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Stop this ride, I want to get off. And take my kitty girl to solid ground.
Missy’s appetite goes up and down and up and down. I’ve tried all kinds of different foods with her – several varieties of Fancy Feast; “people” tuna (albacore, since there’s a low-sodium variety); roast chicken (which I get for myself), finely chopped with water added, steak…all the people foods are things which we have for ourselves and that she used to beg for tastes of when she was doing fine. She does well with the chicken – and then she doesn’t. Scrambled eggs and tonight’s steak were well received. Sometimes she takes mouthfuls and sometimes she keeps chewing and dropping and picking up again. Sometimes she’ll eat independently, but other times I have to hand-feed her, coaxing and petting and dabbing some on her nose before she’ll actually get started. She never eats more than a tablespoon or so at a time, but her stomach is probably small after so long not eating enough.
The ant problem we’ve been having isn’t helping matters, but I constantly clean and rinse dishes and cans and carefully pick bits of spilled food off floors, carpet, chairs…
I know that she’s not getting enough nutrition for long-term health. I’ll ask her vet about vitamin supplements when I speak to her, but it’s not important right now.
Missy did eat some scrambled eggs this morning. She’s seemed a little more herself the last couple of days, so maybe getting more food – unbalanced a diet as it is – is helping.
Also, we’re giving Missy subQ (subcutaneous) fluids a couple of times a week.
The procedure goes like this: I warm up a bag of electrolyte solution – it’s called Plasmalyte – in warm water for about ten minutes. (It’s safe to use it when it’s cooler, but less upsetting for the cat.) The bag has two ports: one for using a syringe, the other for using a drip. I attach a needle to a 60ml syringe, draw in the solution, and carefully push out any air.
Then B restrains Missy. Some cats are surprisingly OK with it and need little or no restraint; owners have even had the cat sitting on their lap, purring away. Missy, not so much. She’d rather be somewhere else, thank you! But B is able to restrain her without much trouble. Sometimes the person gets more cooperation by giving the cat treats or food during the procedure, but Missy isn’t eating easily as it is. But she’s not very strong now, so it’s doable.
Then I pinch and lift up the skin over the cat’s shoulders and pull it up, which is called “tenting” (the same procedure as in testing for dehydration). This is possible because cats (as well as dogs and some other animals) have what is called a subcutaneous space just under the skin, which is where the fluids will go.
Now comes the “fun” part. I insert the needle into the base of the tent, not too high, so it will actually go into the space; not too low and not too deep, to keep it away from anything important (muscle, blood vessels, etc.); and not too far, or it could go out the other side, which is not helpful. Then I push it into the space (moving the skin back against the needle as well makes it a little easier). I can actually feel when it’s in; the resistance to the needle stops.
When I was taking my ROP class, we practiced on oranges. We weren’t able to do it on animals (those students who got internships at vet clinics were able to, but I didn’t), so we used oranges. But, as it turned out, I found it was actually easier to tell on Missy than on the oranges.
I do this from the rear. That way, if Missy were able to get loose and make a run for it, she wouldn’t tear the skin, which would be awful. Pulling the needle wouldn’t hurt her (although it would be annoying as hell).
When the needle is in, I can let go of the scruff. It’s easier to use both hands on the syringe, anyway. I think it takes a about a minute, maybe two, to get all of the fluid in. There’s plenty of room under the skin to hold the fluid until it is absorbed.
It’s not supposed to hurt – at least not much – when I put the needle in. Missy doesn’t react as though it hurts. I think it feels funny when the fluid is going in, but if it were cold (although I don’t keep it in the fridge, so it’s room temperature), it would probably be unpleasant.
When I’m done, I take the needle out, put the syringe somewhere stable and out of the way, and pinch the skin for a few seconds so the skin will seal itself enough so the fluid doesn’t leak out. B lets Missy go and I hug and pet her for a bit, then lift her down carefully so she won’t jump off the table. I wish she’d take treats, but she’d probably be too upset to eat them anyway. She recovers quickly, though, and goes about her business.
More detailed description of the procedure, with pictures
I was really REALLY nervous the first time I did this. A tech had shown me how, but I didn’t get to try it out on an animal. (Not that they were likely to find any volunteers in any case.) Now I’m OK with it, especially since B is keeping her safely in place (which he’s more comfortable with, as well). It’s even a little fun. I feel like I’m doing REAL VET STUFF.
So, Missy’s eating with some interest – although I wish she’d eat more – and drinking well. And peeing and pooping normally, although I really wish she’d stop peeing outside the box. Standing in the box and peeing over the edge, for god’s sake. I have no idea why. But the litter mat is at least waterproof, and I put some litter there to help absorb it. I’m going to PetsMart today to get some “pee pads” and try those out.
