Syringe-feeding tips

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ja9390

ja9390

Member Since 2016
I know I blow this forum up every single day with some type of weird question but I don't care :)

Anyone who has advice regarding syringe-feeding, I need your help. I've been searching online for cat bibs praying that they exist but they don't. It's like spoon-feeding an infant for the first time. I don't really care about the mess on the floor but his poor face hair/beard gets covered every time and I have to sponge-bathe his whole face afterwards. Yesterday I gave him around 2tbsp but I doubt he got that much. Tonight I gave him 4tbsp because this is the first time he's eaten all day. If he holds it down then I will give him a couple more around 11pm when our next dose of Flagyl is due. The Flagyl will really put a hold on his appetite returning, I can almost guarantee it. I was reading up on how this drug works/what it targets and it's a doozy.
 
ja9390 said:
I know I blow this forum up every single day with some type of weird question but I don't care :)

Anyone who has advice regarding syringe-feeding, I need your help. I've been searching online for cat bibs praying that they exist but they don't. It's like spoon-feeding an infant for the first time. I don't really care about the mess on the floor but his poor face hair/beard gets covered every time and I have to sponge-bathe his whole face afterwards. Yesterday I gave him around 2tbsp but I doubt he got that much. Tonight I gave him 4tbsp because this is the first time he's eaten all day. If he holds it down then I will give him a couple more around 11pm when our next dose of Flagyl is due. The Flagyl will really put a hold on his appetite returning, I can almost guarantee it. I was reading up on how this drug works/what it targets and it's a doozy.
Click to expand...
Have you tried the gerber 2nd stage meats ?? They will usually eat the baby food--warm it slightly--
 
ja9390 said:
I know I blow this forum up every single day with some type of weird question but I don't care :)

Anyone who has advice regarding syringe-feeding, I need your help. I've been searching online for cat bibs praying that they exist but they don't. It's like spoon-feeding an infant for the first time. I don't really care about the mess on the floor but his poor face hair/beard gets covered every time and I have to sponge-bathe his whole face afterwards. Yesterday I gave him around 2tbsp but I doubt he got that much. Tonight I gave him 4tbsp because this is the first time he's eaten all day. If he holds it down then I will give him a couple more around 11pm when our next dose of Flagyl is due. The Flagyl will really put a hold on his appetite returning, I can almost guarantee it. I was reading up on how this drug works/what it targets and it's a doozy.
Click to expand...
If your going to syringe feed depending on your cat--some wrap a towel around them--
sit on the floor with him--
Have the syringes filled and ready-
You do not want to push the food "down" the throat--you want it on the side/cheek area
Do you have syringes?
Let me see if I can find the video for you--Drevon is very good for it and hopefully he will be as well---just a little at a time--be patient...
hold on looking for video link--if you have AD at home from the vet it is high calorie organ meat and not to high carb-is easy to syringe as well-
 
I forgot about that! I will pick some up at the store later on tonight when I'm out. Any particular flavor that brings the most success?
 
jayla-n-Drevon said:
If your going to syringe feed depending on your cat--some wrap a towel around them--
sit on the floor with him--
Have the syringes filled and ready-
You do not want to push the food "down" the throat--you want it on the side/cheek area
Do you have syringes?
Let me see if I can find the video for you--Drevon is very good for it and hopefully he will be as well---just a little at a time--be patient...
hold on looking for video link--if you have AD at home from the vet it is high calorie organ meat and not to high carb-is easy to syringe as well-
Click to expand...

I only have one childrens med syringe right now. It's 10ml and I've been giving little bits at a time pointed into the side of the mouth angled towards his cheek. He's been alright about swallowing it but he moves his head a lot. I cradle his face/neck between my shoulder and forearm like I'm hugging him and then I go around and squirt a little more in his cheek for him to swallow. That seems to work pretty well. It still drips and then I'm faced with getting all of the food out of his fur.
 
ja9390 said:
I forgot about that! I will pick some up at the store later on tonight when I'm out. Any particular flavor that brings the most success?
Click to expand...
I would get a few of each--mine like the ham the best-
they have ham-lamb-turkey-beef-chicken-veal
But you know cats 1 day they like it 1 day thy don't-
the meats only no veg- 2nd stage about $1 each-
 
ja9390 said:
I only have one childrens med syringe right now. It's 10ml and I've been giving little bits at a time pointed into the side of the mouth angled towards his cheek. He's been alright about swallowing it but he moves his head a lot. I cradle his face/neck between my shoulder and forearm like I'm hugging him and then I go around and squirt a little more in his cheek for him to swallow. That seems to work pretty well. It still drips and then I'm faced with getting all of the food out of his fur.
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He will probably eat the baby food on his own--at least for a day or 2 :)
 
jayla-n-Drevon said:
I would get a few of each--mine like the ham the best-
they have ham-lamb-turkey-beef-chicken-veal
But you know cats 1 day they like it 1 day thy don't-
the meats only no veg- 2nd stage about $1 each-
Click to expand...

