding it. It is a higher calorie food and most cats like the flavor. It is easy to mix with water for syringe feeding.

 

I dunno if it'll help but watch the consistency of the food you syringe too. You want it liquid enough to hydrate and "flow" but not runny enough to maybe accidentally give too much in a push or have it go everywhere. I go with a "pudding" texture, it's heavy enough for their tongues and mouths to handle without being dangerously runny they could easily aspirate.

80cc's I THINK is a little over 5 tablespoons? When I had to do Fena for a freaky week, I eyeballed 1/2 of a 5.5 oz Friskies can, added 3 to 3.5 tablespoons hot water (not boiling but steaming) and blended in a food processor until smooth. Was a great consistency.

Then later in the day, you can blend the other half with another 3 - 3.5, etc. It's a slow process.

I agree on something for the tummy - Pepcid or Cerenia, but I remember you said the subQ is iffy for your budget.

Does your baby drink flavored water at all, like if you add tuna juice? I've made catnip "tea" that's worked - plus my own broths. Sometimes they won't eat food they but will lick up "flavored" water, to help too.

Did your vet tell you about warm compresses for the abscess site? It encourages blood flow, which brings white cells, serum, etc. to the area quick to help flush it out in addition to your squeezing - it might help make it more productive too. When you squeeze it's actually good to see "some" blood, the bright red kind. Not a lot, just enough.

I went through this with my male Irish Setter, Laddy back in the day. Another oddity - dunno if it transfers to cats but for Laddy I had this one tangerine/orange candle, and whenever I burned it he would settle down and it seemed to take his mind off the abscess pain. Worth a shot maybe?

 

Lisa, I'm using Slippery Elm syrup (30 min. before feeding), don't feel that it does something though .. might get some Pepcid. I see you can get A/D at Petsmart too, sounds like a good idea. More calories means less quantity to give, right?
Thank you for your input! I felt so alone in this, but the great comments and suggestions have calmed me down some .. I can do this!

 

Candy, thank you so much for your help. All great tips and ideas! Unfortunately he's allergic to tuna, but he does like chicken 'juice'. I'm applying warm compresses before squeezing (10 min or so), somehow he loves it! How odd about the candle but why not, I'll try anything. I'm going to have an interesting shopping cart tomorrow!

 

Anytime and sorry about the allergy, but good on the chicken juice! If you need one with more "punch" lemme know, I have easy recipes that give good calories and nutrients. Whatever he'll eat/take is the important part right now. But yeah the warmth opens blood vessels and soothes pain receptors - you know the old adage when you have a sprain/strain, the 30 min cold, 30 min hot kinda thing? Same here but with wounds, always warm. I hope he feels better soon, and you too - the stress and worry suck.

If you try the candle scent let me know because I never could figure out WHY it helped him so much, LOL. Just glad it did.

There's poultice recipes which I used on Laddy too when push came to shove - but he was so miserable he didn't care much about having it bandage/wrapped around him, not sure about your baby though.

 

My Richard was refusing to eat for a while out of the bowl but would eat out of a plastic spoon if I fed him. If your kitty licks the syringe, maybe he'll lick the food from a spoon?

 

Ooh a trick on spoons, if they like them but not "that much" - you can coat them in fat! Skimmed off chicken fat work best, but pork fat and beef fat work too. Like say you make a roast for family, skim the fat into a dish - then making sure the spoon, metal preferably is cold (a good 5 min in the freeze is good) slowly drip the spoon into it, hold it submerged then slowly pull it out - put it on some parchment paper in the freezer for another 5 min, then you can "dip" again.

Take the spoon out of the fridge (storage) about 15 min before feeding - heat up their food with hot water or microwave, as you spoon the food to them the fat should heat up and start to melt a little, and "smell". I did that with Mao when his mouth was worst, before his dental appointment, with chicken fat from thighs.

 

Pia, I tried the spoon and it works, as does my finger, it makes a big mess though, since a lot falls off. But hey, it cleans up, and .. anything that works!

 

Candy; Wow, that is some trick, takes a little work I guess, but if it works I'm not complaining. Thank you!

 

Guess what everybody ... just when you think this might be the end .. he started eating all by himself! It's a miracle! What caused a break-through was offering him his 'normal' food in the shape of tiny 'meat-balls' (about 1/2 inch in diameter) and 'popping' them in his mouth. He actually started eating them and since this morning he is eating his food 'straight-up'! He's started to groom himself again afterwards, looking much more alert, he pooped and peed today (hooray!) and went for a little walk outside in the sun. He's still wobbly, falls over if he's not careful, but he's looking so much better! His abscess is still draining a little but a lot less, and his fever has gone too! I think we turned a corner, phew, I'm so relieved!
Thank y'all for 'talking' to me, you have no idea what that meant to me, I was this close to loosing it! God bless you all!

 

Ooh good to hear!! good for your baby, hang in there!!

 

Well, we were doing so good .. until we didn't .. again! I thought we were home free, he was actually back to himself, eating up a storm (3 cans of fancy feast a day), nice low BGs, gaining some weight and his head-wound has healed beautifully. But all of a sudden, 2 days ago, he slowed down eating and stopped altogether and his BGs are bouncing all over the map (from below 100 in the evening to 450 in the morning and this morning, after a night of not eating, 44!). I've started assist feeding again, but he actually gagged this morning and fought me something fierce! I think he's very nauseous, I'll start him on Pepcid AC.
One thing of notice, today was his last day of antibiotics (Amoxicillin). He has diarrhea, which I expected, but maybe it causes him to be nauseous too?