dehydration
hoow do y'all keep your kitlets hydrated when they don't seem to want to drink? i do syringe minnie some at thome, but have been having to take her 2 times a week or every other day for sub-Q fluids :( her appetite sucks as well but keep trying... how much water should you try to get into your cat daily? on days off it is easy but during the week it is tricky... LJ
Re: dehydration
When my cats are sick, I give them sub-q fluids at home. I think that is true for most of us on the list. You should have your vet teach you how to do it. It really is not hard. The only thing that is hard is if Minnie is a total monster about it (most cats aren't after the first or second time) and you have no one to help you with it. But I have been able to give fluids on my own to most of my cats who have needed it. My one cat Buddy was a total monster about it, even when he was quite sick, so I had to have someone hold him for me. Michelle In a message dated 6/30/2006 2:43:43 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: hoow do y'all keep your kitlets hydrated when they don't seem to want to drink? i do syringe minnie some at thome, but have been having to take her 2 times a week or every other day for sub-Q fluids :( her appetite sucks as well but keep trying... how much water should you try to get into your cat daily? on days off it is easy but during the week it is tricky... LJ
michelle/dehydration
you are a peach for answering i took minnie in today for a sub-Q...she was so fretting about this. i know that i most definitely do not want her to fret and stress.. for a million reasons my doc who is awesome... said she would teach me. she is out on holiday and will not be back for at least another week. i am not sure if Minnie is able to make it that longshe is not eating more than a bite or two ...should i try to force feed her by syringe in her little mouth...little drips ? i took 5 days off over this weejend to try to prepare. i have cried all day since i came home from the vet.. LJ
Re: michelle/dehydration
I would definitely syringe feed her. Not just a little though. You want to try to get 100 cc's per day into her. I would do it in meals of 20-30 cc's at a time. A/D is what they usually use. You can use baby food short-term. What exactly is wrong with Minnie? I may have missed some of the thread. Is she being treated for anything? Michelle In a message dated 6/30/2006 8:02:46 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: you are a peach for answering i took minnie in today for a sub-Q...she was so fretting about this. i know that i most definitely do not want her to fret and stress.. for a million reasons my doc who is awesome... said she would teach me. she is out on holiday and will not be back for at least another week. i am not sure if Minnie is able to make it that longshe is not eating more than a bite or two ...should i try to force feed her by syringe in her little mouth...little drips ? i took 5 days off over this weejend to try to prepare. i have cried all day since i came home from the vet.. LJ
Re: dehydration (DIY sub-q)
http://www.felinecrf.com/managh.htm (here's a DIY instructions from the chronic renalfailure website, for learning how to do it yourself at home)http://www.felinecrf.org/giving_sub-qs_giving_set.htm (more home sub-q fliudtechniques with pictures) http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/clientED/cat_fluids.asp (here's a webpage that shows theprocedure, the third method is the one I have always seen used, and the most commonin the USA)Phaewryn PLEASE Adopt a cat from Little Cheetah Cat Rescue!!!http://ucat.us/adopt.html DONATE: We could really use a power saw (for construction), a digital camera (for pictures) and HOMES for CATS! No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.9.7/379 - Release Date: 6/29/2006
Re: dehydration
If kitty is eating wet food, you don't need to be TOO concerned. Did you try the Hills A/D wet fod? Terri in NJ =^..^= Terri, Siggie the Tomato Vampire, Guinevere, Sammi, Travis, Dori and 6 furangels: RuthieGirl, Samantha, Arielle, Gareth, Alec Salome' =^..^= Cool Catholic Stuff! Click Here -- www.TotallyCatholic.com/Theresa Furkid Photos! http://mysite.verizon.net/vze7sgqa/My Personal Page: http://www.geocities.com/ruthiegirl1/terrispage.html?1083970447350Come check me out on MySpace at http://www.myspace.com/terricrazycatlady - Original Message - From: l.j. crabtree To: Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Sent: Friday, June 30, 2006 2:42 PM Subject: dehydration hoow do y'all keep your kitlets hydrated when they don't seem to want to drink? i do syringe minnie some at thome, but have been having to take her 2 times a week or every other day for sub-Q fluids :( her appetite sucks as well but keep trying... how much water should you try to get into your cat daily? on days off it is easy but during the week it is tricky... LJ
testing for dehydration
Do you know how to test for dehydration? Lift the skin on his scruff and make sure it bounces back quickly, if it just holds the shape of your "pinch" you've got trouble. I have only had one experience with this, but it was not a good one. The tech tested Spaz this way and her skin acted normal, but she was in fact severely dehydrated. She had not drank anything in days. She had thick, stringy saliva and the second vet noticed foul breath. Krishttp://www.spazstory.zoomshare.com
Re: testing for dehydration
Feel the gums. If tacky or dry, there is dehydration. Michelle In a message dated 6/23/2006 8:51:07 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Do you know how to test for dehydration? Lift the skin on his scruff and make sure it bounces back quickly, if it just holds the shape of your "pinch" you've got trouble.