Yes, that stuff is over $1 for about 3 tbsp so I hope it's not the ONLY thing he will eat when he goes on food strikes. Still trying to find something that works. He's just sitting under a chair all hunched so I think he's going to be too nauseated to eat much of anything on his own to be honest.
 
ja9390 said:
Yes, that stuff is over $1 for about 3 tbsp so I hope it's not the ONLY thing he will eat when he goes on food strikes. Still trying to find something that works. He's just sitting under a chair all hunched so I think he's going to be too nauseated to eat much of anything on his own to be honest.
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do you have any anti nausea?? Ordanestron?? They usually come in 4mg tablets--he would get 1/2 every 4-6 hours.....as needed-
 
ja9390 said:
Yes, that stuff is over $1 for about 3 tbsp so I hope it's not the ONLY thing he will eat when he goes on food strikes. Still trying to find something that works. He's just sitting under a chair all hunched so I think he's going to be too nauseated to eat much of anything on his own to be honest.
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I hope he like something in his care package !!
 
Both times that I've taken him in they've given him an anti-nausea shot, Cerenia. It burns like fire. I have not even been approached about anti-nausea tablets despite it being my biggest ongoing complaint about him right now.
 
ja9390 said:
Both times that I've taken him in they've given him an anti-nausea shot, Cerenia. It burns like fire. I have not even been approached about anti-nausea tablets despite it being my biggest ongoing complaint about him right now.
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Ok--so the trick with the cerenia injection is to give it (with a frozen needle) in the bubble of SQ fluids (we do this 3x a week) and it works great-no sting no nausea-
cerenia also comes in tablets...
we do the cerenia shot on fluid days 3x a week and the ordanestrom the other days-
 
jayla-n-Drevon said:
Ok--so the trick with the cerenia injection is to give it (with a frozen needle) in the bubble of SQ fluids (we do this 3x a week) and it works great-no sting no nausea-
cerenia also comes in tablets...
we do the cerenia shot on fluid days 3x a week and the ordanestrom the other days-
Click to expand...

That's what his tech did this morning! Disperses the drug quickly under the skin I guess and dulls the sting. He didn't interject as much as he did on Sunday when the doctor just gave it to him straight and he hissed :( Reminds me of that time I had strep really bad as an adult and by the time I thought to go to the doctor, it was so advanced that they gave me a steroid and two antibiotics. One of which was Rocephin and you can literally feel it STING as it disperses through the tissue. Miserable. I knew just how he felt.
 
ja9390 said:
I know I blow this forum up every single day with some type of weird question but I don't care :)

Anyone who has advice regarding syringe-feeding, I need your help. I've been searching online for cat bibs praying that they exist but they don't. It's like spoon-feeding an infant for the first time. I don't really care about the mess on the floor but his poor face hair/beard gets covered every time and I have to sponge-bathe his whole face afterwards.
Click to expand...

This might help: Syringe/Assisted Feeding (Video and Tips)

I've used a kitchen towel or hand towel for a bib. You can pin, use a clothes pin, or a hair clip to secure it. I've also used baby bibs with velcro closures. I like the ones with a pocket at the bottom. They're great for catching any food that slips out of kitty's mouth.
 
