Big, big, BIG prayers needed for Allie- UPDATE on #148

[krazyaboutkatz]

Johanna, I'm so sorry to hear that Allie's still not eating. Yes, pain meds or some antibiotics will make animals not want to eat. Clavamox has caused Storm to become very sick so I always have to mention that he's allergic to it now.

When Ziggy had her pancreatitis they did give her a liquid form of famotidine,which is what's in pepcid, along with fluids, pain meds, and a vitamin B12 shot. I'm currently giving Storm the original strength of pepcid in pill form and he gets 5mg which would be 1/2 a pill of it every night. It's helped him with his tummy issues. You might want to ask your vet if this would be something that would help her and maybe you could get it in liquid form from your vet. Lots more prayers and positive thoughts are being sent her way. Please take care. (((HUGS)))

[Cataholic]

I syringe fed Allie this morning, and had another transfer factor pill in there. She hated it..but, it wasn't the same hate that it was with the meds. I flipped her on her back and wrapped her in a towel. I am hoping she will submit once she realizes my will for her to survive is kind of strong.

I wonder...how much should I be giving her? I put about 3/4 of a tablespoon of A/D, mixed with water, and it came out to about 12 MLs. I got about 9 MLs in her. I plan on doing it 3 times a day, and wonder if there is a target to shoot for?

She is more alert today, and I assume most of the pain meds are out. I wonder, though, what the consequences are with giving her NO antibiotics at all. I remember that with TNR, a female is spayed without any additional antibiotic, and seemingly does ok. I think Allie's surgery was more invasive than a typical spay...but, hope I am not killing her by not giving antibiotics.

Thoughts?

[Barbara]

I think the antibiotics are more for the open wounds not for the interior ones so that should be ok. I hope Allie's will for survival is strong too- and it must be.

[Grace]

I syringe fed Allie this morning, and had another transfer factor pill in there. She hated it..but, it wasn't the same hate that it was with the meds. I flipped her on her back and wrapped her in a towel. I am hoping she will submit once she realizes my will for her to survive is kind of strong.

I wonder...how much should I be giving her? I put about 3/4 of a tablespoon of A/D, mixed with water, and it came out to about 12 MLs. I got about 9 MLs in her. I plan on doing it 3 times a day, and wonder if there is a target to shoot for?

She is more alert today, and I assume most of the pain meds are out. I wonder, though, what the consequences are with giving her NO antibiotics at all. I remember that with TNR, a female is spayed without any additional antibiotic, and seemingly does ok. I think Allie's surgery was more invasive than a typical spay...but, hope I am not killing her by not giving antibiotics.

Thoughts?

9 ml per feeding - that would be about 1 ounce per day. Doesn't seem like enough to me, but would check with your Vet tomorrow and see how much they think is a good amount. Also ask about the antibiotic. There is one out there that can be given by injection and is good for 2 weeks. Not sure if that is the type of ABX they prefer, but might be better than none at all.

[Cataholic]

Grace- I thought the same thing. I am going to up it to 9 or so MLs a time x 3. But, I will ask tomorrow, too.

Barbara- I hear you. I really do.

Johanna

[sasvermont]

I agree with Barbara about the open wound. I had two surgeries, and no antibiotics afterwards but then I didn't lick my wound, like a kitty might. Is she still wearing the E-collar? Is she attempting to lick the wound? I would keep an eye on the site and if it looks good, then I would forget about the antibiotics altogether.

I hope she begins to eat soon. Any chance she might like baby food?

[Scooter's Mom]

I agree with Barbara about the open wound. I had two surgeries, and no antibiotics afterwards but then I didn't lick my wound, like a kitty might. Is she still wearing the E-collar? Is she attempting to lick the wound? I would keep an eye on the site and if it looks good, then I would forget about the antibiotics altogether.

I hope she begins to eat soon. Any chance she might like baby food?

When my Scooter Bug was so sick, all he wanted was the "meat only" type of baby food. He would eat that over anything else. Baby food is a good temporary idea.

Hope she feels better soon!

[Cataholic]

She isn't licking at all, thankfully! So, I am feeling a tad better about the no antibiotics thing. There is some controversy anyhow with antibiotics and the effect it can have on our body.

I just finished syringe feeding number two. I fed her about 1 tablespoon, minus a few MLs, I am sure. Judging by my t-shirt...it isn't really an exact and clean science. I will do one more tonight, and lay down some fresh wet stuff and send a BIG prayer that tonight is the night she begins eating on her own.

