Griff updates

Thank you all. He is hanging in there. I cannot get him to eat much more than drinking chicken stock, liver "juice" or water. He did take a couple bites of liver this morning.

He really doesn't want to be held, which is super hard for me 'cause I want to love on him all I can. He is just kinda fading away.
 
:bighug::bighug::bighug: I wish we had a hug emoji that didn't look quite so glib. Know that in real life I'm sending you proper hugs and love tonight.
 
Hello All,

Sorry I didn't update, been super tough around here lately =(

This is what I wrote to someone the other day: Griff is on his way. He stopped eating a couple days ago. I am giving him SQ fluids and he drinks some water, but he is not doing well. I decided not to get more tests done since they will only tell the inevitable and there is no way to get better. I also decided to let him go here at home. He got so stressed out when we went to the vet, I don't want his last hours to be in fear. He is better off in his little cave. He really doesn't want to be held or snuggled, which is hard for me, but I give him his space and check on him frequently and give him pets and as much love as he will tolerate.

HOWEVER, today (Sunday) he perked up a bit and started eating a tiny amount.:woot: I am trying not to get my hopes up, but of course, I am a little. I stopped the insulin 'cause I figured he was going to slip away soon. Now, with the eating, I will test and see where he is along with giving him the SQ fluids.

Well, just a quick update. Will let you know how this evening goes.

Thank you all for the kind words and wonderful support. I feel your :bighug: and I return the :bighug:
 
BS was 325. I was giving him the fluids and he was eating a little, then all of the sudden, he got up and the needle came out. He really needed to potty. Haven't gotten him to eat anything else since. Will keep trying. It's like a kitty buffet. I have about 6 different things that I keep putting in front of him.

Don't think I should do insulin, he just hasn't eaten much. Thoughts?
 
If he's eating, even a little, and showing even slight signs of improvement I'd give insulin. You want to promote whatever healing/improvement his body can undertake. No insulin in this situation would make it worse.

Sending healing energy. :bighug::bighug::bighug:
 
Kris & Teasel said:
If he's eating, even a little, and showing even slight signs of improvement I'd give insulin. You want to promote whatever healing/improvement his body can undertake. No insulin in this situation would make it worse.

Sending healing energy. :bighug::bighug::bighug:
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Thank you! Well, he hasn't touched any more food. Will keep trying!
 
I agree with Kris about giving insulin. The high numbers make them feel unwell, so bringing those down might help him feel more inclined to have another nibble. I've heard cats go crazy for Kentucky Fried Chicken. Don't know if you have one of those anywhere near you....?
 
Djamila said:
I agree with Kris about giving insulin. The high numbers make them feel unwell, so bringing those down might help him feel more inclined to have another nibble. I've heard cats go crazy for Kentucky Fried Chicken. Don't know if you have one of those anywhere near you....?
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Hah, no KFC anywhere near. =) Will check BS.

He is weaker today. Not eating much except 1/2 raw egg, a little broth and a little 1/2 and 1/2. I just put him in the litter box and he just laid there and peed. I will keep trying food stuff.
 
Maybe a little perkier today. He has come out of his cave a few times to lay in the hallway. Still only eating tiny amounts of raw egg, 1/2 & 1/2 and broth. I have an entire fridge shelf with a these little bowls filled with food stuff that I try to intice him with. He did do a fairly big poo today.

Still giving fluids and now checking BS and giving insulin. Upper is around 270 and 2+ is 120'ish.
 
That's really great news that he's coming out of his cave a little! And those are surprisingly good BG numbers considering how sick he is. I wonder if it might be worth trying to assist feed? Sometimes when a cat goes off their food, they have trouble restarting without some help. I haven't done it myself, but if you posted out in main, I'm sure folks with experience in that could help you figure it out. My limited understanding is that you put the food in a blender, and then use some sort of large-ish syringe to get some food into their mouths. From what I've read, sometimes once they start getting food again they will start eating more on their own.
 
Djamila said:
That's really great news that he's coming out of his cave a little! And those are surprisingly good BG numbers considering how sick he is. I wonder if it might be worth trying to assist feed? Sometimes when a cat goes off their food, they have trouble restarting without some help. I haven't done it myself, but if you posted out in main, I'm sure folks with experience in that could help you figure it out. My limited understanding is that you put the food in a blender, and then use some sort of large-ish syringe to get some food into their mouths. From what I've read, sometimes once they start getting food again they will start eating more on their own.
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I will give the assist feeding a try. I have done it with another cat. Not sure why I didn't think about it with Griffy. :banghead: I guess I just thought since he was eating a little it would increase as he felt better.

Gonna give it a try now! Thanks for the suggestion :bighug:
 
Okay, just fed him about a tsp of food. Start slow. I just used my finger and put the soupy mixture on his tongue. It was messy but seemed to work okay. I did a canned pate cat food, a tiny sliver of butter for xtra calories, Vit B liquid the vet gave me and mixed it up with broth to make a soupy food. Does that sound good?
 
Hi Jessie. Ha! No, it doesn't sound good :D But if Griff likes it, that's what matters! ;)

I had to assist feed my old cat a while back, and he liked me to syringe food onto my finger tip, where he would then lick it off. I think whatever gets the calories in them is the right thing to do.

Here's a link I found: http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/syringe-assisted-feeding-video-and-tips.144367/

I'm going to go search for an additional thread I remember reading a few months ago that had some great, in-real-time assist-feeding tips. If I find it, I'll post the link.
 
Jenna Josie said:
Hi Jessie. Ha! No, it doesn't sound good :D But if Griff likes it, that's what matters! ;)

I had to assist feed my old cat a while back, and he liked me to syringe food onto my finger tip, where he would then lick it off. I think whatever gets the calories in them is the right thing to do.

