Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Nausea in Cats - Includes Slippery Elm Bark Powder Instructions
Got a kitty with an upset tummy? Treat nausea with healthy supplements and natural alternatives.
I hope Pepita ate for you last night & all went well!!!
hugs
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Alright, day 3!
Last night I was able to give him his Onsior dosage, thank goodness. I just pried his jaws open and tossed the pill in. He felt so much better and slept SO well. This morning I ran to the store to pick up a syringe, like Purrkins suggested! And I got his first Gabapentin dosage of the day in. Overall his temperament is much better, last night he was really cuddly and lovey-dovey, almost back to his old self! I'm feeling much less anxious and much more confident properly administering his medication now.
The big thing right now is he STILL won't eat anything. It's almost been 48 hours and all I've been able to do is give him a pebble of dry food. He normally loves wet food, but he won't touch that. He won't even drink water. The vet I got the procedure done isn't open on the weekends, but they suggested I call a bigger vet if I have questions. I'm planning to call them in an hour or so if he still hasn't eaten, just to see what they recommend, or if they think it's a sign something is wrong.
Also I saw some people asking this; we are based in USA, specifically the midwest.
Thanks again to everyone, logging off for now.
So glad things are better! It’s always such a relief when you start to see a little bit of improvement. Our cat people will have to give you some suggestions on foods to try. I guess the only thing I could suggest was a little bit of warmed rotisserie chicken maybe soaked a little bit in low sodium broth
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
Great job getting the meds in, whoo hoo, and getting a syringe.👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 I am glad you are feeling confident now. Learning how to administer meds after this surgery is a quick lesson. Most people do not know how or have never medicated before until this surgery. GREAT JOB
I would syringe food, treat tubes, and or baby food, as I posted earlier. And yes, please call the bigger vet for an anti-nausea script, and they may also prescribe an appetite stimulant. Usually, if the nausea is controlled, they will eat. If you are going to pick anything up at the vet, get a couple of cans of Hills AD recovery food. Im concerned right now, Pepita will become dehydrated. Wet food is best for recovery, and we worry less about staying hydrated.
Warm the wet food. Put a dab on his nose, and he will lick it off, and hopefully, thats enough to get him eating—the stronger/stinker the food, the better to get past the meds. I'm hoping since you got the pain meds in, he will eat for you.
Knowing where you are in the world helps us with meds and food. Please update us as you can & let us know what the vet says.
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Hey how did it go today? Any luck getting food and water into him? I love Holly's recommendation to put a dab of food on his nose so he can lick it off! Warming food is smart too, and don't mix with any medication either. Also, don't forget the old trick of tuna water for hydration. And those Churu treats are remarkable too. I think those count as wet foods (Holly will know!).
You are now an expert at medicating, great job! Your confidence in that department shines through. Don't worry, you will feel so much better about everything else by this time next week.
Keep us posted OK? You can do this!
Ooh, that nose trick sounds like a good idea. Thank you everyone so much for the kind words and encouragement! I talked to the vet, and she reassured me it's not COMPLETELY uncommon for cats to fast more than 48 hours. She suggested a lot of what you guys have, warming his food up in the microwave. I picked up some canned chicken and tuna, and while he doesn't like the tuna, he's tried the chicken BROTH a few times haha. He's very curious about food and water at this stage, he just can't seem to commit.
I did try once today before calling the vet to give him wet food via syringe, but the vet actually discouraged me from doing that, because she said he would have a negative association with food if I kept that up.
I'll go ahead and try that nose trick tonight, and keep trying to get him to drink his water. You guys are right, I don't want him to be dehydrated.
Thanks again, I'll updated again tomorrow!
I LOVE your vet! That's awesome you were able to get in touch on a weekend. I'm 100% in favor of what they suggested. Talk about peace of mind. PAWESOME!
We are all hoping the nose trick works. Might be so dang cute you have to video it and share here!
OK we will watch for an update. Good luck!!!
He's very curious about food and water at this stage, he just can't seem to commit.
hahaha…..love that description .
glad you got some reassurance from your vet. Sounds like you’re on the right track and things will continue to get better👍
Hugs
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
Oh, im delighted to hear Pepita tasted the chicken broth.👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 Warm that too it will be more enticing.
Purrkins did not eat in the hospital for three days but was on fluids. Pepita would have had IV fluids for surgery, right, so he is ok for how many days? I don't know the answer 100% to say. I know it becomes dangerous when cats are not eating and have no fluids. In normal circumstances, I do not let a cat go without eating in our house for one day. Amputation surgery is not a normal circumstance.
What is your vet's advice if Peptia does not eat today, and what is the timeline after the 48 hours? Surgery was on Thursday—what are their suggestions or plans? I hope this is all a moot point and post, and he has eaten for you. Keep up on the meds regardless.
