Syringe feeding, using a Lancet device, testing

[SaraMV]

What is the best way to do this? I might have to start force feeding Taz. I've force fed cats in the past but I always struggle. What food is best that won't get stuck in the syringe? And what syringe is best for this?

I added a couple of questions at the bottom. I didn't want to start a new thread.

 

[Red & Rover (GA)]

• Suggestions on How to Stimulate Kitty's Appetite
• Syringe/Assisted Feeding (Video and Tips)
• THE '~LIVER SHAKE~' FOR SICK CATS

 

[Bron and Sheba (GA)]

Here is a link to SYRINGE/ASSIST FEEDING
Hills a/d is suitable to use for syringe feeding.
I see on your other thread you are giving cerenia. It would be worthwhile to ask the vet for ondansetron as it often works better than cerenia.
Are you giving anything for pain as pancreatitis is painful?

 

[SaraMV]

• Suggestions on How to Stimulate Kitty's Appetite
• Syringe/Assisted Feeding (Video and Tips)
• THE '~LIVER SHAKE~' FOR SICK CATS

Is the liver shake acceptable for diabetics?

Here is a link to SYRINGE/ASSIST FEEDING
Hills a/d is suitable to use for syringe feeding.
I see on your other thread you are giving cerenia. It would be worthwhile to ask the vet for ondansetron as it often works better than cerenia.
Are you giving anything for pain as pancreatitis is painful?

Is Hills AD ok for diabetics? I think I have some of that on hand. My vet is closed until Monday but I currently have cerenia and bupe.

 

[Bron and Sheba (GA)]

Is the liver shake acceptable for diabetics?
Is Hills AD ok for diabetics? I think I have some of that on hand. My vet is closed until Monday but I currently have cerenia and bupe.

Hills ad is a bit higher in carbs, I think around 13%, but that is fine if you are having trouble getting your kitty to eat. The most important think is eating something… and if the only thing Taz will eat is something higher carb, that is fine. Before trying syringe feeding, look at how to stimulate the appetite and offer him food he used to eat before.
Yes the liver shake is suitable for diabetics.

 

[Chris & China (GA)]

Is Hills AD ok for diabetics?

If you can find some (and get a script unless you get it directly from a vet) the Royal Canin recovery is lower in carbs than the A/D and is also designed for syringe feeding.

One great piece of kitchen equipment I love is this personal blender and you can't beat the price.

 

[Larry and Kitties]

One like this is good since it has a large opening
https://www.amazon.com/Lixit-Hand-Feeding-Syringe-Animals/dp/B001B4VP8K?tag=felinediabetesfdmb-20
Regular syringes have too small an opening. I just use regular pate cats food. I use an old baby feeding/medicating syringe I bought 15 years ago which has been discontinued. I have a civi who I have been syringe feeding most of her calories for over 5 years.

 

[SaraMV]

We are using the Alpha Trak 2 kit. I've been pricking Taz's ear by hand but we would like to try using the device. What setting do we need it on for a kitty ear?

 

[Larry and Kitties]

I've been pricking Taz's ear by hand but we would like to try using the device. What setting do we need it on for a kitty ear?

I always start with the highest setting and move down with time. A cat's ears tend to "learn" to bleed.

 

[SaraMV]

How many times do you test a day? I don't feel comfortable poking him every hour. What are the most important readings? Before feeding, at two hours, and at six hours? Do you test through out the night also?

 

[Diane Tyler's Mom GA]

How many times do you test a day? I don't feel comfortable poking him every hour. What are the most important readings? Before feeding, at two hours, and at six hours? Do you test through out the night also?

Definetly AMPS and PMPS the try and test @+3, @+6 and @+9. and yes you need to test at night, cats can drop lower at night. If you can't get that many tests in during the night at least get a +2 or +3 in , if possible +6 also

Try and test different times during each cycle, like filling in pieces of a puzzle

 

[SaraMV]

Definetly AMPS and PMPS the try and test @+3, @+6 and @+9. and yes you need to test at night, cats can drop lower at night. If you can't get that many tests in during the night at least get a +2 or +3 in , if possible +6 also

Try and test different times during each cycle, like filling in pieces of a puzzle

I don't know if I'll be able to wake up twice a night, every night. Especially when I go back to work. The lack of sleep is killing me and it's only been 4 nights. I'd like to test when he should be in his lowest, to make sure he doesn't go too low though.

What do you mean by testing at different times? Like tomorrow test at +3 and +7, instead of +2 and +6 like I usually do?

 

[Diane Tyler's Mom GA]

I don't know if I'll be able to wake up twice a night, every night. Especially when I go back to work. The lack of sleep is killing me and it's only been 4 nights. I'd like to test when he should be in his lowest, to make sure he doesn't go too low though.

What do you mean by testing at different times? Like tomorrow test at +3 and +7, instead of +2 and +6 like I usually do?

After you test Tax at PMPS lantus usually kicks in around at +2 , if that test is much lower than the PMPS could mean that it will be an active cycle and you may have to test some more. If you can get the +6 at night that would be good.
Maybe on the weekends you can get some more tests in, the more data you have the better. About testing at different times yes you are correct about testing at different times.