Re: testing for dehydration
Another way to check for dehydration is to check their gums, they should be nice and moist and shiny and look wet. If they are in any way gummy or sticky kitty is most likely dehydrated, I could never do the pinch test and I never trusted what I thought when I did do it. -- Belinda happiness is being owned by cats ... Be-Mi-Kitties http://bemikitties.com Post Adoptable FeLV/FIV/FIP Cats/Kittens http://adopt.bemikitties.com FeLV Candlelight Service http://bemikitties.com/cls HostDesign4U.com [affordable hosting web design] http://HostDesign4U.com BMK Designs [non-profit animals websites] http://bmk.bemikitties.com
Re: interferon dehydration? new FeLV+
Hmmm... I never heard of IFN causing dehydration. My kitties have shown no sign of it. Effie (FeLV+) was on daily for 2-1/2 years; Butch still on daily since 2000 (FIV+), now Tabitha (FIV+), and this week Shiloh tested positive for FeLV. Shiloh was a stray who showed up last winter, neutered him 2/05. He had a nasty fresh bite on his forehead 5/05 which I cleaned and gave preventive abx, which might be when he contracted the virus. There is no way of knowing if he had it before that time. Due to other life stuff, he was not tested until this week when we were going to do the vax. He lives outside on the deck and under the house and I need to find a better situation for him. Presently, I have no clue what that is but I'll figure something out ... with God's help, He gave me this challenge and hopefully He'll follow up with ideas. My Sam (negative 6yo) now HCM, threw a saddle clot two weeks ago and is recovering the use of his legs gradually. Hugs to everyone battling the disease/s and life's problems. Del - Original Message - From: Gloria Lane [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Sent: Friday, December 02, 2005 7:53 AM Subject: Re: Sammy and interferon I don't know but have wondered that myself. Didn't know that it causes a degree of dehydration so that's interesting to me, especially at this very dry time of the year. I give my FELV+ kitties .5 cc daily (not on/off), unless there's a URI or something then I up the dosage. Gloria On Dec 1, 2005, at 8:18 PM, Helene Hand wrote: Hi!1 I seem to mostly lurk, too, now that Sam seems so well, but I have a concern to share with all of you. I do love this list, and there was a time all of you definitely saved Sammy's life with your love and advice. Thank you for everything you have done for us. Okay- Sammy, my 15 year old siamese, and his mother Delilah, 16, came to live with me in 1993. In July of 1999 Sam developed FELV and almost died. He was so sick. Over the next few months he lost down to 7 pounds and I maintained him on IV boluses, a series of Acemannan shots, oral pettinic daily, Vit. B12 subcu., interferon orally, 7 days on-7 off- winstrol orally,procrit s.c. weekly,special foods, including baby meats, dry foods (4 choices!) lots and lots of love and prayers constantly. For a year it was touch and go.Today, he weighs about 16 pounds, looks and feels great, is definitely the Alpha Cat of the household, and has been in remission and asymptomatic since 2000. Coat is shiny, he is very playful, etc. My question is this: Does anyone know of any detrimental side effects of long-term interferon therapy? There is no need to ask my vet, although wonderful, he lets me call the shots, as he really doesn't know... Sam has been on interferon since 2000. One cc orally for 7 days, then off 7 days.So that is 15 cc a month.I sure don't want to rock the boat, but I know that the interferon causes a degree of dehydration. Anything else?I would like a source of info., and would appreciate anybody's input. He still is on the pettinic daily, the winstrol weekly, and the Vit. B12 subcu. weekly. I discontinued the procrit subcu. a year ago. My wonderful boy seems to be doing fine; but I remind myself to remember that every day is so good for him, but could change in an instant. I don't take anything for granted. Thanks! Guys! Helene
