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Just maybe a sign of some improvement....

post #1 of 18
1/8/11 at 5:56pm
Thread Starter 
We got a thing from the vet today called VetRx - it's a mixture of various oils and herbs that get dripped directly into the nostrils. Tonight, after two treatments, it seems to be loosening up alot of whatever is stuffed up in Jasmine's nasal passages and her breathing seems a bit easier. Still not much interest in eating, but she did go up to her bowl. Maybe tomorrow. The vet also gave a liquid (also many different herbs and such) that is supposed to help the immune system. At this point anything is worth a shot. I don't give up easily.
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post #2 of 18
1/8/11 at 5:59pm
Are you warming her food up? Have you tried baby food, meat & gravy formulas? The turkey and gravy is especially stinky. If you warm it up for a few seconds, the aroma will be enhanced and might tempt her into eating. If she doesn't eat NOW, then her liver is going to be compromised. Then you're looking at a totally different problem.
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post #3 of 18
1/8/11 at 6:03pm
Thread Starter 
Hi Steph,

No..not warming it up....actually Jasmine has liked her food right out of the fridge for the past few weeks. I was force feeding today - probably not anywhere near the amount that she usually eats though. I pureed a combination of some tuna cat food and her regular Hills K/D. Mixed it with water and drew it up in a syringe and put it right down her throat. She's real used to syringes by now. All her meds are compounded into liquids. I fed her some twice already today but will probably give a bit more tonight yet.

Will at least some food help to prevent the lipidosis?? If no better appetite tomorrow, I'll take your advice and pick up some baby food at the store. Thanks again for some advice. I've never been down this road before.
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post #4 of 18
1/8/11 at 6:17pm
Best of luck, and I'm sure you already know the technique, but for lurkers just a note that force feeding food should be done in small amounts on the tongue or side of the mouth and not directly to the throat since they can aspirate some food/liquid this way.
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post #5 of 18
1/8/11 at 6:23pm
It's hard to say how much food will prevent liver problems. Overweight cats are at greater risk. They do have to take in enough calories so they aren't trying to use their fat stores. Patches had it on top of inflammation from IBD and he isn't overweight, if anything he is thin. I would ask your vet how many calories she needs to prevent it. Once the cycle starts things can go bad really quickly. Once Patches started eating again on his own the vet told me to continue the full tube feedings because if anything she wanted him to be overfed. She had me using a prescription food for critically ill cats for the tube feedings. It was a food that was both calorie and nutrient dense.
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post #6 of 18
1/8/11 at 6:50pm
That's great that you've got something for Jasmine to make it so she can breathe better!
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post #7 of 18
1/8/11 at 7:02pm
Thread Starter 
Denice,

Jasmine is already underweight, and so one can hope that she is much less at risk. I know she's not feeling well, and so we're really taking it one day at a time at this point. She does have a vet appt. again Monday evening. See how things are going by then. If she is still not eating, then I know what the decision has to be. Thanks for the reply.
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post #8 of 18
1/8/11 at 11:53pm
Keith,
I've just read all three threads of your account of Jasmine's 'flu bout'.

Remember that just three days ago you were talking about the imprevement in her recent bloodwork...now she's come down with a nasty URI and she's likely going to need several days to get over that. These things are mostly viral and can only be let to run their course, while we put extra supports in place to ease the symptoms. So, the antibiotic won't do a dang thing against a virus, and expecting a two or three day recovery from one of these just isn't realistic. In the meantime, she's already underweight and is going to need that assist feeding (plus the humidity, l-lysine, nasal drops etc) to get her through.

I read that you're shooting the food down her throat - there's a huge danger in doing that because she could easily aspirate the food and develop an extremely serious aspiration pneumonia - which could easily take her. Just insert small quantities - with the syringe - into the "corner" of her mouth, the pocket if you will - her tongue will do the rest.

The very best food for this is Hill's a/d (only at the Vet's)- one of the other posters already suggested this. It has the highest protein and fat content of just about any food (and the phosphorous level is low as well, at one percent) - in fact, because she's already underweight, I (if she were mine) would be keeping her on it for a while after she's better from this. It's also irresistable to most cats!

BTW, I'm fully in step with your thoughts on "when it's time, it's time". That said, I want to make sure that I've done all I can including giving every opportunity for improvement.

