Re: need ideas for appetite stimulant for Levi

[Barb Moermond]

Whenever I have to pill the boys - I generally just stuff whatever it is into a gel-cap and it really cuts down on the foaming etc.  I've done this with metronidazole - REALLY bad stuff - and Smoky's latest oral meds etc.  If the pill is the right size and coated and there's only one, I generally won't bother with the gel cap, but when you're giving 1/2 tabs or 1/4 tabs or 1 1/2 tabs of something - they come in VERY handy.  I also have a nice new pill splitter too:)

[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

Dear Kerry:

The cypro I got for Purrla from another rescuer was prescribed by a vet, but
you might check with some of the online pharamacies like InternetVets.com or
The Pet Shed (one Nina suggested to me, so she could give you the e-address),
etc. as sometimes it is possible to get Rx items w/o a prescription, or, if
you've consulted with a vet about Levi already, they may be willing to approve
your order.

Considering that Levi is a feral and handling him an issue, I will warn you
that the cypro is really gnarly...Purrla gagged and frothed at the mouth and I
had to syringe water down afterwards in a hurry. If I had not had her wrapped
in a towel like a mummy I could not have gotten it down her. It is an
antihistamine and it did ease her nasal congestion and she was prompted to begin
eating on her own again. But she just ! had a URI and was not anemic.

Pica is, most often, a sign of anemia and anemia does cause loss of appetite
Sometimes you can find something really smelly (like tuna and/or tuna juice,
anchovy paste, herring or mackerel, and some rescuers who do a lot of trapping
swear that KFC works like a charm at enticing wary feral into the trap) that
will coax an anemic cat to eat on its own. Have you tried making a liver
shake for him? Sometimes giving PetTinic or HiVite drops which have iron and
Bvites can help, but that usually involves being given by syringe. I can tell you
that Levi will NOT take the cypro unless you syringe it down him, and if you
have to do that, you might as well mix some baby food (I use 2 tsp. baby meat
to 1 tsp. strained veggies like carrots or squash) and Nutrical and add some
PetTinic or Hi Vite drops and give that to him by syringe.

Sometimes BVite injections can stimulate appetite, but again, you would have to handle him to do that. I really don't envy your dilemma. I've treated
many sick kittys but, thankfully, none of my ferals have been in need of such
medical care. It is a real problem because the more you have to handle him to
get meds and/or food down him the less likely he will be to trust you and become
socialized. IN a life threatening situation, you really don't have much
choice. You might try talking to him and tell him you are trying to help him and
without your help me may not get well. If you can't get through to him on
your own, an animal communicator may be able to assist you in that regard. Be
forewarned, however, that he may be a very independent soul and may tell you he
doesn't really care about getting better if it means he has to submit to meds
and being force-fed...he may just tell you "Que sera, sera." And then you
have to decide whether or not to force the issue.

Sending out all the positive energy I can m! uster for you and Levi.

Sally in San Jose

Barb+Smoky the House Puma+El Bandito Malito

"My cat the clown: paying no mind to whom he should impress. Merely living his life, doing what pleases him, and making me smile."
- Anonymous

---

Do you Yahoo!?
The all-new My Yahoo! – Get yours free!