Yes, it's normal for cats' appetites to be off after surgery, and a chore to get them to eat. Pain meds mess with appetite, but we work around that by making foods more enticing by warming them or using foods we usually don't feed. What foods does Pepita typically like in a wet food? Try different textures, pate, Gravies, mousse, minced, shredded, etc. Everything is to be warmed to help entice.
I stand by syringe feeding. It can and has been life-saving for cats that refuse to eat to get them eating again. It can also be scary having the right consistency matters so you don't aspirate them, but that ok thats thats off the table.
They make all sorts of cat broths to try. Churu makes one, Tiki Cat makes some, and I have successfully used both. Fancy Feast and Friskies all make broths ( I have no experience with those to share). Bone broths are excellent, too!
Here are a few other options we have used in critical times and have been helpful. It's a gamble on whether the cat will eat or drink. They are worth a try, and I don't know what you will find locally. It would be worth looking for these or any similar they do have in stock.
Virbac Rebound Recuperation Formula for Cats, Clear (10851)
Vet Solutions Nutri-Cal Nutrical High Calorie Gel 4.25oz
Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets Hydra Care Liver Flavored Liquid Supplement for Cats
If you have treat tubes such as Churu or any brand, as we have suggested before, try those put in a bowl and warm in micro for a couple of seconds 1-3, depending on your micro. Do less first and test it. Try Gerbers stage 2 baby foods, chicken and gravy, turkey and gravy. MOST cats will eat baby food when nothing else. It is the same way as described before, but not in the baby food glass; it is not a balanced food, but it is ok in times like these!! Some people have great success with Hartz delectable. (I have not tried it, but MANY cat owners use and have great success.) Any food and or supplementation is better than none at this time. Warm fresh chicken and or the rotisserie chicken, as Sally suggested (minus the skin)
The nose trick works in our cats, and hand-feeding any of these things also helps!!!
I will check back, and hope Pepita has eaten something. We don't need his usual amount of food in him, but yes, we need something in.
Hugs and scratches to Pepita
Holly, Purrkins, and Saxton in the sky💫
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Is Holly an endless source of amazing and helpful information or what? THANK YOU HOLLY!
I hope Pepita is having a good, hydrated day!
Holly an endless source of amazing and helpful information or what? THANK YOU HOLLY!
The best🥰
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
Hoping no news is good news.
Update when possible!
hugs and scratches to Pepita please
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Sally and Jerry💞😘
Hi everyone, sorry it's been so long since I've updated! Going back to work while making sure Pepita is taken care of has made life super busy.
It's been over a week since his surgery, and overall, he is doing FANTASTIC. He's eating plenty, getting his meds in, and even back to drinking water. He should officially get his stitches off a week from today.
He's walking like normal, it really feels like nothing's changed! If anything he's annoyed that I still won't let him out of my room haha. He's a bit clumsy still, but his strength and stamina is back where it was before.
The biggest issue I've had is with his cone. I have to time it right when I put it on him, because if he eats too soon before he puts his cone on, he throws up. I'm guessing it's because it'll making him dizzy and nauseous. I've been trying to time it better, make sure his food has settled before putting the cone on him.
I will have to call my vet tomorrow, because Pepita somehow figured out how to take off his cone while I was at work?? I could have sworn it was tight enough. Regardless...he ripped out a few of his stitches. I'm not seeing anything overly concerning at the moment, nothing looks infected, and there's no fluids leaking out or anything. I'm hoping that's because he's already halfway through the healing process? I'm anxious about it of course - but I'm hoping worse case scenario, I can get him into the vet a little early so they can tell me what to do.
Okay there's my update, mostly all good news, + some not fun news at the end lol. Thank you everyone again for your kind words and encouragement throughout our journey so far.
Well overall that is a pretty darn good update! Having the energy to be feisty and restless to get out and explore, and ripping off the cone is really showing that his purrsonality is coming back.
Interesting observation about when he barfs his food. That makes total sense. Here's a Houdini cone trick for cats that may help once his belly is settled and you need to leave him alone..
https://gear.tr.....-of-shame/
Thank you for letting us know things are getting better!
I'm happy and relieved to see Pepita is doing so well!!!
When did Pepita rip off his cone? After the Onsior was done? What is his dosage of Gaba, and the timing? 8 or 12 hours?
I'm sorry he has ripped out a few stitches. Im glad you are calling the vet. I hope it is enough time ?! We took a limb; this is not a small incision usually 10-14 days on stitch removal. Ours was 14. We have had many members go through the same, and most needed to be restitched.
Interesting observation, the dizziness, and the cone, puking I would tell the vet this as well when you call.
Thanks for the update. Scratches and smooch to Pepita please
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