Missy’s also getting pills: an appetite stimulant and an antinausea medication. We started on the appetite stimulant before the crash that put her in the hospital; it worked really well for a while, but then her appetite dropped again. (Chronic nausea is a common complication for CRF cats.) The subQs seem to make her more interested in food, for a while, at least.
Missy really does NOT like being pilled. I’m getting better at doing it quickly, though, before she has time to struggle much. Her weakness helps with that too.
So she seems somewhat stable for the moment. She’s still loving her sun and snuggles and petting.
I’ll be down in Del Mar today and will pick up another prescription for the anti-nausea meds (I called it in to the vet) which she gets daily and needs to stay on. Damn, I need to call back and get another for the appetite stimulant too.
Still waiting for the test results. Although I’m not sure it would change what we’re doing. It might not change how long we have her, either.
B and I are just trying to love her and make her as happy as possible. Sometimes that’s all you can do.
Missy’s appetite goes up and down and up and down. I’ve tried all kinds of different foods with her – several varieties of Fancy Feast; “people” tuna (albacore, since there’s a low-sodium variety); roast chicken (which I get for myself), finely chopped with water added, steak…all the people foods are things which we have for ourselves and that she used to beg for tastes of when she was doing fine. She does well with the chicken – and then she doesn’t. Scrambled eggs and tonight’s steak were well received. Sometimes she takes mouthfuls and sometimes she keeps chewing and dropping and picking up again. Sometimes she’ll eat independently, but other times I have to hand-feed her, coaxing and petting and dabbing some on her nose before she’ll actually get started. She never eats more than a tablespoon or so at a time, but her stomach is probably small after so long not eating enough.
The ant problem we’ve been having isn’t helping matters, but I constantly clean and rinse dishes and cans and carefully pick bits of spilled food off floors, carpet, chairs…
I know that she’s not getting enough nutrition for long-term health. I’ll ask her vet about vitamin supplements when I speak to her, but it’s not important right now.
Missy did eat some scrambled eggs this morning. She’s seemed a little more herself the last couple of days, so maybe getting more food – unbalanced a diet as it is – is helping.
Also, we’re giving Missy subQ (subcutaneous) fluids a couple of times a week.
The procedure goes like this: I warm up a bag of electrolyte solution – it’s called Plasmalyte – in warm water for about ten minutes. (It’s safe to use it when it’s cooler, but less upsetting for the cat.) The bag has two ports: one for using a syringe, the other for using a drip. I attach a needle to a 60ml syringe, draw in the solution, and carefully push out any air.
Then B restrains Missy. Some cats are surprisingly OK with it and need little or no restraint; owners have even had the cat sitting on their lap, purring away. Missy, not so much. She’d rather be somewhere else, thank you! But B is able to restrain her without much trouble. Sometimes the person gets more cooperation by giving the cat treats or food during the procedure, but Missy isn’t eating easily as it is. But she’s not very strong now, so it’s doable.
Then I pinch and lift up the skin over the cat’s shoulders and pull it up, which is called “tenting” (the same procedure as in testing for dehydration). This is possible because cats (as well as dogs and some other animals) have what is called a subcutaneous space just under the skin, which is where the fluids will go.
Now comes the “fun” part. I insert the needle into the base of the tent, not too high, so it will actually go into the space; not too low and not too deep, to keep it away from anything important (muscle, blood vessels, etc.); and not too far, or it could go out the other side, which is not helpful. Then I push it into the space (moving the skin back against the needle as well makes it a little easier). I can actually feel when it’s in; the resistance to the needle stops.
When I was taking my ROP class, we practiced on oranges. We weren’t able to do it on animals (those students who got internships at vet clinics were able to, but I didn’t), so we used oranges. But, as it turned out, I found it was actually easier to tell on Missy than on the oranges.
I do this from the rear. That way, if Missy were able to get loose and make a run for it, she wouldn’t tear the skin, which would be awful. Pulling the needle wouldn’t hurt her (although it would be annoying as hell).
When the needle is in, I can let go of the scruff. It’s easier to use both hands on the syringe, anyway. I think it takes a about a minute, maybe two, to get all of the fluid in. There’s plenty of room under the skin to hold the fluid until it is absorbed.
It’s not supposed to hurt – at least not much – when I put the needle in. Missy doesn’t react as though it hurts. I think it feels funny when the fluid is going in, but if it were cold (although I don’t keep it in the fridge, so it’s room temperature), it would probably be unpleasant.
