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Feline Gratitude
Monday, 20 July 2009 20:31I am stunned and overwhelmed at the generosity of my friends. When the emails came rolling in I found myself tearing up at my desk. It has always been hard for me to accept assistance, much less ask for it. I cannot thank you enough. It's not over yet, but I'm off to a very good start. I will talk to my dad and my sister tomorrow to ask if they can contribute a little.
The vet at Seattle Veterinary Services faxed Grady's examination report and test results to my regular vet at Companion Animal Hospital last night. They called to check up on things today, and I told them I wanted to see what could be done about a feeding tube, but in the meantime I would try to feed him. Companion's will work with me on a payment plan. SVS will not. They wished me luck and said they would call again Tuesday morning.
Tonight was the first of the force-feedings. Grady (bless his damn heart) is very curious about food, and gets excited by food, but more often than not he will be nauseated by it. His "barfy face" has been a running joke for a long time since it is his response to ANY major stimuli... like, for instance, shiny things. Shiny things will make Grady gag before he will allow himself to play with them. Tonight Grady made a barfy face at a goldfish cracker before licking it and batting it around a little. I guess that's encouraging.
About an hour ago I locked myself in the bathroom with Grady, a slurry of chicken broth and a/d canned food, a syringe, and a towel. One website suggested getting him used to food in his face by introducing it with my fingers. Nope, didn't like that. I smeared some food on his nose. «yuck,» he squirmed, «not in the face!» The entire time he was cradled in my arms I spoke softly to him, telling him "good kitty" every time he licked goo off his face. When he got unruly I let him down and he lapped up half a cup of water I'd set out for him. Then he bathed. Drinking is good. Licking stray food off of fur is good. We did this two more times before I let him out of the bathroom. He is now under the bed.
We did this two more times, but wrapped in a towel. Not bad for a first attempt, but he really does need to be eating more. I thinned the slurry with more chicken broth. That should help.
I still need to figure out how to get the antibiotics into him.
It looks like it is about time to coax the little guy back into the bathroom. Neither of us enjoy this, but it has to be done.
The vet at Seattle Veterinary Services faxed Grady's examination report and test results to my regular vet at Companion Animal Hospital last night. They called to check up on things today, and I told them I wanted to see what could be done about a feeding tube, but in the meantime I would try to feed him. Companion's will work with me on a payment plan. SVS will not. They wished me luck and said they would call again Tuesday morning.
Tonight was the first of the force-feedings. Grady (bless his damn heart) is very curious about food, and gets excited by food, but more often than not he will be nauseated by it. His "barfy face" has been a running joke for a long time since it is his response to ANY major stimuli... like, for instance, shiny things. Shiny things will make Grady gag before he will allow himself to play with them. Tonight Grady made a barfy face at a goldfish cracker before licking it and batting it around a little. I guess that's encouraging.
About an hour ago I locked myself in the bathroom with Grady, a slurry of chicken broth and a/d canned food, a syringe, and a towel. One website suggested getting him used to food in his face by introducing it with my fingers. Nope, didn't like that. I smeared some food on his nose. «yuck,» he squirmed, «not in the face!» The entire time he was cradled in my arms I spoke softly to him, telling him "good kitty" every time he licked goo off his face. When he got unruly I let him down and he lapped up half a cup of water I'd set out for him. Then he bathed. Drinking is good. Licking stray food off of fur is good. We did this two more times before I let him out of the bathroom. He is now under the bed.
We did this two more times, but wrapped in a towel. Not bad for a first attempt, but he really does need to be eating more. I thinned the slurry with more chicken broth. That should help.
I still need to figure out how to get the antibiotics into him.
It looks like it is about time to coax the little guy back into the bathroom. Neither of us enjoy this, but it has to be done.
