Starr's A Very Sick Little Boy

[krazyaboutkatz]

Thanks so much everyone. I know he must be feeling awful but just by looking at him he looks like a healthy cat. Cats sure can hide their illnesses and pain very well. I gave him his first dose of meds at 8pm and he sure didn't like it. I hope he'll learn to cooperate more in the future.

[heidiv]

Oh Starr we are all praying for you here in Wisconsin..... You poor poor baby get well soon! Keep us all updated on his progress..Thanks

[shais_mom]

Gosh!
Poor lil guy!
I hope he feels better asap!

[Barbara]

Poor little Starr boy! I hope you take your meds and feel better soon.
At least it sounds as if the meds can cure the infection? I am so sorry that Starr and you have to go through this again.

[AbbyMom]

Poor widdle Starr. Hope you feel better soon. Sending prayers and heading vibes your way.

[ChrisH]

Poor little boy. Prayers & positive thoughts on the way.

[smokey the elder]

Starr, please be a good patient and take your meds. I hope he feels better. Digestion problems are the pits.

[krazyaboutkatz]

Medicating Starr last night didn't go too well. This morning I decided to put his pill in some petromalt which he loves and it worked. I was then able to get the pink liquid medicine down him too. Tonight on my way home from work I'll try to find the pill pockets at Petsmart and I'll also look at the benebac.

There was more diarrhea in the litterbox and I also noticed that Starr was having a little problem eating. I looked at his gums and one area is already red and inflamed again. He just had his teeth cleaned on Dec.26th. I would also think that the amoxicillin that he's on would help his gums because I've used this in the past for both Sunny and Storm. Starr also seems to want too drink a lot of water. Please send some more good vibes his way. I don't think he's out of the woods just yet. Thanks.

[Barbara]

Oh my- the red gums sound like an auto-immune thing. I am so sorry.

And it looks as if each trick for pilling him works only one time.

I hope Starry boy gets better soon. How does he behave?

[wolflady]

Gosh, poor Starr!
If you get pill pockets, be sure to look at the ingredients before you buy. We used to sell them at the vet's office where I worked, but then we discontinued selling them because of the ingredients in them. There was a lot of beef product in the pill pockets, which can be an allergen. If Starr has a sensitive tummy, you may want to avoid the pill pockets.

Some stuff I've "hidden" medications in include cheese (like soft spreadable cheese you can form around the pill), turkey hot dogs, and stinky wet food.

Since Starr likes the petromalt and wet food, can you continue pilling that way, or is it usually a one-time thing with each pilling?

I hope he gets better soon!

**hugs**

[Kirsten]

I'm very sorry that I didn't see this earlier!! Poor boy!!

Please Starr, be a good boy and take your meds! These pills will make you feel much better!

Kirsten

[Catsnclay]

Oh Tracey!!


Poor Starr!! I don't normally come into this section, but I had some extra time today - good thing I did, I know I'm late though!

When Lucky was sick and I had to pill him with a HUGE horse pill x3 a day it was a mess!

Then (ok I know thisis going to sound crazy.....) Lucky & I had a long heart-to-heart talk. I took him into the bathroom, looked into his eyes and told him that he needed to take the meds to make him better. I wasn't trying to hurt him, and we both needed to get through this together. Believe it or not I truly think he UNDERSTOOD me!!!!!

YOU need to be calm, they pick up on our feelings VERY well. So if you are nervous, it will make Starr nervous.

I used to put Lucky on the closed toliet seat, his back to me and off to the left side (I'm right handed) then, I gently but firmly pulled the scruff of his neck - which automaitcally pulls his head back and opens his mouth. Then with the pill in my right thumb & first finger, I placed my pinky on his lower jaw, and pretty much threw that pill right down his throat. They don't choak or gag, but you have to do it firmly and quickly.

Remember, if you are nervous, Starr will react - so do it with authority!!!! It will get easier every time.

Lucky was on his meds for 6 months, after a month I looked at him and said "Pill time" and he walked with me into the bathroom and jumped up on the toliet!!! he knew exactly what to do!!! What a good boy!

Oh, I forgot to mention this, but close the bathroom door, and make sure no other kitties are in there to distract you both.

Good luck!

[krazyaboutkatz]

Thanks again everyone. I bought some chicken flavored pill pockets and some bene-bac too. I looked at the ingredients of the pill pockets and it doesn't have any beef products listed so it should be okay. It also has some enzymes which will be good for him which are lactobacillus acidophilus,lactobacillus lactis, and lactobacillus casei. The first and third ones are also in the bene-bac. I won't start the bene-bac until he's done with his meds.

He loved the chicken pill pocket so it went down smoothly. It seemed a little chewy and I was concerned that he might have problems chewing it and spit it out but he didn't. The pink liquid meds then went down well too. The only problem that I had was trying to catch him. He's so quick that it took me longer to catch him than to give him his meds. The litterbox waste looked better tonight too. There were some mushy poops but not as bad as before. I sure hope that he's finally on the road to recovery. Thanks again.

Storm goes to the vet this Sat. morning for his annual exam and a urinalysis so I'm going to ask the vet about Starr's red gum problems. I also just started adding liquid oral care to their water and it's supposed to help fight plaque, gum disease, and odor causing germs. I sure hope it works.

[Catty1]

Good news....that acidophilus really helps tummies! Especially if antibiotics have been at work...they kill good and bad bugs, they are VERY democratic!

Hugs to the dear boy, and I hope he's back to eating full time soon!

[jazzcat]

Glad to hear the pill pockets worked. Hope Starr continues to take them and improve.