I'm just copying and pasting what I wrote on another board, because I am too tired to write it all again.
I left work early and had an appointment with a Doctor that is not his regular vet. as she was off. He said his heart sounded good (like 4 or 5 times) and his lungs were clear (I always ask because of the syringe feeding). He said he didn't have any food to recommend, that I am doing well with the MaxCal. He said he was slightly dehydrated, and tried to show me (again, I am such a slow learner as far as trying to figure out hydration) how to tell. He gave him 100ml and said to check again in the morning and to give him another 100ml in the morning if needed and to check again tomorrow night after work and to give him another 100ml then, if needed. He said he is not a "heart cat" and his abdomen was neither filled with fluids or gas. I made him confirm that about 3 times. He said he could feel his bladder was about the size of his wrist (his wrist wasn't that big for a man) and that he could feel stool and it wasn't hard, but nice and soft, but there.
When he saw the IM vet on August 2nd the IM vet said he was slightly dehydrated but did not tell me to give him fluids. None of his vets do. I had spoken to his regular vet on the phone on Monday and addressed that concern and she said (over the phone) not to give him fluids because I could cause it to go into his lungs.
He mentioned Reglan and gave me some. He said to "keep it in my back pocket" when I mentioned that his regular vet doesn't want me to be changing things like crazy and to do one thing at a time. I also said at that time that I was a little confused about the Ondansetron as it was for nausea and he isn't eating, and I tried going from 1/4 pill to 1/2 pill and it didn't help him eat on his own, and the bottle says "May cause Dizziness" and "May cause Headaches". I don't want to cause him more problems, like I don't want to cause his constipation. The doctor we saw today said the Miralax and the 5ml of baby food squash that I am syringe BID should address any constipation and keep him pooing fine, but he only went a little hardish doey poo yesterday and none today so far. His appointment with his regular vet is at 10:30am on Thursday morning and I have 5 days off from Thursday to Monday. I will discuss with her the fluids and the Reglan.
I need sleep so bad. I have been getting a little light headed at work sometimes, and am dog tired when I am driving to work, and I am so looking forward to sleeping soon
I cooked four beef marrow bones and took some of the juice (water from the pan) and the marrow from two of them and blended it with some high carbohydrate Friskies and filled some syringes (like 10 or so). I gave him a couple of those last night, a couple this morning, and that's what he had for his first dinner.
I can hold his weight steady on the 11 to 12 syringes of MaxCal per day (that's 220 to 240 calories). I will try to mix in some other foods that he doesn't normally eat that is not MaxCal and just have to give him more of it, I guess. This syringe feeding is not easy. Especially, like me, when you are always pressed for time.
I hope J.D. doesn't keep me up. He did give me a nice medium sized formed poo of good color and just a tiny bit too firm tonight. Night Night.