2 little rascals with the flu

vball91 · Aug 29, 2013

I'm not sure that would work. It depends on the size of the opening. It looks like it's for milk only.

This would probably work better.

http://www.petsathome.com/shop/sher...t=syringe&msg=MSG_SEARCH_ONE_MATCHING_PRODUCT

stephanietx · Aug 29, 2013

No, you need to get a syringe. Try a pharmacy or ask the vet for one. It is absolutely imperative (I cannot stress this enough) that you get food in this little guy. Without nutrition, his body cannot heal as it lacks the needed nutrition and strength. Try warming the canned food up, put some on your finger, then rub it on his gums as a last resort. You can add a bit of water to the food to make it the consistency of oatmeal/gruel, warm it up in a water bath or the microwave for a little bit (not too long in the microwave) and that will enhance the aroma and perhaps entice him to eat. Also, get some plain saline nose drops from the pharmacy and drop one drop in each nostril to help open up his nose. You can also get the bathroom steamy and sit in there with him until the steam dissipates.

When we adopted Hannah 8 years ago from the pound, she had the flu and it was a day to day thing with her and her not feeling well. Each morning, I knew that when I'd open the door to her room that I might find that she'd passed away. I know it's scary and you feel inadequate and you're tired and sick with worry, but you have to get some food in him. Also, keep him nice and warm. Get some old socks, pour dry rice in them, tie the tops off and heat them in the microwave so that they are warm. Place the warm sock next to him so he'll have something warm to snuggle up to.

2littlerascals · Aug 29, 2013

I have just been on pets at home and they sell those for £4.00 so i will be getting this evening .

2littlerascals · Aug 29, 2013

stephanietx said:
No, you need to get a syringe. Try a pharmacy or ask the vet for one. It is absolutely imperative (I cannot stress this enough) that you get food in this little guy. Without nutrition, his body cannot heal as it lacks the needed nutrition and strength. Try warming the canned food up, put some on your finger, then rub it on his gums as a last resort. You can add a bit of water to the food to make it the consistency of oatmeal/gruel, warm it up in a water bath or the microwave for a little bit (not too long in the microwave) and that will enhance the aroma and perhaps entice him to eat. Also, get some plain saline nose drops from the pharmacy and drop one drop in each nostril to help open up his nose. You can also get the bathroom steamy and sit in there with him until the steam dissipates.

When we adopted Hannah 8 years ago from the pound, she had the flu and it was a day to day thing with her and her not feeling well. Each morning, I knew that when I'd open the door to her room that I might find that she'd passed away. I know it's scary and you feel inadequate and you're tired and sick with worry, but you have to get some food in him. Also, keep him nice and warm. Get some old socks, pour dry rice in them, tie the tops off and heat them in the microwave so that they are warm. Place the warm sock next to him so he'll have something warm to snuggle up to.

thank you , this is encouraging about your Hannah 8 years later , the kittens have stopped sneezing and they are breathing through their noses so the congestion is clearing, I am buying the syringe tonight and i have been advised that i have to administer the water really slowly to the side of the mouth , i feel positive now as they really do seem to be improving . I will try and get some food down Wellington too

mservant · Aug 29, 2013

I hope the steaming last night helped a bit and sorry to hear your furbabies are still not well. There are a few of us over here in the UK using the site so can probably give other sources for stuff if you get stuck. I wouldn't worry about asking too much from your vet: you adopted the kittens from the centre and if they are funding the vet for a period they are accepting some ongoing responsibility - they want you to be able to offer your new family the best care possible. Use their support without feeling guilty.

2littlerascals · Aug 29, 2013

MServant said:
I hope the steaming last night helped a bit and sorry to hear your furbabies are still not well. There are a few of us over here in the UK using the site so can probably give other sources for stuff if you get stuck. I wouldn't worry about asking too much from your vet: you adopted the kittens from the centre and if they are funding the vet for a period they are accepting some ongoing responsibility - they want you to be able to offer your new family the best care possible. Use their support without feeling guilty.

Thats good to know that there are English people on here too, its a great site i must say . Tinker just ate her food with her tablet in it, she never ate it all but i am pleased she is eating at least, now just Wellington needs to start eating,

mservant · Aug 29, 2013

If he's still a couple of days behind then keep trying with some of the techniques everyone above have suggested and you feel comfortable with so he gets some enough in to him to start to pick up. My little boy loves getting water from a syringe as thinks it's a treat, licks if off the end like he would a dripping tap, but if Wellington isn't interested just drip little bits in to the side of his mouth if you think he's getting dehydrated and make sure he gets wet food somehow.

Hope your little grandson doesn't get jealous when he's there.

Hee hee - I'm a Scot! Used to live in London but moved away a long time ago.

stephanietx · Aug 29, 2013

I always crush pills and mix in with food. I just use two spoons, one inside the other and crush. When you syringe feed, water the canned food down so it'll go through the opening.

