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...and none of us, particularly J (who does the actual syringe feeding) and Ra, are enjoying it. Ra simply will NOT eat much kibble on his own, as much and as often as I try. I don't think it's because he doesn't like it, but because it must set heavily in his tummy or something. I just don't know what to do. He seems to want to eat Lars' and Dorene's kibbles, but since their food isn't hypoallergenic...yeah...Even then, he loses interest in it fairly quickly after starting to eat it.
Ra's random feverishness seems to be getting under control--when I pick him up for his meds/feedings, his bare belly still feels a bit warmer than normal, but not nearly as hot as it was last week. I did buy an 8-second timed thermometer especially for kitty use so that we could monitor Ra's temperature, but since neither of us know exactly how to take a cat's temp rectally properly without perforating anything, we've not yet tried taking his temp here at home. I think when we're at the vet tomorrow I'll have Dr. Lehal show me how to do it.
Over the course of last week, Ra went from loose stools to straining to go and not actually achieving download; constipated once again, so putting him back on lactulose was in order. Dr. Lehal told me to start small--only 1cc--and that was plenty enough. Sent Ra right back into loose stool land. :( We simply must figure out a good way to regulate that particular bodily function. Poor fella. :( He seems a bit embarrassed when he inevitably ends up with poo on his feet after a particularly bad one while he's trying to bury his business. Either J or I end up chasing after him to clean him up if we notice him post-download, something Ra REALLY doesn't like. Hey, gotta keep the house from getting all gunked up with cat shit, ya know?
So it goes. We've got a pretty solid routine as far as giving the myriad of meds and timing of the two syringe feedings in between all of that. It's a still a lot of stress and work, but Ra is seeming to be doing ever so slightly better, so we keep going. I even caught him hanging out on the cat fort in the den on Saturday! Took him some effort to get up onto the shelf he was hanging out on, so that's a good sign that he's getting a bit stronger and feeling a bit better.
Ra's random feverishness seems to be getting under control--when I pick him up for his meds/feedings, his bare belly still feels a bit warmer than normal, but not nearly as hot as it was last week. I did buy an 8-second timed thermometer especially for kitty use so that we could monitor Ra's temperature, but since neither of us know exactly how to take a cat's temp rectally properly without perforating anything, we've not yet tried taking his temp here at home. I think when we're at the vet tomorrow I'll have Dr. Lehal show me how to do it.
Over the course of last week, Ra went from loose stools to straining to go and not actually achieving download; constipated once again, so putting him back on lactulose was in order. Dr. Lehal told me to start small--only 1cc--and that was plenty enough. Sent Ra right back into loose stool land. :( We simply must figure out a good way to regulate that particular bodily function. Poor fella. :( He seems a bit embarrassed when he inevitably ends up with poo on his feet after a particularly bad one while he's trying to bury his business. Either J or I end up chasing after him to clean him up if we notice him post-download, something Ra REALLY doesn't like. Hey, gotta keep the house from getting all gunked up with cat shit, ya know?
So it goes. We've got a pretty solid routine as far as giving the myriad of meds and timing of the two syringe feedings in between all of that. It's a still a lot of stress and work, but Ra is seeming to be doing ever so slightly better, so we keep going. I even caught him hanging out on the cat fort in the den on Saturday! Took him some effort to get up onto the shelf he was hanging out on, so that's a good sign that he's getting a bit stronger and feeling a bit better.