The thing about the types of food...and let me tell you, I have twice the amount of opened catfood in there than I do human food, is it just doesn't seem to matter. Allie doesn't want to eat, period.

I have found that A/D is the best liquidity type to do, and mixed with water...it prolly is the most nutritionally dense. I wish I had more of the larger sized syringes. I had to fill 10 little ones. I will try to track down some bigger ones tomorrow.

Thanks again...chant with me- Eat, Allie, Eat!

[katladyd]

Hang in there. About 5 years ago, Mac had a severe reaction to Hartz Flea Meds. Both of my cats suddenly got terribly infested with fleas over a holiday weekend and my vet's office was closed. After giving him the meds on Saturday afternoon,Mac didn't eat or drink for 2 days, so I took him to the emergency vet. Well, they hydrated him and on Tuesday I took him to our vet. He showed no improvement, so they had me take him to a specialist 20 miles away. They wanted to put a feeding tube in him and do exploratory surgery, to the cost of over $2,000! He had now gone over a week without eating anythingand I thought I could force-feed him as well as they could, so Iasked them for some large syringes, two cans of A/D, and some liquid antibiotics. Well, it took about 36 hours of force feeding and hydrating, I know all about wearing the leftovers, and suddenly, Mac went over to his food dish and began to eat some dry food. He never looked back and he is now and older gentleman cat whom I treasure every day! Just keep up the syringe feeding and try giving Allie maybe one-third of the antibiotic if you feel you must. I bet she will be eating on her own by Tuesday night! Remember, you have to get their stomachs used to food again and that takes a few days. I am praying for your pretty girl!

[Vermontcat]

Johanna, I am just now catching up with this thread and I am so sorry to hear about everything that Allie has gone through recently and that she still isn't eating on her own yet.
Keep up the syringe feeding, at least she is getting something and hopefully she will feel like eating on her own again real soon.
(Chanting with you, Eat, Allie, Eat! Eat, Allie, Eat! Eat, Allie, Eat!)

[Pinot's Mom]

Chanting from MD - eat, Allie, eat, Allie! Paws crossed!

[Karen]

Eat, Allie, eat! I know you might not feel hungry, but right now you need to eat!

[krazyaboutkatz]

Johanna, I've only had to force feed my RB Pepper and he was a very large cat so at his normal weight he would've been about in the 14-15lb range. I also used the Hills A/D and my vet gave me several of the large syringes so I would fill 3-4 of them up before I started feeding him. I do remember the last time that I had to force feed him that my vet said to try to get 1 1/2 cans of food in him each day. Unfortunately this was impossible because he kept vomiting it back up. I hope that Allie will want to eat on her own very soon. She remains in my thoughts and prayers.

I also wanted to let you know that when I had Cirrus, he had the PU surgery and he was supposed to take antibiotics. He was given some by the vet while he was in the hospital but I was never able to get any in him. I tried mixing them in food but he was too smart and would taste it and then not eat it. He healed up just fine without any problems. In fact he decided to take his e-collar off a few days ahead of time and he was healed up enough so he was able to have his stitches removed sooner. Hopefully Allie will do just fine without any antibiotics. Good luck.

[Catty1]

Johanna, hopefully her eating instincts kick in, as in katlady's case.

Eat Allie Eat!

[Cataholic]

OK. Time to 'biggie size' my efforts. I have 2 more cans of A/D, a target of 3/4 can each day, and two large syringes! I also have one more B12 for Saturday, and 5 days of anti-naseau injections I start today.

I will go to my vet for a instruction on injecting, and get some fluids in her, too.

This am, Allie drank from the bathroom faucet on her own. I cried, put her back on the floor, got in the shower with little peeks at her, and she climbed back up there and drank some more! Course, then I had to get back out and lift her to the ground. She hasn't done that in two weeks I bet. First time I have seen her voluntarily take fluids.

Then, J and I went into her room and laid on his bed. She finally got out of the drawer (she is in his lower clothes drawer, always has loved to do that) and snuggled with us. Weak, yes...but, she actually showed interest!!! J offered her some catnip and she licked it a little...another good sign.

<sigh>. Is it enough to say the tide is turning? I don't think so, but, I am happy with it. I hope the anti-naseau injection and the fluids this afternoon put her over the hurdle. I also plan on taking her outside this evening, for some fresh air, and to help stir her interest in life.