Here's a link I found: http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/syringe-assisted-feeding-video-and-tips.144367/

I'm going to go search for an additional thread I remember reading a few months ago that had some great, in-real-time assist-feeding tips. If I find it, I'll post the link.
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Jenna, thank you!!!
 
I think it was this one, which I thought was helpful because it gave some measurements: http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/assist-feeding.207794/

Also, I have seen this referred to when people are trying to get their kitties to eat, but I don't know if it's only appropriate for kitties with certain conditions? (some deficiencies are named -- not sure if they apply to Griff?) Anyway, I hope someone with more knowledge will weigh in as to whether it's always good for a non-eating kitty or only sometimes: http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/the-liver-shake-for-sick-cats.30432/
 
primalkitty said:
I did a canned pate cat food, a tiny sliver of butter for xtra calories, Vit B liquid the vet gave me and mixed it up with broth to make a soupy food. Does that sound good?
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@Jenna Josie's comment cracked me up! But in the cat-way, yes it sounds good. I think adding the Vitamin B was a great idea. And yes, starting slow sounds good so you don't scare him off. Hopefully slow, steady, and frequent, you'll be able to build his strength back up.
 
Yes, I've heard the liver shake is good for cats who aren't eating too. Assist feeding can definitely help get them eating again sometimes when they're having a tough time.

Sending hugs and vines to you both and hoping that Griff rallies and is able to beat this!
 
Jenna Josie said:
I think it was this one, which I thought was helpful because it gave some measurements: http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/assist-feeding.207794/

Also, I have seen this referred to when people are trying to get their kitties to eat, but I don't know if it's only appropriate for kitties with certain conditions? (some deficiencies are named -- not sure if they apply to Griff?) Anyway, I hope someone with more knowledge will weigh in as to whether it's always good for a non-eating kitty or only sometimes: http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/the-liver-shake-for-sick-cats.30432/
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thank you! I will take a look. I a-purr-ciate your help:bighug:
 
Rachel said:
Yes, I've heard the liver shake is good for cats who aren't eating too. Assist feeding can definitely help get them eating again sometimes when they're having a tough time.

Sending hugs and vines to you both and hoping that Griff rallies and is able to beat this!
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Thank you Rachel. I will look into the liver shake.
 
Liver shake :eek: sounds downright gross, I am sure a cat would love it. Hey, and I just happen to have bison liver.

Update: I got up at 4 this morning and Griff was out of his cave and had managed to go downstairs and hoist himself up into my big scrap bin. (Reminder, he has neuropathy and can't walk well.) He looked so comfy I left him down there. I got up this morning and he was back upstairs on a little bed I made him in the kitchen! Wow, he is getting around!!! I did a BG 373 (didn't dose last night) gave him fluids and a couple teaspoons of food. He is responding to pets now, too and seems to like the attention. I am feeling a little more optimistic.

THANK YOU everyone for the support and suggestions. Griffy thanks you, too. He may just pull out of this. :bighug:
 
I'm a little unclear about what happened last night with the insulin. He was low at +10, but did you test him again at +12? I would try to keep the insulin going if you can. I really worry about ketones developing whenever we have a sick kitty. :confused:
 
Morning 365
+2 199
+3 92
+8 75

Have been giving him small amounts of food throughout the day. He is NOT loving the food assist. However, found some chopped bison liver, defrosted and he ate a good tablespoon+ of it. Will keep up with that.

I am also monitoring his weight. He has lost so much and I want to see if there is any gain. He used to be 14, he is now 10.8 :(

I have re-started the spreadsheet.
 
That's a really nice cycle today! And so good to hear that he's getting some food (whether he likes it or not), and that he's eating at least a little on his own. How are you doing? :bighug:
 
Djamila said:
That's a really nice cycle today! And so good to hear that he's getting some food (whether he likes it or not), and that he's eating at least a little on his own. How are you doing? :bighug:
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Yes, nice to see some decent numbers. Me? I am frazzled, but maintaining. Thanks!!!
 
Seems like that was good for him during the AM cycle. If you can, leave some food out near his cave so he can eat tonight if he feels so inclined. You're probably already doing that...sometimes I just feel the need to "help" anyway. ;):p:bighug:
 
Djamila said:
Seems like that was good for him during the AM cycle. If you can, leave some food out near his cave so he can eat tonight if he feels so inclined. You're probably already doing that...sometimes I just feel the need to "help" anyway. ;):p:bighug:
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Yah, he kinda gets a buffet. Maybe that is too overwhelming:D Will just put out his favs.

So, I already have a lot of grey in my hair, I am gonna be all grey here soon. Yikes, so stressed out.
 
Griffy isn't feeling too well today. He normally is all about the water, but he isn't drinking much on his own. Lapped up a tiny bit of egg this morning, but no interest in anything else. NOT wanting me to feed him.

AM 339
+3 271
+6 57

Weight 11.2

I am beginning to wonder if I need to let him go.................:(
 
griffy.jpg
 
HOw do we go from 57 to 512 ( I dbl checked, 2nd test wa 489) in just a matter of a few hours?????? He only ate a bit of liver, a tiny bit of raw egg and received 200ml fluids (2 hours ago). He also tried to vomit.
 
Oh Jessie I am so sorry no one was here! We were probably all asleep. What did you do? Did you give anything? How is Griff doing today?
 
primalkitty said:
HOw do we go from 57 to 512 ( I dbl checked, 2nd test wa 489) in just a matter of a few hours?????? He only ate a bit of liver, a tiny bit of raw egg and received 200ml fluids (2 hours ago). He also tried to vomit.
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That seems like a lot of fluids. To much fluid can cause heart problems. The rule of thumb is 10 ml of fluid per pound. I wouldn't do more than 100 ml per day
 
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