2littlerascals · Aug 29, 2013

stephanietx said:
I always crush pills and mix in with food. I just use two spoons, one inside the other and crush. When you syringe feed, water the canned food down so it'll go through the opening.

i have got the syringe , shall i just give some water for now and then try the food with the tablet later ?

2littlerascals · Aug 29, 2013

okay here is the update, Wellington has had a tiny bit of water from the syringe he tasted a bit of his food but never ate any he licked it and he gets all excited and eager when he hears the food sachet crinkling, he is running around with his tail high and it is turned on the tip you you know what i mean, he has been chasing a fly and played with a spider

Tinker has eaten some food and taken her tablet she is sleeping on the chair , also forgot to mention that Wellington is purring and letting me now cuddle him whereas earlier he didn't want to know so i feel the they are on the mend .

mservant · Aug 29, 2013

So good to hear both are picking up and Wellington more active, cuddly and purring. Cuddling has to be the nicest way to stay warm! Keep an eye on them both, and make sure you manage to get Wellington to take little bits of food regularly if he's not managing to eat much at one time.

Keep us updated.

2littlerascals · Aug 29, 2013

MServant said:
So good to hear both are picking up and Wellington more active, cuddly and purring. Cuddling has to be the nicest way to stay warm! Keep an eye on them both, and make sure you manage to get Wellington to take little bits of food regularly if he's not managing to eat much at one time.

Keep us updated.

i will make sure he eats even a tiny bit , i will update too

franksmom · Aug 29, 2013

I am going to say this one last time you need to use the syringe to get food in him mix in with water and squirt it into the side of his mouth. It does not matter how alert he is acting he will get worse if he does not get nutrition and cats get fatty liver in as little as three days without food.

2littlerascals · Aug 29, 2013

just been down to feed the kittens and both of them have eaten a bolw of food, although Wellington has left the bit with the crunched up antibiotic .

I am just releived he has eaten now ,

2littlerascals · Aug 30, 2013

both kittens now eating properly and Wellington has also drank a little bit of water, they are both on wet food so this will keep them hydrated .

Vet appointment for Tinker at 2 today so will post the reply what the vet says, but now they are both eating again properly has taken a lot off my mind , good advice on here and especially the syringe it got Wellington going again .

irinasak · Aug 30, 2013

I'm glad to hear they are eating. Keep an eye on them, though, as the virus has a tendency to flare up from time to time.

I have had Harley and Amelie (both had the flu) since May and Amelie didn't even sneeze once since she finished the treatment. Harley had another episode early June (or late May?) with fever and vomiting, but he is doing fine now. Sophie, my first cat never had any issues even if they sneezed around her. She is vaccinated.

2littlerascals · Aug 30, 2013

IrinaSaK said:
I'm glad to hear they are eating. Keep an eye on them, though, as the virus has a tendency to flare up from time to time.

I have had Harley and Amelie (both had the flu) since May and Amelie didn't even sneeze once since she finished the treatment. Harley had another episode early June (or late May?) with fever and vomiting, but he is doing fine now. Sophie, my first cat never had any issues even if they sneezed around her. She is vaccinated.

aww thats a shame but also glad Harley is better now . Will my kittens need vaccinating against this virus still even though they have had had it ?

franksmom · Aug 30, 2013

So happy to hear this!

There isn't a flu vaccine for cats. Here is an interesting article on feline vaccines (http://catinfo.org/?link=vaccines). You will want to wait till they are all better before getting them any shots.

irinasak · Aug 30, 2013

My guys had a polyvalent shot that covered three diseases - feline panleucopaenia virus, feline herpesvirus, and feline calicivirus.

I do not know what the vaccination scheme is in your country, but here the standard procedure covers two shots for those three viruses, shots which are given in the kitten's first three months. However, here you vaccinate them if you want and there is no mandatory vaccine (not even for the rabies).

Harley and Amelie had herpesvirus, Sophie did not, maybe the shot did what it was supposed to do or maybe it was plain luck. I do not have medical experience, so I think that the vaccination scheme (or lack there of) should be discussed with a vet you trust.

2littlerascals · Aug 30, 2013

IrinaSaK said:
My guys had a polyvalent shot that covered three diseases - feline panleucopaenia virus, feline herpesvirus, and feline calicivirus.

I do not know what the vaccination scheme is in your country, but here the standard procedure covers two shots for those three viruses, shots which are given in the kitten's first three months. However, here you vaccinate them if you want and there is no mandatory vaccine (not even for the rabies).

Harley and Amelie had herpesvirus, Sophie did not, maybe the shot did what it was supposed to do or maybe it was plain luck. I do not have medical experience, so I think that the vaccination scheme (or lack there of) should be discussed with a vet you trust.

thanks i am taking Tinker to the vet at 2 today so i will ask him i need to get them vaccinated they are 18 weeks now but they need to get better from this hepresvirus before vaccinating them .I will get them everything they need to stay healthy they are my babies and need protecting

2 little rascals with the flu

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