Not stressing over the numbers today (really!) I figure when she's feeling better, she'll return to her lagoon duties. Not even testing her more than absolutely necessary...Feel so bad for her...she just looks miserable
As long as she's not running a temp, I'm trying not to worry too much and am just trying to keep her comfortable. She's getting Chlor-Trimeton antihistamine and we spend 20 minutes in the bathroom with the hot water running to try to keep everything as loose as possible
I know that unless there's a good reason for it, there's nothing that an antibiotic will do for her right now, so hoping that she's basically healthy enough to fight it off on her own...just hoping I don't end up with a house full of sneezing kitties!
?? I asked in my L-lysine post but I'll ask here again ...if I have to syringe feed her to get enough into her, what size syringes do I need and where do I get them?
So sorry to hear China is unwell with a cold. Poor little thing...she must feel miserable.
Would she like some nice warm chicken broth made with chicken bones?
I hope China feels better soon and the other kitties don't get sick. When the vet thought I would have to syringe feed Baby, they gave me a syringe. It says monoject 412 on it. I don't know where you'd buy them.
Piling on more vines for China. For l-lysine, I just got some capsules in the health food store, and checked the ingredients list for something non sugary. They came in 500 mg and I did half twice a day. When I was volunteering at the shelter, we'd add some proactively to the rest of the crew when a kitty came down with the sniffles.
For assist feeding, I have used 3ML syringes that I got from the vet. You might be able to find something in the baby section of the pharmacy. Basically you want something where the tip isn't too small, so you can get food through it. Even if the syringe is a bit larger, just don't fill it as full cause you don't want to feed too much at once. This is where a couple of the vet foods are actually good. Iams MaxCal gets lots of calories in per amount and I've used the Royal Canin Recover which was a good consistency for assist feeding. Both are FD friendly. Try feeding something that isn't her regular food, as some kitties will develop an aversion to whatever food is assist fed. The FHL kitty I fostered went off chicken. Do you know how many canned foods have some sort of chicken in them?
Chris, you should be able to get syringes at Petco - ask for them as they aren't always in the kitty section. I have a variety of sizes but have the best luck using smaller ones because of my hands, and Minka won't take more than about 9-10 cc at a time, anyway. If you can find one that doesn't have the rubber on the top of the plunger, they are easier to use (at least for me). This is the set I got. I had to cut off the tips a bit to make the holes big enough. I got them at an independent pet store.
Use a blender or mixer to get it good and soupy and as little water as possible - you want her to get more calories and the more water, the less calories she'll get. I've been using up the prescription CKD foods I have, since no one will eat them and they have lots of calories, but that won't work for an FD kitty as they are too high in carbs. Use a food that has a lot of moisture in it to start.
China, what are you doing up there? Get down at once! (okay maybe not all at once, but start coming down now!). Sending vines and s.
Many feel better vines for China. I am sure the KTSS can come through with some chicken soup too. It has been some time since I have had to syringe feed. I sorta remember 3ML,a do know I got most of them from the vet, and when it was Mannie the IM vet supplied them. Key is a big enough opening at the tip to get the food through. Mannie hated the process, I hope China will be a good recipient, if you need to go that route. Good luck!
Chris, it is easy. All you need is about a dozen chicken drumsticks. Nothing else. I skin the drumsticks before I cook them.
If China has any kidney issues (crd) I would cook the meat, then either throw out that water or keep for yourself for soup/stock. Take off the meat and use for yourself. Doing this lowers the phosphorus level of the stock. If she doesn't have any kidney issues just keep using that water and you could give her some of the chicken too.
Put the drumstick bones in fresh water and softly boil for 6 to 8 hours. Drain and put the liquid into the frig. Next day skim off the fat and ready to use. It should be like jelly. I put it into ice cube trays and freeze then put into containers...I use it every day for testing BSLs. Sheba loves it and is a good way to get fluids into her. If it is not like jelly you have used too much water. Watch you don't boil it dry during the process too....I have done that
It is full of goodness and yummy too.