I read that she bounced back from a URI last year. She will probably need some extra time this time round. I'll be thinking of you both
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post #9 of 18
1/9/11 at 12:42am
Never syringe food down her throat or she can aspirate that straight into her lungs - with her uri, that can be a disaster... A little at a time, as i described on your other thread, on her tongue or on the side of her mouth. 1-2CCs at a time. Wait for her to eat, do it again.
Try giving her as much as you can - close to the amount she eats. Fat cats get liver failure sooner, but underweight cats get them too... A cat going 4-5 days eating less than 1/2 of the regular amount of food it normally eats can be in trouble, so pay attention to the amount of calories... If you have a little smoothie maker/blender, or food processor, they work great to make the food the perfect consistency to feed with a syringe. Hills A/D is perfect in consistency too, and not only that, but it has all she needs to accelerate her recovery.
The bigger the syringe you get, the easier this will be on you, IMHO. I would highly advise 4 feedings of close to an ounce... If you have a petsmart close to you, get their syringe... it is 35CCs.
I know this is not easy, but it is just as she recovers from this... it will help her a lot...
A lot of us have done this... It is not pleasant, but at times, it does make a difference in between recovering or not...
I hope your girl gets well soon...
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post #10 of 18
1/9/11 at 10:50am
Quote:
Originally Posted by three4rd View Post
Still not much interest in eating, but she did go up to her bowl. Maybe tomorrow.
Well, this is a good sign! At least she is showing an interest. How is she today?

Quote:
Originally Posted by three4rd View Post
Hi Steph,

No..not warming it up....actually Jasmine has liked her food right out of the fridge for the past few weeks.
Even though she normally likes it cold, you still might try warming it a bit, just to bring out the smell, since her nose is stuffed up.
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post #11 of 18
1/9/11 at 11:12am
Also, if she liked it cold for the past few weeks then stopped eating it, change it from cold to warm. If a cat stops eating food a specific way, it isn't always about giving up. My cats will often just be spoiled brats and not like a food I've been feeding them for weeks, or they will switch from liking it cold to preferring it warmed up. It's a constant adjusting process for me, so I can only imagine what it must be like for you when your cat is already disinterested in food.
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post #12 of 18
1/9/11 at 1:54pm
Keeping you in my prayers with your sweet gal.
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post #13 of 18
1/9/11 at 2:25pm
Thread Starter 
Things are not any better. She just has no interest in going to her bowl, BUT, when I syringe feed she doesn't refuse it either. I have been not putting it down her throat. I guess I spoke a bit figuratively. I've been giving her meds via syringe for some time now and it always goes on the tongue. There is certainly a good bit of strength in her yet (try giving her the VetRx nose drops and you'll see what I mean!) And, she comes upstairs. This is what all has me confused. She's not just laying around all the time. But there is very little meow anymore, and just no 'spark'. So is it time? Or do I continue to force feed and see how things go? I think I'll hang in there a bit yet. See what the vet's take on the situation by tomorrow. In my heart I think we're probably near the end, but I'm not one to give up. That being said, I don't want to prolong her not feeling well. I agree that it may take some time to beat this URI. To tell the truth, she is much less 'wheezy' today. I"m just wondering if, overall, she's just plain tired and the body is worn out. So many visits to the vet, so many injections. So much stress on the way there and back. It HAS to take it's toll. A much younger Jasmine would have really protested at all I have been doing big time!

When I syringe, I know I'm not giving anywhere near enough food. I have just a smaller syringe but I think it's at least doing the job. Jasmine was never a big eater to begin with. It's just really tough right now.

I can't thank you all enough for following my threads and offering such great words of support! Please know how much it means to me. Really. From the bottom of my heart. You are all so great. Well...back to giving meds.....See you all later.

Taking it one day at a time (these days each feel like a month at this point...wish I were at home all day to be able to do all this.)

Keith
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post #14 of 18
1/9/11 at 2:43pm
Hi Keith, the fact that she is breathing better and has more energy is definitely a good sign! I would continue to force feed and see where it goes... Since you have a small syringe, don't stop on the first one, refill it a few times and feed her again and again until she gets the proper amount - nutrition is vital for her recover.
Good luck!
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post #15 of 18
1/9/11 at 3:20pm
Thread Starter 
She just is starting to feel so bony....definitely dropping weight. It breaks my heart. I worked so hard to keep her above 7 pounds for the past few months. And to see her not eat at all...it's truly heartbreaking. I'm wondering if this is as good as it's going to get anymore? It's so hard for older people or animals to regain what they lose after a bad slip backwards. I may have misconveyed about her 'energy'. I just meant that there are times when she comes upstairs, but basically she does just lay around looking weak and tired. I promised her I'd do the right thing by her. Is this the right thing? I'm trying, but there has to be a time to let go.
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post #16 of 18
1/10/11 at 9:46am
Oh golly. I am so sorry to read this.

It sounds trite, but you will know in your heart when it is enough. Sending prayers up for both of you.
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post #17 of 18
1/11/11 at 11:45am
Didn't Jasmine have an appt with the Vet yesterday? How'd it go?
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post #18 of 18
1/12/11 at 5:25pm
Thread Starter 
Hi mrsgreenjeens,

Thanks for asking about Jasmine. You can follow my update info on the other thread I started. Basically, she's much better. At the appointment, we both pretty much felt that we're very near the end. The pred shot was simply a last ditch effort to see if there'd be any improvement. I certainly didn't expect what I'm seeing today! She's eating again, looks better, undoubtedly feels better, more alert, and seems to be over the URI. I'm just so pleasantly shocked at this improvement....and loving it!

Take care,
Keith
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