9/28 Alice AMPS 443 +5 325 +7 314 +10 327 PMPS 258 +2 205 +4 231 +7 442

AliceMeowliss (GA)

AliceMeowliss (GA)

Member Since 2019
https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB...-diarrhea-no-appetite-syringe-feeding.236018/

I had dropped her dose to 0.5 because she was hardly eating. I think going back to 0.75 would be good now that she is. Wondering if this is a bounce or if I had a fur shot one of the last 2 cycles or if it’s because she finally ate more? Oh or if no Clavamox for a day and a half means the infection is getting worse.

How many days after finishing antibiotics do you wait to get a culture & sensitivity done?

<3
 
To answer one of your questions from yesterday, from what I've read, the feeding tube is more stressful for the caregiver than the cat. I resisted it for Neko, as she was OK with syringe feeding and I never had to just syringe feed. Most often she would eat some, or a syringe or two would prime the pump and get her to eat more.

You also asked about mouth noises as a symptom of nausea - this post on the Feline CRF website calls it teeth grinding, and has a link to a video. Neko used to do that too. :(
 
Jax had a feeding tube a couple of years ago (he had an infected stomach ulcer, suspected sepsis - rough little go) - we put it in to feed him and for his meds. I loved it :) Once he started eating on his own, I just shoved meds down it. We waited to take it out until his meds were done but he really didn't have it in very long. He didn't mind having the tube and it was great not having to pill him. Sorry I don't recall the costs but I personally would recommend as long as the kitty is healthy enough for anesthesia.
 
Wendy&Neko said:
To answer one of your questions from yesterday, from what I've read, the feeding tube is more stressful for the caregiver than the cat. I resisted it for Neko, as she was OK with syringe feeding and I never had to just syringe feed. Most often she would eat some, or a syringe or two would prime the pump and get her to eat more.

You also asked about mouth noises as a symptom of nausea - this post on the Feline CRF website calls it teeth grinding, and has a link to a video. Neko used to do that too. :(
Click to expand...

Thanks for the link! I spent a little time browsing through all the extra conditions and whatnot. That video posting is the same as what it sounds like when her teeth scrape or grind. I am left wondering if she has secondary hyperparathyroidism or other issues to explore. Also I definitely think she has been doing some loafing the last few days. :(


Should I be looking for an internal medicine vet at this point? Is my rural vet out of her league? I really have wondered this.
It’s Monday. I’d like to call my vet and ask for help but I don’t know what help you even ask for right now. Where do I start?
 
I tried to do subq fluids but she didn’t want to have anything to do with it and wiggled the needle out. We got in maybe only 10mL. :( When should I try again?

She is also only willing to eat about a tablespoon of the whipped ziwi lamb at a time. She’s had so little food today. Again. Back legs are weak. She has been making a weird cranky little grunt off and on for the past day or so.

I am at a loss as to what to ask the vet for. Or if the vet can even handle this. Or if Alice can.
I don’t know where to start.
 
AliceMeowliss&Cassandra said:
I tried to do subq fluids but she didn’t want to have anything to do with it and wiggled the needle out. We got in maybe only 10mL. :( When should I try again?

She is also only willing to eat about a tablespoon of the whipped ziwi lamb at a time. She’s had so little food today. Again. Back legs are weak. She has been making a weird cranky little grunt off and on for the past day or so.

I am at a loss as to what to ask the vet for. Or if the vet can even handle this. Or if Alice can.
I don’t know where to start.
Click to expand...

Hey, fyi: fluids should NOT be given within 2 hours of insulin injection; in case no one's told you yet... if the timing is completely unavoidable, the insulin injection location needs to be different than the fluid therapy location.

Hang in there... I know how stressful caring for such an ill cat can be. We're all here for you.
 
Update: got another feed done, two actually since last update. Better appetite. She’s still licking the “whipped ziwi” and I haven’t had to syringe yet. She has had 4-5 Tbsp in the past 2.5 hours. :D Also syringed about 15mL water and she drank a little on her own. She had Cerenia and Mirataz this afternoon. Plus phosphorous binder syringed with water after each meal.


THH said:
Hey, fyi: fluids should NOT be given within 2 hours of insulin injection; in case no one's told you yet... if the timing is completely unavoidable, the insulin injection location needs to be different than the fluid therapy location.