 

[Noah & me (GA)]

I've force fed cats in the past but I always struggle

At least you've done this before and you're getting some very good advice. This is more for people who will have to syringe feed sometime in the future to remember. My vet's dad was also a vet and together they learned one thing, a sick dog will always try to eat something but most cats would rather starve themselves. That sounds harsh but I've seen it myself three times over the years. If Larry has been doing it for five years it's because his cat has learned to trust him and he's doing everything right.
My vet warned me it will be "force" feeding and will be emotionally awful. Make sure it's the right food, don't be afraid to water it down and above all go at a pace the cat can deal with. Better to have multiple feedings than two or three regular meals.
I was a sobbing emotional wreck the first time because I got it all wrong. Just like testing a cat will know and trust you that this is for the best, don't push it past the point where he expects something awful. Andrew was Noah's brother and a very sick cat, he did come back to us and even got his nickname of Bright Eyes back. It's easier when you ask for help, sending both of you love and good luck.

 

[SaraMV]

Taz is avoiding me like the plague. When he sees me coming, he goes to hide under our dinner table. Today is his last dose of antibiotic and anti acid (?). So that's 3 less pills to shove down him. I'm scared that all of the stress from us pill-ing, poking, and force feeding is making his pancreatitis worse because of stress. He's so moody now, it would be hard to tell if he's feeling better. I'm also worried that me being home and him not wanting to come out from hiding is making it so he's not eating as much as he would if I wasn't home. His purr button is broken at the moment.

 

[FrostD]

I think the poor guy has just been through so much he's scared and doesn't know what's happening - just knows that he feels like crap and mom keeps having to do all this scary stuff. If you have room to up the pain meds I'd try that, in your other post you mentioned he was still moving gingerly.

Just know it has to be done. You don't want DKA, or hepatic lipidosis, or any other nasty stuff. Soon enough this will all be in the past, you'll get him at a good dose, and you'll have your kitty back.

Many of us have had the "good" fortune to have been dealing with FD long enough that our cats have learned to trust us through the scary stuff. I can do just about anything to Mr Kitty, but he does have his limits and I only push them if I absolutely have to.

Do you know roughly how many calories he's getting, and how much water? What's current med situation? Pancreatitis truly is managed through the art of medication balance

 

[Katherine&Ruby]

There have been a lot of cats who get the Freestyle Libre attached to them. People new to feline diabetes can benefit from it as you just scan the sensor and you don't have to draw blood. A tiny needle gets inserted under the skin of the cat. You can wake up in the middle of the night, scan him with a sensor, and then trudge back to bed if he is in a safe range.

Here's more reading on it if you want to know more: https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB...stration-explanations-tips-discussion.221630/

 

[SaraMV]

Do you know roughly how many calories he's getting, and how much water? What's current med situation? Pancreatitis truly is managed through the art of medication balance

No. Right now his appetite varies. Some days he eats more, others less. He hasn't been attacking the water bowl since starting insulin/meds. I've seen him back there a few times but he hasn't been drinking anymore than our female does. He is also getting syringed water blended with food though. Today was his last antibiotic and anti acid pills. We were told by the vet to go ahead and only give pain medication and cerenia as needed. He also cut the dose of cerenia in half.

Here's more reading on it if you want to know more: https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB...stration-explanations-tips-discussion.221630/

Thank you. The ER vet started to tell us about this but the conversation got switched. I would maybe in interested in it if it lasted longer. Our vet is almost an hour from us and Taz gets stressed out in cars. Once we get dosing right, I'd like to avoid putting him through so many trips.

 

[FrostD]

Ok. I ask because you want to make sure he's still getting 1/2-2/3 the calories he needs, and just keep an eye out for dehydration.

Antacid was ondansetron I assume? That's a shame because it is usually so much better for nausea if he not eating on his own, that's usually a combination of pain and nausea, so need to adjust those til he feels better

 

[SaraMV]

I asked the vet today. He checked Taz for dehydration and said he's fine. In the last week, Taz only went from weighing 17.3 down to 17.2, so the vet said that we could try to stop the syringe feeding and see how he eats without it. I'm not sure I like that idea, because Taz is still only eating half of his meals.

 

[Lando demando]

Taz is avoiding me like the plague. When he sees me coming, he goes to hide under our dinner table. Today is his last dose of antibiotic and anti acid (?). So that's 3 less pills to shove down him. I'm scared that all of the stress from us pill-ing, poking, and force feeding is making his pancreatitis worse because of stress. He's so moody now, it would be hard to tell if he's feeling better. I'm also worried that me being home and him not wanting to come out from hiding is making it so he's not eating as much as he would if I wasn't home. His purr button is broken at the moment.

So sorry you and Taz are going through this. Lando was where Taz was a few months ago. I bet Taz will forgive you once he feels better. Good luck and best wishes

 

[Lando demando]

I asked the vet today. He checked Taz for dehydration and said he's fine. In the last week, Taz only went from weighing 17.3 down to 17.2, so the vet said that we could try to stop the syringe feeding and see how he eats without it. I'm not sure I like that idea, because Taz is still only eating half of his meals.

Btw you can do half syringe and half free feed also! When lando started to eat some on his own, i syringe fed am and pm with two “ snack meals” mid day. He now eats all meals on his own. Deep breath and remember that you are doing your best!

 

[SaraMV]

That's really good news. Taz seems to have his good times and bad. He's begging for food but then he seems like his stomach hurts afterward. We gave some cerenia earlier, so just monitoring. He's becoming friendlier now that we're only poking him 4 times a day. When he's back to normal, I plan to offer boiled chicken breast as a treat when getting tested.

 

[Lando demando]

That's really good news. Taz seems to have his good times and bad. He's begging for food but then he seems like his stomach hurts afterward. We gave some cerenia earlier, so just monitoring. He's becoming friendlier now that we're only poking him 4 times a day. When he's back to normal, I plan to offer boiled chicken breast as a treat when getting tested.

The “ down period” after eating sounds familiar. So happy Taz seems better!