Jill & Alex (GA) said:
This might help: Syringe/Assisted Feeding (Video and Tips)

I've used a kitchen towel or hand towel for a bib. You can pin, use a clothes pin, or a hair clip to secure it. I've also used baby bibs with velcro closures. I like the ones with a pocket at the bottom. They're great for catching any food that slips out of kitty's mouth.
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BLESS YOU. I just finished crying through his entire syringe feeding and then he got so messy that I had to put him in the actual bathtub and use baby shampoo to get the pasty food out of his fur. He's still zombie'd out. BG 321 at 8:50, I had given some food to him at 6pm so I gave him his insulin and syringe fed him again which he hated. Will be monitoring him all night probably for any lows.
 
ja9390 said:
BLESS YOU. I just finished crying through his entire syringe feeding and then he got so messy that I had to put him in the actual bathtub and use baby shampoo to get the pasty food out of his fur. He's still zombie'd out. BG 321 at 8:50, I had given some food to him at 6pm so I gave him his insulin and syringe fed him again which he hated. Will be monitoring him all night probably for any lows.
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Aweeee---it is going to be ok---try not to let it stress you out so much.... Trust me I have been there ... had chest pains at one point and went to the ER---
It will get better I promise. AND you got goodies coming!! :))
Remember he is connected to you, I know it so hard to stay positive and "happy" but each day just try to let it play out and enjoy him. I have to remind myself every day and my BF is happy to chime in and remind me to relax and chill out :blackeye:
We are here for you:bighug:
 
jayla-n-Drevon said:
Aweeee---it is going to be ok---try not to let it stress you out so much.... Trust me I have been there ... had chest pains at one point and went to the ER---
It will get better I promise. AND you got goodies coming!! :))
Remember he is connected to you, I know it so hard to stay positive and "happy" but each day just try to let it play out and enjoy him. I have to remind myself every day and my BF is happy to chime in and remind me to relax and chill out :blackeye:
We are here for you:bighug:
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That is the sweetest thing anyone's ever said. Thank you :) It's extremely hard. Nobody ever told me it was going to be this hard. He's hunched on the base of his cat tree where he's been for the majority of the day. Won't acknowledge any type of food unless I'm jamming it in the corner of his mouth with a syringe. It's killing me to the point where I've noticed signs of depression, which I'm prone to. Going to try and squeeze some gym time in tomorrow. Yes on the anxiety too. Through the roof. If the Flagyl doesn't work for him I will have a whole fit.
 
ja9390 said:
That is the sweetest thing anyone's ever said. Thank you :) It's extremely hard. Nobody ever told me it was going to be this hard. He's hunched on the base of his cat tree where he's been for the majority of the day. Won't acknowledge any type of food unless I'm jamming it in the corner of his mouth with a syringe. It's killing me to the point where I've noticed signs of depression, which I'm prone to. Going to try and squeeze some gym time in tomorrow. Yes on the anxiety too. Through the roof. If the Flagyl doesn't work for him I will have a whole fit.
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Have you had a chance to try the baby food yet?
The box is coming priority mail so hopefully it will be there Thursday if weather permits....
will he eat tuna in water? salmon in water?
 
jayla-n-Drevon said:
Have you had a chance to try the baby food yet?
The box is coming priority mail so hopefully it will be there Thursday if weather permits....
will he eat tuna in water? salmon in water?
Click to expand...

Weather permitting!

He usually loves tuna but the only kind I have right now is tuna in oil. I bought the beef and the ham baby food to try and he sniffed at the ham and turned his head. He's pissed because I gave him that liquid antibiotic. I did put a finger-full on his tongue and along his gums to make him stop spazzing. The medicine is really bitter and disgusting and he'll sit there and flick his tongue and foam for 5 minutes after I give it. The baby food must have masked the taste in his mouth.
 
jayla-n-Drevon said:
did they show you how to test his skin for hydration?
and/or check his gums....
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In humans I know if you don't get the skin to return to position once you pull it up in x-amount of time then that's an indicator of dehydration, and you can also push on the nail bed to see how quickly you can get capillary refill. Is that anything similar to cats?
 
ja9390 said:
Weather permitting!

He usually loves tuna but the only kind I have right now is tuna in oil. I bought the beef and the ham baby food to try and he sniffed at the ham and turned his head. He's pissed because I gave him that liquid antibiotic. I did put a finger-full on his tongue and along his gums to make him stop spazzing. The medicine is really bitter and disgusting and he'll sit there and flick his tongue and foam for 5 minutes after I give it. The baby food must have masked the taste in his mouth.
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can they give you pills? the liquid is gross--or maybe put it in a capsule?
 
ja9390 said:
In humans I know if you don't get the skin to return to position once you pull it up in x-amount of time then that's an indicator of dehydration, and you can also push on the nail bed to see how quickly you can get capillary refill. Is that anything similar to cats?
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yep--you got it-
I usually pick up sort of gently pull the scruff up and it should snap right down--if it tents he def. needs fluids-if goes down slowly it would also benefit him.
Gums will be "tacky" if dehydrated as well--seeeeee... you got this!
 