Hang in there... I know how stressful caring for such an ill cat can be. We're all here for you.
Click to expand...

I do try to space it out from insulin time. I shoot insulin on the sides and subq in the scruff but the fluids fall down her sides, possibly where the insulin was given. Also I have trouble finding excess skin to tent on most areas of her body so I’m limited to the side area and only her left side lately because she objects to the right side.

Hi I see you are volunteering for DCIN! Yay they saved Alice. :D
Since she gets help, I really want to limit what care I pursue to what she needs, and not be frivolous. I’m so lost though what the next step is.

Thank you for your supportive words. :)
 
JaxBenji said:
Jax had a feeding tube a couple of years ago (he had an infected stomach ulcer, suspected sepsis - rough little go) - we put it in to feed him and for his meds. I loved it :) Once he started eating on his own, I just shoved meds down it. We waited to take it out until his meds were done but he really didn't have it in very long. He didn't mind having the tube and it was great not having to pill him. Sorry I don't recall the costs but I personally would recommend as long as the kitty is healthy enough for anesthesia.
Click to expand...
I totally agree! And I have to disagree with you @Wendy&Neko. The idea of it was stressful but in reality I loved it. You just blend the food and the meds and down the tube it all goes! I had to clean the area once a day but Minnie sit still for it. She actually almost looked like she enjoyed it. Like maybe it itched and the cleaning was refreshing. Anyway, like I said on the other thread, I think it’s more stressful in the sense that it’s a procedure and they have to go under general anesthesia to have it inserted. Not for the removal part.
 
She was eating some of the “whipped ziwi” on her own earlier today, licking not chewing, but now she won’t have it and I am syringing some. 16mL in her. It’s mixed with a bit of water so I’m not 100% sure how many calories she gets per tablespoon. If there was not water in with it, it would be 18.8kcal per Tbsp.

I would guess we have gotten in 100kcal today, at least. Better than other recent days!!

10mL first subq attempt, second subq attempt maybe 30mL. She isn’t staying still for it long enough.

How much volume can her tummy hold? Healthy weight was 7-8lbs and she is under 6lba right now.
 
@Aleluia Grugru & Minnie What I meant is the idea of the tube is stressful, most caregivers do end up liking it after it's in.
THH said:
Hey, fyi: fluids should NOT be given within 2 hours of insulin injection;
Click to expand...
It's kind of an ECID thing - it doesn't impact all cats. I liked giving fluids a couple hours before Neko's PM shot when her insulin was already on the way up. And I did shoot different locations.
AliceMeowliss&Cassandra said:
Should I be looking for an internal medicine vet at this point? Is my rural vet out of her league? I really have wondered this.
Click to expand...
Ask your vet what she thinks. At one point my vet "fired" me and recognized it was time for me to go to the IM vet. She tried that when Neko was first diagnosed with acromegaly, but I refused. :p We muddled along fine with that and CKD, but the next diagnosis it made a huge difference going to the IM. Too many moving parts and meds, the IM vet really helped prioritize what needed to be done. If you are wondering about your vet's ability to handle all going on, maybe at least see if she'll set up a IM consult for you.
 
It really feels impossible to get enough food into her by syringe. We are about 5 hours into this cycle. I’ll never get any sleep if I stay up syringe feeding every 1-2 hours indefinitely.

She licked a little bit of the whipped ziwi stuff but she gave up pretty fast. And that was only the once today.
The syringe I have is 3mL. 15 mL is only half an ounce of food. She is so unhappy after 6-9 mL.

Her eyes have been looking dull and a little glassy at times. She makes this sort of hoarse groan now. But she does want to cuddle me quite frequently. I might be the last thing she enjoys.

Please cross your fingers and toes for us and hope that we can get a good proper 100mL subq into her body tomorrow.
It’s hard right now because we are in limbo between hope and hopelessness. I see a good sign from her then I see a bad sign again.


So. Alice and her mommy, now accepting any words of encouragement and support, and any more advice and knowledge. <3
 
Okay what is this 442 @ +7? I thought she was clearing a bounce. ...

Infection? It’s been persistent. Maybe since she has been off Clavamox a couple of days now....??
 
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