When I’m done, I take the needle out, put the syringe somewhere stable and out of the way, and pinch the skin for a few seconds so the skin will seal itself enough so the fluid doesn’t leak out. B lets Missy go and I hug and pet her for a bit, then lift her down carefully so she won’t jump off the table. I wish she’d take treats, but she’d probably be too upset to eat them anyway. She recovers quickly, though, and goes about her business.
More detailed description of the procedure, with pictures
I was really REALLY nervous the first time I did this. A tech had shown me how, but I didn’t get to try it out on an animal. (Not that they were likely to find any volunteers in any case.) Now I’m OK with it, especially since B is keeping her safely in place (which he’s more comfortable with, as well). It’s even a little fun. I feel like I’m doing REAL VET STUFF.
So, Missy’s eating with some interest – although I wish she’d eat more – and drinking well. And peeing and pooping normally, although I really wish she’d stop peeing outside the box. Standing in the box and peeing over the edge, for god’s sake. I have no idea why. But the litter mat is at least waterproof, and I put some litter there to help absorb it. I’m going to PetsMart today to get some “pee pads” and try those out.
Missy’s also getting pills: an appetite stimulant and an antinausea medication. We started on the appetite stimulant before the crash that put her in the hospital; it worked really well for a while, but then her appetite dropped again. (Chronic nausea is a common complication for CRF cats.) The subQs seem to make her more interested in food, for a while, at least.
Missy really does NOT like being pilled. I’m getting better at doing it quickly, though, before she has time to struggle much. Her weakness helps with that too.
So she seems somewhat stable for the moment. She’s still loving her sun and snuggles and petting.
I’ll be down in Del Mar today and will pick up another prescription for the anti-nausea meds (I called it in to the vet) which she gets daily and needs to stay on. Damn, I need to call back and get another for the appetite stimulant too.
Still waiting for the test results. Although I’m not sure it would change what we’re doing. It might not change how long we have her, either.
B and I are just trying to love her and make her as happy as possible. Sometimes that’s all you can do.
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I have a pilling technique that I used on both Zoe and Karma, that I just sort of stumbled on by myself. Using a loaded pill gun, I tap the side of the cat's mouth (behind the fangs), they open their mouth, and in goes the pill gun and then the pill. For some reason the tapping has always worked for me. There may be cats that this doesn't work on; I don't know. Our vet tech seemed surprised by the method, but perhaps you already know of it. Just thought I'd mention it.
Still sending all good thoughts to Missy and her humans.
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My technique involves having fingers in the cat's mouth, which puts some people off, for some reason :)
I really don't worry that much about being bitten. If a cat acts like it's going to give me trouble, I usually call its bluff; more often than not, it backs down. I worked and volunteered with cats in shelters and at the vet hospital for several years and only had a couple of bad bites. Not that I recommend being bitten!
Here's what I do: with my right hand (I'm left-handed), with the palm on the top of her head and in front of the ears, I wrap my fingers around to her upper teeth and pull. Simultaneously, I use my left middle finger to press down on her lower incisors, and her mouth opens. I'm already holding the pill between left thumb and finger; as quickly as possible, I let go of the incisors and put the pill as far back over the tongue and into the throat as I can. If I'm able to, I like to give it an extra push down the throat, but Missy thrashes enough that I mostly have to give it a good toss before she gets her paws up.
Then I clamp her mouth firmly shut with one hand and pick up an eyedropper of water with the other. Some cats will readily swallow with a little throat-stroking, but Missy doesn't do that as easily. (I've wondered if she's having some trouble swallowing.) I turn her head to one side and, still keeping her mouth shut, put a little water in through the teeth, and she swallows automatically. Sometimes I give her another swallow. I don't let her go right away, and when I do, I keep hold of her and watch to make sure she hasn't cheeked it and isn't waiting for me to leave so she can spit it out. Then I snuggle and pet her for a bit. I'd give her a treat, but she's not doing those anymore, and she'd probably be too upset anyway.
The trick is to have the procedure clear in your mind so you can go through it as quickly as possible, while keeping a read on what the cat's likely to do and countering its movements firmly without hurting it. Also, if you can convince yourself that you're completely confident and not worried about being hurt, I think that's communicated to the cat (just as nervousness and hesitation is). It's a kind of method acting :)
The technique has worked with shelter and hospital cats, and it worked particularly well with Rose, who was very cooperative. For a cat who'd been living on the street at a young age and was so shy to start with, she became surprisingly trusting. She was really sharp about connecting the dots, though. It only took a couple of times of treating her afterwards for her to anticipate it. When I'd finished, I let her go and she immediately jumped off the couch -- not to run away, but to immediately spin round and stare at me until I tossed her the treat.
Rose? She would have sat on my lap and purred during the subQs.
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K.