Saoirse is a 10lb cat. She normally gets 1-2mg ondansetron twice a day to prevent nausea. (She has low-grade IBD and chronic pancreatitis.)

Try giving Diego different foods, grab a copy of the nausea checklist and see whether different foods produce more pronounced symptoms. If yes, then stick to the foods that make him less symptomatic. To encourage him to eat, gently warm the grub till it's only slightly warm to the finger touch. Thoroughly mix 1 or 2 teaspoons of filtered water into each feed to help keep him hydrated.

Sprinkling over a small amount of crumbled freeze-dried chicken on top of the wet food can improve its appeal.


Mogs
.
 
I've had luck with Dottie when she's stubborn, by putting a bit of the pureed food on a finger tip, and slapping it on the roof of her mouth. :cat: That way I don't touch the tongue which can prompt her gag reflex.

I feel your pain..We're still wearing our food at every meal, and I'd rather finger feed, than use a syringe because her mouth's still sore. Right now the only thing she'll willingly eat is FF gravy, and she'd lick several cans' worth of that if I let her. I'm only allowing her a taste now and then to keep her eating behavior still working. Otherwise, we sit in the recliner together, and I slap that looks-like-melted-chocolate-ice-cream gunk onto the roof of her mouth at intervals.

Of course, she doesn't have any teeth. What's she gonna do? Gum me to death?:smuggrin: Remember to insert that syringe gently into the side of your kitty's mouth..so the puree won't leap down his throat and gag him, ok? *crosses fingers that you have reasonably peaceful mealtimes...oh, and wear something old, so stains aren't an issue. Oh yes, and the baby food? Ham, definitely ham:D
 
Jeanne & Dottie said:
I've had luck with Dottie when she's stubborn, by putting a bit of the pureed food on a finger tip, and slapping it on the roof of her mouth. :cat: That way I don't touch the tongue which can prompt her gag reflex.

I feel your pain..We're still wearing our food at every meal, and I'd rather finger feed, than use a syringe because her mouth's still sore. Right now the only thing she'll willingly eat is FF gravy, and she'd lick several cans' worth of that if I let her. I'm only allowing her a taste now and then to keep her eating behavior still working. Otherwise, we sit in the recliner together, and I slap that looks-like-melted-chocolate-ice-cream gunk onto the roof of her mouth at intervals.

Of course, she doesn't have any teeth. What's she gonna do? Gum me to death?:smuggrin: Remember to insert that syringe gently into the side of your kitty's mouth..so the puree won't leap down his throat and gag him, ok? *crosses fingers that you have reasonably peaceful mealtimes...oh, and wear something old, so stains aren't an issue. Oh yes, and the baby food? Ham, definitely ham:D
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His BG was 97 this morning so of course no shot. I still got a couple of syringes of food into him because of the flagyl. I was already dressed in my scrubs for work when I realized it may be a mess for me if I didn't change. Was running low on time so I stripped and fed him on the floor. If someone would have walked in they'd have had a sight. A half naked girl on the floor with a cat wrapped in a towel. It was better today. I shielded his body fur with the towel so all we had to wipe up was his little face. The part he really hates is the meds and to the best of my knowledge I can't make them into a capsule because he's getting a pretty big dose (1cc) too big to fit in a gelcap
 
It was hard getting blood from his ear this morning. May have to do fluids tonight if no change in his appetite by then. I mix water in with his blended meals but he's not getting nearly enough
 
When I have to pill my cat I use a baby ear/nose suction thingy (:woot: no idea what it's really called so please see pic) to spritz some water into the side of her mouth to encourage the pill to go down. It's soft and might be less "intrusive" than the syringe to get some water into him. thHFXNP5KQ.jpg
 
I did the towel thing for a while and, by accident, discovered that a sheet works better for me. I leave it folded in quarter, put cat in middle with feet about a foot or so from the edge. Bring edge up under cat's chin and fold the 2 corners diagonal across the back. There's a wrapped, protected from food kitty. The sheet's easier to wipe blobs of food off of too. I use this for uncooperative pilling too, just wrap/hold it tighter.

HUGS
 
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