Loss of Weight and Lack of Appetite

dolface

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I have a very rambucous 3 yr old cat named Spookie   Last friday she started hiding and not moving around alot...by Saturday she was not moving at all and not eating anything, even the treats she loves......usually she is a very good but strange eater...shes the only cat I know that absolutely hates any kind of fish, but eats cheesecake, fortune cookies and jello.. i know these are strange things for cats to eat, but she is given very sparingly and on rare occasions....by monday i couldn't get her to come out from hiding inside the bottom of the boxspring of our bed.....Tuesday I couldn't even get her to lift her head and hysterically took her to the vet....he said she had a fever of 42 and gave her 2 shots of antibiotics which he said should last about 10 days, and a shot of glucose/fluids to get some protein in her....she's back to drinking water a little bit here and there and I've been able to get about 1 tbsp of warm milk mixed with pablum into her, but she's very weak, her temp is lower but she's not eating and I'm afraid of force feeding her with syringe because I dont want to stress her out anymore then necessary....does anyone have any other suggestions that I might try???
 

smitten4kittens

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I would  talk to the vet again because it's very important that she eats and drinks. You should feed her with a syringe if that is the only way to get food and water into her right now. Put it in the corner of her mouth, don't squirt it straight back. I've heard that chicken baby food (without onions) might entice a cat to eat. You could also try warming up a canned food to make it smell stronger to her. Try putting bonito flakes or parmesean cheese on top. I hope little Spookie feels better soon.
 

carolina

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You HAVE to feed her, as if she doesn't eat she can develop hepatic lipidosis, and that can be lethal.
I know it is stressful, I know it is not fun, and cats don't like it.... but food is life-saving for a cat, and on the same token the lack of food is very, very dangerous. It has been too long already - you need to take action now.
Please refer to this thread http://www.thecatsite.com/t/227858/syringe-feeding-lucky-video-if-your-cat-is-not-eating - read the thread, watch the video, read the links.... specially this one:http://www.assistfeed.com/FeedingTechniques.htm :vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes:
 
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dolface

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Thank you very m uch for your suggestions   I will try them tonight   the vet told me to try warm milk with the pablum I just didn't know how much to mix if I was using a syringe. Its been a difficult 10 months for her with "daddy" in the hospital for two months and back in every 2 days for fluids....thats what I thought was bothering her that he wasn't around....I am thinking its probably better to take her back to vet even if she just gets IV fluids until she's a little stronger  
 
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dolface

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I'm  sorry I'm having one of those weeks were I'm brain deficient......but could you tell me how often I should be feeding her     I've got 2 syringes....1's bout 20CC's   and the other is 50CC
 

carolina

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I'm  sorry I'm having one of those weeks were I'm brain deficient......but could you tell me how often I should be feeding her     I've got 2 syringes....1's bout 20CC's   and the other is 50CC
I feed 1oz at a time - a little over 29CC

Here is that video - it is not working in the other thread.
You have to feed the entire nutritional need of the cat per day - so..... if she needs to eat a can of cat food a day, feed that :nod: in small meals - you will be feeding 5-6 meals....

[VIDEO][/VIDEO]

Fluids will help with dehydration and will help to perk her up, but she needs nutrition - she needs food. Fluids will not substitute food.
You can ask the vet for an appetite stimulant, you actually should do that :nod:
 
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dolface

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ok did first feeding   warmed whole milk with rice pablum and a little chicken broth   she did almost 15ccs before she just got too stressed     thank you muchly for the video and information    helps a lot    talked to vet and he said he would just be giving me pretty much the same thing but at a higher price   she's drinking a lot of water so i'm hoping that will help with hydration until the food sets in some  vet asked to see her if nothing gets better by tomorrow night
 

carolina

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ok did first feeding   warmed whole milk with rice pablum and a little chicken broth   she did almost 15ccs before she just got too stressed     thank you muchly for the video and information    helps a lot    talked to vet and he said he would just be giving me pretty much the same thing but at a higher price   she's drinking a lot of water so i'm hoping that will help with hydration until the food sets in some  vet asked to see her if nothing gets better by tomorrow night
I have no idea of what rice pablum is, but careful with whole milk, as cats are lactose intolerant..... Cat Milk is ok, Lactose free milk is ok, goat milk is ok..... but the best thing is cat food. Blend it with a bit of water (not a lot, as the food needs to be nutritious - she needs the calories!) in the food processor or a small blender.....
Keep going - remember: small meals, several times a day :vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes:
 
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dolface

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I wanted to thank everyone so much for the helpful advice while my poor little PoohBear was sick.....she's still very weak, due mostly I think to her lack on nutrition intake before we got everything sorted out. But she is doing so much better, she's up and walked about a lot more stable then the last couple days, and shes started having little bits of her hard food. I'm still giving her the pablum mixture and she's getting canned food that she's eating a little here and there on her own. 

I was wondering if anyone had an idea on maybe something with a little more fat content in it, since she's lost about 4 lbs, her little belly is swaying back n forth under her as she walks.....but we're THRILLED that she's walking at all, so we're not complaining
 

smitten4kittens

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  Blue Buffalo Wilderness and Wellness are decent wet foods with more fat then most. Some of the "kitten" specific foods have extra calories and nutrition. I'm glad she's feeling better.
 
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dolface

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Yes we are both glad she's doing better slowly. Like I said I'm still giving her the pablum mixed with a little warmed milk, it is hole kittens milk which is what the vet suggested too. I"ll try some of those other foods suggested too, thank you....Her normal wet food is Friskies Chicken and Liver.....we went through every single flavor of wet before finding this one that she would actually eat...
 

blueyedgirl5946

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Hoping your kitty will soon be back to normal.
 
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dolface

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Thank you so much every one for your well wishes and much needed help and advice
 
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dolface

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I want to thank you sooooo much for everyone's well wishes and advice while my baby was sick....it turned out to be a stomach virus and feline flu.....she's on a 14 day dose of prednisone and doing soo much better she's actually gaining weight back and beginning to fly around the house again.....

 
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